Well, it is a nice trip through much scenic country depending on your route.

The first big issue is that you will need permission from the rental car company to take your car to Canada, and you will have to bring it back. From your post it sounds as if you have thoughts of leaving it in Toronto. Can't do, at least not without great expense. If you are flying home from Toronto, you could take the car to Niagara Falls and ride the bus back.

If it is your own car as the _in_US suggests, no problem.

Ackislander has given you some good information. You might consider flying into Boston, touring there, then picking up a car doing a trip up the Maine coast, returning to Boston, perhaps through the interior and then flying to Quebec. You could either rent a car for the Canada portion of the trip or just fly to Toronto from Quebec.

As they say in Maine, ``You can't get theya from heya.''

Hertz will let you pick up a car in Portland ME and drop it off in Quebec City (I checked), but it costs the earth. Almost $300/day, as opposed to $300/week if you drop it off in, say, Burlington VT.

There are inexpensive ($300-ish) one-way flights from Portland ME to Montreal. Your best option may be to rent 1 car in US, make a loop, fly, and then rent another car in Canada.

Hi Guys

Thanks for the replies.
The Boston Quebec leg is just one part of our trip. We would have already spent spent a week in NY and a few nights in Boston before picking up our car. We were hoping to spend a week making our way to Quebec city, via ?Maine, ?Vermont, ? PEI, we're quite open to suggestions. We'd then spend a couple of nights in Quebec city, then a couple in Montreal, then 3 nights in Toronto. From there we'd spend 3 days getting back to NY, one of those nights in Niagara Falls city catching up with friends, then drop off the car and fly back to Australia from JFK via Hawaii for a week.

I've already OK'd it with Hertz Australia to cross into Canada and then back into the US, and the different city drop off without any penalty, (my experience is that Hertz Australia is much more flexible compared to its US or Canadian counterparts). I did a similar thing on the east coast last year without issue.

Which leads me back to my original hope to do a somewhat leisurely, away from the big city, trek. Part along the Maine coast then ? inland crossing into New Brunswick and then up to Quebec that way, or ?heading into Maine inland towards Vermont then to Quebec that way. I was really hoping to avoid just big city hopping and get into some more scenic and rural areas.

PEI is mostly trees, and they are not scenic, according to my daughter, who has done the loop you are talking about.

Cutting through New Brunswick to Nova Scotia and then PEI is another matter, but then it is a l-o-n-g way to Quebec, though warning an Australian about driving distances seems foolish.

I might save that for another trip and spend the time on the Maine coast, then drive from Bangor to Quebec, which, by the way, is entirely "worth it", as people ask on here. But if you check the driving distances on Google maps and want to drive to PEI and then to Quebec, try to include the reportedly very picturesque Gaspe Peninsula rather than driving the most direct route.

Vermont is not on your wy to any of these places. I personally am not wild about Montreal, just a big city with hideous Edwardian architecture, so you might swap a night or two there for an expedition into Vermont.

I did this exact trip several years ago in late September, with a few less days en route than you.

First day was Boston to Camden (Maine). Camden is an especially pleasant town, with several nearby places to explore, and I could certainly imagine spending 2 nights here at a nice B&B.

We followed the coast route up to St John NB, which was a delightful drive, in large part because the weather was great and the summer traffic was gone. If you are a bird person, in particular puffins, you might be interested in a trip to Machias Seal Island. This takes a full (and long), but it's absolutely amazing. For info, contact Bold Coast Charter Co. in Cutler, ME -- www.boldcoast.com. (Unfortunately, the trips run by Norton of Jonesport are apparently no longer in operation.)

We followed the main road north from St John to Fredericton and stayed overnight at Edmunston. Went over to Madawaska (ME) for evening entertainment, where the National Hotel was hopping. Then an easy drive the next day to Quebec City.

If I had "7 days to get from Boston to Quebec City" in July..., I would definitely start with the 700 miles from Boston to Halifax, NS.

Your interest in the Maine coast assures you should take a 'southerly' route (if the term could be applied to Maine), perhaps entering Canada through Calais and then on to St. John.

Maybe time an overnight in St. John, and then on to Fundy Nat'l Park and to Hopewell Cape, NB (which you'll want to see at LOW tide)

http://www.lau.chs-shc.gc.ca/cgi-bin/tide-shc.cgi?queryType=showFrameset&zone=30&language=english&region=5&stnnum=170

For pre-printable, perfectly predictable tide tables.

THEN you go on into Nova Scotia... and begin by heading up north to Cape Breton.

I typically suggest 2 nights at Baddeck, and at the first non-foggy opportunity, you head for the Cabot Trail.

After that, probably to Halifax for 2 more nights... (day trip in between to Peggy's Cove and Lunenburg, if interested...)

At some point, also, it would make sense to find a(nother) spot on the Fundy shore where you can walk waaaaaay out in the surf at low tide, while also seeing ocean vessels sitting on the ocean floor while tied to nearby docks at low tide. Do so either as a possible day trip from Halifax, OR on the way in/out of town in the Truro area (Wolfville more suitable for a day trip).

Then, given your remaining timing... I think I'd drive from Halifax to Miramichi, NB, perhaps for a night there, but Campbellton, NB would better divide the remaining leg of your journey.

The path on the final day should include Amqui, QC... Rimouski, Riviere-du-Loup, and finally to Quebec, City.


Boston to Saint John, NB = 410 miles

Saint John to Baddeck, NS = 400 miles VIA FUNDY NP, Hopewell Cape, (7 hours of driving, and probably needing a night in Moncton enroute)

Baddeck to Halifax, NS = 220 miles, (2 3/4 hours)

Halifax to Campbellton, NB = 350 miles, (6 hours driving)

Campbellton to Quebec City (VIA Rimouski, etc) 320 mi, 6 hrs


Nights:

Saint John
Moncton
Baddeck
Baddeck
Halifax
Halifax
Campbellton


Darn, that's 7 nights (translating to 8 days) without too much wiggle room.

The least important night is Moncton, NB... that was just thrown-in to avoid the inconvenience of a LOOOOOOOONG DAY/drive.

It is always a good idea to have two nights in Baddeck, to better your chances of a FOG-free tour of the Cabot Trail... but IF you get lucky, the second night in Baddeck isn't needed.

I dunno, work with that as my suggested blueprint, and modify if you see fit.

Thanks for those suggestions, gives me something to work with, rather than just staring at a map and trying to plan a route.

Cheers

As July is prime tourist season, you probably will want to book your accommodations as soon as you have your route nailed down, especially for coastal Maine (and Nova Scotia, if you go that route).

Thanks for the feedback.
Looking at driving times, to do Halifax and Baddeck seems to involve more driving time than I anticipated. I was hoping to a more leisurely wander through. Although distances aren't huge, most the drives seem to be about 7 hours which means most of the day in the car. I don't mind some long drives however was hoping to do some walking, possibly some kayaking or sailing.
I had no ambition to get anywhere in particular, so I was now thinking from Boston staying somewhere on Penobscot bay for a couple of nights, ? Camden 3-4 hour drive, then back inland or maybe somewhere along Bay of Fundy for a couple of nights, ? St John, then head back in land. Looking for smaller towns making our way towards Quebec to stop, looks like there are a few lakes and wildlife areas to explore en route.
Any thoughts?

I've just realised that route is almost exactly what ackislander suggested. St John seems to have big hotels which surprised me, is it bigger than it seems?
Stopping at St John gives me 3 days to get to Quebec, I was thinking 2 stops heading towards Quebec or spend an extra night in either Camden, St John or even first up in Boston or at the end in Quebec.
We'll be away for a while, so I'd rather keep stops to 2 nights unless it really is somewhere of limited interest.

When I wrote "PEI is mostly trees, and they are not scenic, according to my daughter, who has done the loop you are talking about" a few days ago, I was of course talking about New Brunswick, not PEI.

Your latest plans sound good.

Best route from St John to Quebec city, anywhere worthwhile stopping for a couple of days, do some exploring on foot?

Best route from St John to Quebec city, anywhere worthwhile stopping for a couple of days, do some exploring on foot?

Think about the Gaspe Peninsula. Maybe check out people's photos on Flickr. It isn't on your direct route, but it is supposed to be very picturesque. Francophone.

Another option for a couple of days would be Nova Scotia before going to PEI and on to Quebec. Again, daughter did it, not me.

You can take Interstate 93N to the NH/VT border, hop on 91N to the Canadian border. From there the roads are all interstate like to Quebec City. You drive through the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the Green Mountains of VT. It will take 7 hours or less. Quebec City is well worth the trip. Take the walking tour from the information center...book ahead!

You can either take the Boston, Maine, New Brunswick, PEI loop, or Boston, Maine, New Hampshire/Vermont loop. The first option has considerably more driving, most of it thru heavily wooded areas. The second option will offer more time for hikes, swimming, relaxing. I'm not too familiar with New Brunswick, but I live on the NH VT border so I can comment on that option. New Hampshire has some spectacular mountain scenery, and is perhaps the best hiking destination east of the Mississippi. Vermont is extremely rural and bucolic - great for a farm b&b stay. Both states are dotted with small ponds and brooks to cool off on a warm summer day. Quebec City is a very easy drive from either state, as is Montreal. As far as avoiding big cities, there are none in Vermont or northern New Hampshire. You will probably run into traffic on the Maine seacoast, especially in the beachy areas south of Portland. Ignore the previous negative comment about Montreal - it's one of the most fun cities anywhere, especially if you enjoy good food and interesting neighborhoods.

Since you speak at one point of wanting a more "leisurely wander through", I'd consider keeping your 7 day exploration stateside, within New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont... plenty to keep you busy in the New England states!

Throwing New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI into the picture, as much as I like each of these unique provinces, I'd save for another trip, so you can really take in the Maritime region. I live in Montreal and agree that it's a worthwhile city for a stop also.

Best wishes, Daniel