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Torn about our July multi-generation vacation

Torn about our July multi-generation vacation

Old May 24th, 2014, 05:48 AM
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Torn about our July multi-generation vacation

I spent so much time researching a Europe trip that I'm really behind the ball with trying to figure out a family vacation at the end of July. The group of 7 will range from 17-77 and from very active to more sedentary. I started figuring out 8 nights between Montreal, Eastern townships and Quebec. But, I wonder if it will be too hectic. Someone in the party is interested in Halifax/PEI. I'm going to post this in the US forums too because I wonder if I just need to look at coastal Maine or anything. Airfares are really rising and I'm getting desperate. Ideas?
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Old May 24th, 2014, 02:25 PM
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How do you organize a fairly large group with differing tastes for a cramped period of time? Answer: You can't.
So simplify. Four or five nights in Montreal, detour through the Eastern Townships en route to Quebec City without stopping overnight, and the remainder in QC. You don't have time to do justice to anything else. I presume you will drive through the Townships, perhaps in two rental cars.
Meanwhile, propose a simple plan of action. Each person, including the youngest, can wander around wherever they want, in small groups or alone, during the day. Everyone meets for the evening meal. And this presumes that each traveller will have to do some research without relying on you.
Halifax or Maine as well? No way. The person who insists can rush off on his or her own.
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Old May 24th, 2014, 05:32 PM
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I second what Southam says. There is plenty to do in both Montreal and QC for young and old, active and not-so-active.

They are also some nice day trips from each city if anyone wants to go farther afield.
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Old May 24th, 2014, 07:30 PM
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Hmm. Southam and Cranachin-- you've given me a lot to mull over. I believe each traveller, except for the adventurous ones will just say they'll follow me in whatever I decide. The older ones feel a bit insecure on their own. But, I guess I do need to simplify. You're correct there is much more for the diverse groups in these cities. If I give up the ET will I be giving up the only way to enjoy peace and scenic beauty?
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Old May 24th, 2014, 08:15 PM
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There are plenty of day trips to scenic areas from Quebec City. Not the same as staying in the midst of them, of course, but peace and scenic beauty are still accessible.

Jacques Cartier National Park is close to Quebec for an escape to nature http://www.sepaq.com/pq/jac/index.dot?language_id=1

The Île d'Orléans is a rural/agricultural island with quaint villages http://tourisme.iledorleans.com/en/

You can combine a visit there with a stop at Montmorency Falls http://www.sepaq.com/ct/pcm/index.dot?language_id=1

You can also head farther down the St. Lawrence River to the Île aux Coudres http://www.tourismeisleauxcoudres.com/home.aspx

or even as far as Tadoussac, for whale watching http://www.tadoussac.com/en/culture-tourism/activities


Take a look at these online guides, if you have not already:

http://www.quebec-guidetouristique.t...region_en.aspx (Focus on Québec, Charlevoix, and Saugenay—Lac-St-Jean for trips from Quebec City)

http://www.quebecregion.com/en/

http://www.bonjourquebec.com/qc-en/brochures0.html
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Old May 25th, 2014, 04:20 AM
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Wow! Thanks I can't wait to delve into this. Would love to know more about your suggestion to start in Quebec. For some reason, flights into Montreal/Quebec and out of Quebec/Montreal (opposite city) are nearly the same as a RT in and out of Burlington. Any suggestions on where to start? I always love to leave the "best" for last.
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Old May 25th, 2014, 08:01 PM
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We don't know where you live... and depending upon how far away you are, it might not be a terrible idea to first visit the Maritimes on a multi-generational trip, given the (more likely) chance you might more easily get back to Montreal and/or Q.C. at a future time.

The Maritimes are mostly all about nature and scenery, where surely Q.C. would be all about culture.

I won't get into major detail at this point given your not yet having decided for certain...
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Old May 26th, 2014, 07:47 AM
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Hmm. So much to ponder. I've just learned that we may be able to have three nights without the seniors. The teens and hubs love the idea of a little more active vacation. Would you he;p me imagine how that could work in these scenarios? Either we could fly into Quebec/Montreal or Burlington to Quebec/Montreal and have the first three days in one of the great areas outlined above and then have the seniors meet us. Or, we could have a round trip into Halifax and head out into the more remote areas and have them fly into Charlottetown and out of Halifax. They're coming in from NYC and we're southerners. We'll b e traveling in late July and have 8 nights/9 days. Flights seem to leave early AM o the 9th day so we would have to spend the last night in Halifax if we had the Maritimes opportunity.

The forum is invaluable thanks to people like all of you.
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Old May 26th, 2014, 05:30 PM
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Well, OK.... IF contemplating the Maritimes, for that dual-tiered vacation... the places that ALL should see include Cape Breton, NS and Hopewell Cape, NB.

Also, is a one-way car rental (and an open jaws flight schedule) doable/acceptable to you ???

What if you and the troops first flew to Quebec (city), and got a rental car there... spent two days in QC... and then drove to Fredericton/Moncton to meet the seniors.

MONCTON has direct flights from Newark... er, at least the one, each day, via United Airlines.


The Drive from QC to Moncton is just under 480 miles (staying in Canada, via Riviere-du-Loup and Fredericton.

So you'd have two-ISH days IN QC... (and if so inclined, you might even then leave toward evening and head east... leaving fewer miles to cover the next day (and maybe TIME to do something else)

The would-be, could-be flight from Newark, NJ to Moncton... arrives at 11:05pm Atlantic Time (hour later than Eastern Daylight Time)... SO you'd have that long day with plenty of time before needing to be in/near Moncton.

Then, of course, you study the tides - what else would you do next???

In MY perfect world, there might be a HIGH tide scheduled for Hopewell Cape, NB in late evening (while still light out) and MAYBE you might arrive in Moncton in time to take your initial voyagers to see it at HIGH tide, before returning the next day/morning with the seniors, to see it at low tide. (if you go only ONCE, you go at LOW tide! )

http://bayoffundytourism.com/tides/times/

(it's all predictable too, months/years in advance!)


On that day, while passing through, you could spend some chunk of your day IN Fredericton, NB before going the last 2 hours (115 miles) to Moncton. (this AFTER you studied your potential TIDE deadlines/interests, and clearly determining how much time you had available).


SO then, what do we have, maybe 5 more nights, with the last one NEEEEEEEEEEDING to be in Halifax?

We can do that reasonably well... Firstly, you'd want to decide whether PEI is on your list of interests... if so, you take the Confederation Bridge from near Moncton, and drive into Charlottetown... and, likely the next day, take the ferry from the east end of the island to Pictou, NS. (get reservations!!

Next on the list is Cape Breton, and specifically the Cabot Trail.

A good base there is Baddeck (NS), and it is probably worth two nights. (never know when the FOG is going to do a whammy on your plans)

At first morning which promises clear weather, you high-tail it for the Cabot Trail, making the complete circuit at your leisure. Ideally this is your first day in Baddeck, giving you another night to strategize while determining your priorities (be they, leaving early the next morning to go down south, or to explore Louisbourg and/or Sydney).

While on your path south, perhaps stop near to Truro and do further tide exploration (at low tide, walking waaaaaaaaaaaay out in the surf somewhere).

Anybody up for a 5-hour round trip hike might like the path to Cape Split, NS.

Research it if it interests anybody. (near the town of Wolfville, NS)

Beyond that, the last two nights make sense for Halifax... and perhaps a day/evening trip to go to Peggy's Cove for a nice lunch or dinner.

You could really do the area justice... and cover plenty of territory while enjoying scenery that the seniors would like.


*** Hey, maybe there is indeed one MORE night that I didn't wedge in there... maybe it is suitable for somewhere near Wolfville (if at ALL interested in that hike mentioned above)... or Annapolis Royal if you're really adventuresome.


# nights

2 QC
1 Moncton
2 Baddeck
1 Annapolis Royal or Wolfville area
2 Halifax


Halifax is a bustling little place, with plenty of colleges nearby, and should entertain you plenty during night or day.

(take the little pedestrian ferry round trip from Halifax to Dartmouth... just to see the views)
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Old May 26th, 2014, 05:34 PM
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*** note: Southerners should remind themselves that sunset in Halifax in late July is 9:00pm local time.
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Old May 27th, 2014, 10:31 PM
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NorthwestMale, I so appreciate your effort and detail here and am very much struck by the idea that this trip should probably be done sooner than later with seniors. Someday I do hope to do this and work PEI in. However, at this point, planning that many stops and driving in a minivan for so many hours seems overwhelming. I'm planning another trip right now also, so that may play into it. By the way, I believe it may have been you who a few years ago offered the invaluable advice of letting my teens each plan a day on a trip to Vancouver, It's still a huge highlight for us and something of a new family tradition.

In the meantime, I might try to fly into QC and have two days of more outdoorsy stuff as outlined by Cranachin and then enjoy QC with the seniors before driving to Montreal with the detour in the ET as suggested by Southam. Feels like a bit of a let down compared to the dramatic natural beauty of the Maritimes, but...
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Old May 28th, 2014, 06:14 PM
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Hi... first of all... yes, I was touched to go back and research that it was me who suggested having the kids each plan a day in Vancouver. (so much is clustered so close, that there would always be something for everyone on any such day in Vancouver)


So with regard to this would-be Maritimes path, I did all I could to include even the minuscule day trips into my suggested itinerary above... using only the time after the seniors would join you in Moncton (figuring that you and the kids could tough it out and handle a day of 480 miles)... alone... together... and driving...

and I was quite surprised that it tallied ONLY 1075 miles using Moncton-Hopewell Cape-Charlottetown-Pictou-Baddeck-Ingonish-Cheticamp-Baddeck-Louisbourg-Wolfville-Halifax-Lunenburg-Halifax.

Much of it is quite scenic, and the best part about Nova Scotia is that it isn't on the waaaaaaaay to anywhere, thus it isn't overrun by society.

It says "23 hours, 6 minutes" to cover that ground... and yeah, that's 4 hours a day in a vehicle, but that doesn't really overwhelm a vacation when indeed you are likely to be moving around. (vs. say, staying at a resort in Mazatlan for a whole week)

That could be reduced quickly if I merely cut-out Louisbourg and Lunenburg... and even further if cutting away Wolfville.

(let me test it)

JUST with cutting away Lunenburg and Louisbourg, I chopped it to "835 miles" and "18 hours of driving to do it".

Taking out the detour to Wolfville, it is further reduced to 739 miles - 16 hours, 20 minutes of driving.

And that's over (the last) SIX days, right???


I dunno, I don't find it to be that intimidating, particularly with a handful of could-be drivers.

In fact, I think it is a scenario about which you should consult with the seniors, based on whether or not they have much interest in seeing the Maritimes.

Admittedly I didn't add any "extra" driving on PEI, but that is only 150 miles from extreme tip to extreme tip... so how far can you go there???


And do note, that some of my "stops" were just included to get the Mapquest thing to take the complete circuit OF the Cabot Trail, which is not to be missed.
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Old May 31st, 2014, 10:58 AM
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It's an amazing itinerary and one I will most definitely use at some point if not this trip.. I think I'm overwhelmed by trying to figure out accommodations for so many in so many places. By the way. I can't overstate the impact of the suggestion for each teen planning a day. Not only has it become a family tradition, several of my friends have started doing the same. It's the advice that just keeps on giving.
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Old May 31st, 2014, 03:02 PM
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*** My next attempt at (revolutionizing North American travel} (cough, choke, laugh!)... is, when two or more travelers are planning coast-to-coast travel (or, I guess, New Orleans to Flin Flon with no other parameters for the route... the way to pick the final path is to have one random person first pick a desired place on the map to pass-through en route... followed by the next person selecting a pass-through spot of his/her own (now with the previously-selected places each a given... and everybody picks, in a randomly-determined order, until the path is effectively determined based on passing through all of those dots on the map.

I've not yet worked-out how far out of the way is fair to travel, in order to accommodate some choices which are on the same latitude or same longitude, and thus form an awkward-seeming (or indirect) path.

... and the first person who gets to select may be shouldered with so much freedom of choice that he/she may want to trade his/her initial selection for a (future draft pick) {or something} (* largely for the same reason they couldn't come up with a route in any other way - for being overwhelmed by too many options!

(Some people need the equivalent of going from Dawson Creek, BC to Tok, Alaska, in order to feel confident when (meaninglessly) picking a spot along The Alaska Highway to pass through).

So yes, this is my next sure-fire hit of a travel idea.


(oh, and the last one was motivated by the selfish-but-effective thought process where SOMEtimes it's better to listen to, and follow somebody who HAS an IDEA (regardless of what it IS, exactly) rather than have to come up with an idea yourself, when the specifics don't really matter that much )
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Old Jun 1st, 2014, 04:54 AM
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What an amazing idea!!!
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Old Jun 8th, 2014, 02:49 PM
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There are so very many great ideas here that I will hopefully get to use in the future, those Maritimes itineraries and links to the very tempting day trips from Quebec were particularly enticing.

In the interest of ease, at this time we've decided on Montreal and Mont Tremblant. Hopefully, they will offer just a little bit of everything for everybody. Thanks so very much for you very valuable help.
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Old Aug 17th, 2014, 08:34 AM
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I'll follow up with a trip report eventually, but did need to say our trip to Montreal and Mont Trembalnt was fabulous!!! Really recommend it.
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