8 days to do NS, NB and PEI
 

Suddenly finding ourselves going to the Maritimes second week in Sept. Weighing whether or not to fly to Halifax and rent car or fly to Boston and drive up through Kennebunkport, Bar Harbor and Campobello, St. John and then on to NS and PEI. Airfare to Halifax is twice or three times as much as to Boston so that's why we have considered driving from Boston. How long is the driving time from Boston to say, St. John? Could we break it up with an overnight somewhere in Maine? Should we do NS first or go to PEI and then back to do NS?Any good B and B suggestions in St. John, Cape Breton, PEI? Thanks

So many questions and all need answering! Let me venture an opinion on the primary one; driving up to St John, New Brunswick from Boston...yes, this does require a stopover.Bar Harbour is a good place, very scenic and though touristy, not without authentic charm-you might even consider taking the ferry from there to Canada. IMO you are overly ambitious to be attempting all of NS, NB and PEI in one 8 day trip, This would be a three-week venture in my books. You could easily spend one week in NB (St John, St Andrews-by-the Sea, Fundy Tides: 3 days, Campobello-1 day, Fredericton and the St.John River Valley-2 days) PEI is not a day trip either:requires 3 days minimum and NS is also worth a week between Halifax -2 days: Mahone bay, Lunenburg, Peggy's Cove-2 days and Cape Breton-2/3 days. Everybody has their own speed for travel and mine is undoubtedly set to "slow" but what you are suggesting for 8 days seems unrealistic.

I assume you mean Saint John, New Brunswick and not St. John's Nfld? <BR> <BR>I would recommend you drive from Boston. Take your time and take the back roads up through Maine. You can take a highspeed ferry from Bar Harbour to Yarmouth (2.5 hours) (About $95 car and $25 per passenger I think). Take either the eastern or western shore from Yarmouth to Halifax (through the Annapolis Valley or up the rugged southeastern shore through Shelburne/Lunenburg/Mahone Bay). Either drive is spectacular. Make sure you stick to the old highways for maximum scenery! You will want to spend an overnight between Yarmouth and Halifax. From Halifax you drive to Pictou County (about 2 hours on the main highway) and take a ferry to PEI. From PEI you can take the fixed link (or Confederation Bridge) to New Brunswick and drive back through Saint John and cross the border at St. Stephen into Calais, Maine. This kind of makes it a real "round" trip! <BR> <BR>If you want to do Cape Breton, it is about a 4 hour drive from Halifax. Spend a couple of days here at least! You will pass the ferry to PEI (Pictou County is about halfway between Halifax and CB Island) so you can always catch it on your return.

I agree that you are trying to do too much in attempting to see Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI in eight days, nevermind trying to drive from Boston to do it. I live in Massachusetts and have spent many a happy vacation in those beautiful provinces. One summer we took two weeks to see Nova Scotia and PEI and we were pushing it. PEI deserves a week in itself. Nova Scotia has so much to see as does New Brunswick. If you are intent on flying into Boston, drive to St. Andrews by the Sea and spend the first night there. It's lovely. Don't miss Fredricton, NB. An historic city on a beautiful river. Personally, once I get to PEI, I never want to leave. Halifax is great! Good luck.

We enjoyed an RV Tour through the same area last summer. This was our itinerary. <BR>Day 1- Bay Harbor and Acadia National Park <BR>Day 2- travel to St.John and see the Reversing Falls and Market Square plus the beauty of the town. <BR>Day 3- Head to PEI stopping at HopeWell Rocks for sure. <BR>Day 4-6 Anne of Green Gable house tour and play at night, tour of Charlottetown, be sure to drive over to the west coast as it is beautiful! <BR>Day 7.....Your vacation is over and we haven't gone to Halifax to see Peggy's Cove or up to Cape Breton, which is beautiful, also. Personally, I enjoyed PEI and Cape Breton the most for its spectacular scenery! <BR>Have a nice trip. <BR>