Bar Harbor to Cape Breton Island
 

My husband, 14 yo son and I will be leaving a hiking camp on Mt. Desert Island at noon on a Saturday in August. We love music, dancing, biking and hiking. We have about 5 days, can possibly be extended by a day or two. Can't decide if Campobello Is. is worth it (have heard about it since my youth). The schedule of the CAT ferry doesn't permit the option to drive via Yarmouth, etc., we would lose two days. Should we just go as fast as possible to Cape Breton? Suggested stops on the way? We are most interested in the beauty and music of Cape Breton. I have read many posts, but can't see the details on low tide. Is that really fantastic? We are driving back home through Quebec. Should we bother taking one day for PEI, or just maximize our time on Cape Breton? I love sunsets so am leaning toward evenings on the West side of the island, but will stay anywhere to maximize chances of hearing fiddle music and dancing. Any advice would be appreciated.

suggestion - if the cat isn't working out, drive from bar harbor to saint john, new brunswick. take the ferry from there to digby, nova scotia. drive from digby to somewhere on cape breton (inverness, port hawksbury, cheticamp). spend one night there and then take the cabot trail towards the igonish or baddeck areas. this should allow you a few days there to explore. skip pei for this trip. enough to see on nova scotia/cape breton.

Thanks so much for this info! We have definitely ruled out PEI for this trip. Another poster mentioned the fastest way to get to Cape Breton is by freeway, but the Digby, etc. route looks v. appealing. So the decision we're making now is head by freeway and catch tides at Hopewell Cape on the way to Cape Breton I, or do the Digby ferry, head to Lunenburg, and then up north. Opinions?

Well, you will definitely need to extend the vacation by those two days if you are looking at going through Digby. We have driven from Pictou County, NS to Bar Harbour in one long day. The highway from the Canadian border is divided so a quick drive. We chose to drive the backroads from the border to Bar Harbour and simply took our time - hugging the coastline.

I would save Digby area for another trip and simply spend my time in Cape Breton. Don't forget, Pictou County has lots to offer - you might want to spend a day there at one of their white sand warm beaches. Depending on when in August, there is a music festival going on.

In Cape Breton the Red Shoe Pub has reopened by the Rankin Sisters. Check it out www.redshoepub.com You'll manage to hear some great music here!

Thank you for the tip on the Red Shoe Pub, Tanya! I am trying my best to read through old posts so not to ask repetitively, but would appreciate from anyone tips on cottages or motels, mid-range, to stay on the West side of Cape Breton Island, preferably near Margaree Harbour or similar. All advice is much appreciated.

Tanya - how long did the drive take from Pictou County to Bar Harbour? Did you go through NB & cross into Maine? We were thinking of driving to Bar Harbour from Antigonish. Thanks!

It was several years ago we did this drive. I want to say we left Pictou County mid morning, crossed the border at St. Stephen/Calais and then spent the night in Bar Harbour. We would have been in Bar Harbour well before dark. I think our only stop was at the duty free in St. Stephen. We took our time and hugged the coastline in Maine. There was no traffic and some very pretty spots.

I would say it took us about 8 hours roughly - and we didn't hurry.

Where are you staying in Antigonish

Take highway 9 after getting into Maine. Then 179 to cut down to Ellsworth and then Bar Harbor. It'll be faster than US1.

But yeah, 8 hours is about right.

Thanks for the info on travel times to Bar Harbour.

Tanya - we're staying at a friend's cottage in Arisaig.

Arasaig is a beautiful spot! Make sure you take the Sunrise Trail from Antigonish to your destination. It is a beautiful drive. If around lunchtime, check out the Silver Glen resort located in Mount Cameron Estates just outside of antigonish past the hospital. It is an old renovated barn with a breathtaking view. Another option is the small seafood restaurant at Cribbons Point Marina - great fish and chips.

There is so much to see along the Sunrise Trail. Past Arasaig there is Big Island - a great spot to have a picnic on the beach. The Towns of New Glasgow and Pictou both are located on the water and some great spots to stroll and enjoy the sights. Although you can take the divided highway to the NB border, the scenic drive as the Sunrise Trail continues from Pictou to Amherst is lovely. Many spots to stop and explore.

As I am writing this I am just up the coastline from Arasaig! The kids were swimming yesterday - mind you too cold for me :)