lyntom

Hi,

We're from Virginia and are contemplating a driving trip that would encompass Niagra Falls, Toronto, Montreal, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia(especially the Bay of Fundy and the Cape Breton areas)and back down to Acadia National Park, Boston and Cape Cod and, possibly, New York City for a couple of nights.

Do you think this is possible to do in 3- 4 weeks? What suggestions would you have for routes to take and places to stay. We don't really know anything about Nova Scotia and New Brunswick but we love hiking and understand that the areas are beautiful.

We also would want to see whales and any other wildlife that is different from the U. S. east coast.

Will appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

gannetmusic

What time of year?

Jerry

BAK

Four weeks bests three, for sure.

Driving days:

Virgina to, say, ALbany
Albany to Niagara Falls
Toronto to MOntreal
Montreal to Quebec City
Quebec City to Moncton
Moncton to Cape Breton
Cape Breton to Fundy
Fundy to Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor to Boston
Boston to New York
New York to Home.

All these driving chucks are five, six, seven hours, giving you time in the morning or evening to enjoy the place.

Add in full days staying in some spot. That's 11 mostly-driving days, leaving 20 or so to enjoy various spots.

So... are you love-driving kinds of people? I'd really enjoy this trip. (I've done all the segments, some many times.

Jojonana

Too muck driving for me! haha. Specially Quebec to Moncton, Moncton to Cape Breton, etc. Why would one want to spend that many hours in a car? Although Cape Breton is amazing, I would cut it out of the itinerary and spend more time getting to New Brunswick (some lovely villages on the Saint-Laurent river). For whales, best place is Tadoussac. Instead of going all the way to Cape Breton, consider visiting the Saguenay fjord, great place to hike, kayak, etc.

gannetmusic

One of the reasons for my question about the time of year of the trip was the possibility of whale watching. The lower Bay of Fundy is better than Tadoussac for whale watching and many times better than Cape Breton.

cheers

Jerry

FauxSteMarie

If you decide on going to Niagara Falls, you do not want to go via Albany, if you live in VA. The fastest way is via Erie, Pennsylvania. The most interesting way (but slightly longer) is to drive the very scenic roads up the middle of PA. I live in the Washington, DC, area and have driven to NF several times via the mid PA route because it is so pretty and much more interesting than the interstate. Drive time is about 10 hours.

Did you know that Niagara Falls is actually closer to Washington, DC, than NYC. There is no reason to go via Albany unless you are going to visit Albany.

Combining NF with Cape Breton and Acadia is just way too much driving even for 3-4 weeks. You could spend the entire time in NB, NS, PEI and ME or combine Niagara Falls, Toronto, Niagara on the Lake (Shaw Drama Festival) and Stratford (Drama Festival) in one trip.

There are also lots of lakes in Ontario you might like if you want to hike.

There is good kayaking around Eastport in Maine.

Whale watching can be found along the ME coast (Bar Harbor, e.g.) or off Digby Neck, NS. Whitewater rafting is available in Schubenacadie, NS; you raft the tidal bore as it comes in turning the river from a mud flat into a river.

lyntom

Hi,

I really appreciate your suggestions. As I said, we know nothing about the areas so it was very interesting and informative to see what you would include and what you would leave out.

We would leave around mid-June and we love hiking and kayaking as well as beautiful scenery. We do love driving, but we will have our 13 year-old with us; he loves driving, too, but I want him to have a good time and not just remember the trip for how many hours he was in the car.

I had no idea NF was closer to DC. I had planned on a route through PA; I think the driving time from Expedia is 8:30. Is it too much to include NF and the Boston/Cape Cod area?

We could always do NF, Boston, and then back down to NYC for a few nights. Or, forget NF and do Acadia and take the Ferry over to NS, although I have always wanted to see NF.

Do either of these alternatives sound better.


Thanks again.

FauxSteMarie

It probably is 8 1/2 hrs if you take the route through Erie, PA, but it is boring, boring, boring. The smaller roads up the middle of PA will increase the time on the road to 10 hours, but in exchange you get a much more pleasant travel day.

Cape Cod is nowhere near Niagra. You could combine Cape Cod with Maine or Boston, but I would not combine it with NF. You could stop somewhere in PA on the way. Jonestown, which has a lot of the Jonestown Flood sites is interesting. Also, there are lots of old trains that run for tourists in PA if you are interested in that. If you go up the middle of PA to NF, you could just stop somewhere along the way to admire the scenery.

BAK

Now that we know junior is involved...

If it was me and any of my kids when they were, or will be, 13, I'd do the coast trip.

Later on, when he's older, go to Niagara Falls, and Toronto, and Montreal, and then back home.

But next year, stick to the coast where, at least in Canada wwhere the water is warmer, (weird but true)he can do outdoor things.

Save the big Canadian cities for later, when he'd approeciate them more, and besides, you can still get Boston (not much of a place for a 13 year old) and New York, a great place for a 13 year old, on your schedule.

BAK

lyntom

Thanks, all. If we go to the Eastern North, we definitely will do Boston, Bar Harbor and then the Ferry to Nova Scotia.

However, I am taking your comments regarding Boston not being much fun for a 13 year-old.

Thanks, again.

Lynda

FauxSteMarie

The ferry to NS is over $400 assuming you are taking a car. Not cheap. You always have to decide whether cutting off driving (and missing NB) is worth it to you.

I cannot give you advice on that, as there are plusses and minuses either way.

Campobello is very interesting, but I did not see it when I went to NS. I did it as part of a different trip. I put the car on the overnight ferry that left from Portland--the Scotia Prince. Last year, when I was in ME, I was told that ferry had been discontinued. You have to take the catamaran from Bar Harbor (faster but more money and you have to drive further north to pick it up).

Clasinvest

While you're in the falls, take an audio CD driving tour from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake. Use your own car, the guide on the CDs tells all about the area. Plenty of stops, views and activities for the 13 year old. (Would he like to see and touch a cannon?? or maybe have a butterfly land on his shoulder?) A little taste of wine for Mom and Dad!! It seem to me this would be perfect for your trip.