aznjess

Hi there!
My family and I are planning a small trip at the end of the summer to the East coast. We've only got about 10 days, and were hoping to visit all four provinces. However, it doesn't seem reasonable to travel across four provinces in such a short time.

I was debating whether or not to skip out on PEI and use that time to see other places... Also, my father has suggested not to go to Newfoundland since travel time is long and from what he's heard, you need a good week at least to see the province. (This suggestion is disappointing since I've heard that Newfoundlanders are the friendliest people in the world)

None of us have ever really been there before so we don't have a good sense of where to go, how long everything takes, etc.

Suggestions/advice would be great...basically it comes down to: 10 days and 4 provinces, too little time so what places should we sacrifice? We're coming from Toronto and will be flying over.

Any other suggestions as to cool things to do/places to see are also appreciated.. my sister and I are in our late teens/early 20s. We're pretty much just looking forward to eating some good food, seeing some nature/wildlife and seeing some of the amazing lanscapes (without getting too into the cheesy touristy stuff).

We're heading out on the 16th of August... doesn't seem to be a lot of events or stuff going on at that time, can anyone let me know what's good to do at this time of year?

Thanks!

Tanya

Flying into Halifax - stay at least one or two days in the city. At your age, you'll absolutely love Halifax! Lots to do in the downtown core. And don't discount the friendliness of all Maritimers If in Halifax on Saturday or just about any small town/village, check out their farmer's markets! Great value, lots of good food and unique crafts.

If you want scenery, take 3-4 days and head to Cape Breton. Make sure you explore Fort Louisbourg. On Sunday in Port Hawkesbury, they have free outdoor concerts. You will also travel through Pictou to get to Cape Breton, mid-week the DeCoste Centre offers concerts as well. Plus check out the great beach at Melmerby! Drop into the Dock for a cold one while sitting on their new patio overlooking the riverfront. Or head up to Tatamagouche and spend the night at the Train Station Inn (on real train cars!).

There is so much you can do and see. There has been a lot written here in the last few weeks, do a search for Nova Scotia.

gannetmusic

Nfld is one of my favourite places in the world - but I agree that you do not have time to include it in your trip. You need at least two full weeks on the island to catch even the highlights.

I will expanD later on some of my favourites in NS and NB.

Cheers

Jerry

yrrebeulb

All the Maritimes is beautiful. The people are wonderful no matter where you travel. The scenery in all four provinces is distinct and different at the same time. I would recommend that if you have only 10 days that you spend them on the mainland of Canada. To do justice to Newfoundland you would need a minimum of at least 2 weeks. The west coast and Gros Morne is worthy of at least 3 days. Lanse Aux Meadows and Southern Labrador another 2 days. The central area and Twillingate area is good for another 3 days. Trinity and Bonavista peninsulas are worth another 4 days. The Avalon Peninsula and the Capital City of St. John's easily deserves a week in itself. You need to travel the southern shore of the Avalon to Cape St. Mary's to see the bird sanctuary; Witless Bay for the Whale and Puffin tours; Conception Bay for Brigus, Cupids; and all towns north to Bay de Verde and up the Trinity Shore to Dildo and back to St. John's for Signal Hill, The Rooms, and don't forget George Street with more bars and restaurants per mile than any other city in Canada. Walking around St. John's can take 3 days just to see the sites. Don't cut yourself short when coming to Newfoundland. It is worth every minute you spend here. If you like hiking you can travel the East Coast Trail and see beauty like never before. Remember that it is an 8 hour drive from St. John's to Corner Brook on the west coast. This is a big province even though it always looks small on the map.

NorthwestMale

Hi, I've never been to NFLD. but given what you report on your time constraints I am sure you could make better use of what time you have by sticking with just NS, NB, and PEI.

I can't say to how many I've responded here in recent months who had X days to travel and were wondering if they really had time for PEI.

YOU DO (unlike a number of them).

Since you're going from Toronto (and not, say, "Ontario, California&quot it is entirely reasonable that you could fly to NFLD. conveniently on another trip sometime)

Should I guess that you're flying to Halifax??

First of all, you and sis would probably find plenty to see and enjoy around the Halifax nightlife scene. If going round-trip to Halifax, I'd spend two nights there at the beginning and at least one at the end of your trip.

IF Halifax is your starting point, first thing to do after two nights in Halifax is head north to Cape Breton for a couple of days... (lets say one night up there)... THEN go westward and stop at Pictou before maybe taking Hwy #6 toward Amherst, Sackville, and the Confederation Bridge to PEI.

5th and 6th nights on PEI (with 4th maybe in Pictou area).

Leave PEI and pay the $40-ish TOLL on the bridge (only pay one-way) and then maybe do a loop including Miramichi, Fredericton, and Saint John, spending the 7th night somewhere in there.

ON WAY FROM ST. JOHN/Moncton back to NS be SUUUUUUUUUUUURE to duck down and see "Hopewell Cape" (go to Google, "images" and then enter "flower pot rocks" for understanding).

Best seen both at high and low tides, but that can be a pain in the a** logistically, so go at LOW TIDE if you can only go once.

Drive back toward Halifax via Moncton, Sackville, Amherst, and then duck doooooooown to "Parrsboro" to drive toward Truro along the shores of the Bay - it's pretty quaint and peaceful in that area.

I'm not sure of my timing or yours here... but perhaps the 8th night could be spent in the Wolfville-Kentville-Kingston area depending on what strikes your fancy.

Next day you might cut across from Kingston or Kentville to the Bridgewater/Lunenburg area to see Lunenburg and then hit Peggy's Cove for dinner on the way back to Halifax.

This was rather general but I hope it gives you some sort of a framework given your uncertainty.

Since you're one of the sisters, there will be plenty of time to make it to Newfie land in the future.

Hopefully you can all drive and share the responsibilities that way.

I really like the way you have appealed to the board for suggestions here!

Enjoy your vacation!!!

ltt

i will just reinforce what's been said. with only 10 days, stick to just nova scotia or do nova scotia and pei.

redcat777

This has been a most helpful thread. I need expansion on it, though. I have several questions.
1.My beloved and I have 14 days beginning 30 September through 14 October to fly into and out of Halifax. We would like to spend the time in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Should we push up the vacation by one week for better weather?
2. We need to know if 14 days is too much time for just those two. We enjoy relaxing and getting a good sense of places so we thought 2 days Hali, 4 days Cape Breton, 4 PEI, 2 final in Halifax. Is this good and would we be missing something really great in New Brunswick? Actually we need to know what not to miss for the whole trip.
3. Suggestions on first class hotels, eating ("must eat" kinds of food or atmosphere) and general fun stuff would be welcome.

As I said, this thread has been great and I have gleaned much information on great things to do, but if there is any other gem that anyone could contribute that perhaps noone has covered would be appreciated.
Thanks.
recat777

aznjess

Wow thanks everyone for the awesome advice and suggestions....

after taking a survey around the office, it seems that the popular opinion is to either spend all 10 days in newfoundland alone, or do new brunswick/nova scotia (really the only place in NB i'm really interested in seeing is th ebay of fundy nat'l park)

any thoughts on this??

also-- been told a lot that Halifax is a big city with lots to do, but coming from Toronto, is there a lot there that I won't find back home?


thanks, again...

Molly2

I agree with your co-workers. I also agree with gannetmusic, who advised that two weeks is the minimum to see Newfoundland. It's a huge province!

Molly2

Oops - meant that I agree with your co-workers that ten days was about right for Nova Scotia and possibly NB.

NorthwestMale

TO REDCAT:

I wouldn't bother contemplating the weather because YOU cannot out-guess the Fundy Fog.

Sure maybe the average temperature might be 1 degree higher with a week earlier but don't bother altering your original window of time.

The first "don't miss" for the whole trip is the FLOWER POT ROCKS (Hopewell Cape, NB)--- not terribly far from the bridge to PEI, BUT you have to go VIA MONCTON to get there, so catch it on the way to or from the island.

I don't mind what you've written in terms of nights allocated to the spots you wish to see. In addition to seeing Hopewell Cape on one side, I believe some exploration in the Wolfville-Kentville-Digby area on the other side of the bay is worthwhile.

Also, you're doing a round-trip to PEI, so I say take hwy #6 from Stellarton-Pictou-Wallace-Amherst on the was from Cape Breton to PEI.

Then, when on the way BACK from PEI, go Sackville-Amherst-PARRSBORO-Truro-Halifax.

Once your scenic tours get FOGGED-out for a day or so, delaying you, you'll have filled your time just perfectly.

As for must eats... the only thing I'd never pass taking a shot (chance?) at IF IN SEASON... would be the "McLobster Sandwich" at McDonalds!!! (where else are you going to get that????)

Tanya

If heading towards Parrsboro, you will have to do at list a side trip out to Cape d'Or. Spectacular (when it isn't foggy) and book a night to stay in the lighthouse! In Parrsboro, there is a little restaurant called the Harbourview. It is located past the Fundy Geological Museum directly on the wharf. The best clams I have ever eaten!

RubyMc

Redcat-If you want an upscale restaurant in the Peggy's cove area, try Rhubarb Cafe in Indian Harbour. It was wonderful, though pricey. They offer accommodation too, though don't know what it is like.