Driving from Chicago 2014
 

Hi, sorry I may have missed this on another board. Looking for best suggestions for a trip to a coastal town, preferably ocean as opposed to lake. We will be driving from Chicago. Distance is not as much of a concern since we have driven to both the East Coast and West Coast for trips, but would like to try to keep it a shorter driving distance. The three places I have looked at so far are Prince Edward Island (further than I really wanted), Quebec, and Parlee Beach. Trip will probably be 7 - 10 days. Any ideas other than what I have already thought of?
Thanks for any suggestions! :)
Lisa

If a shorter drive is more important that the ocean, the Georgian Bay area would be my pick.

Mark

As you probably know, you can more-or-less follow the Great Lakes system all the way from Chicago (itself a lakeside beach town) to the Atlantic Ocean, finding both fresh and salt waters with cities and resorts and parks of various sorts. In one fairly long day you could drive from Chicago to Prince Edward County a couple of hours east of Toronto. It sticks into the chilly Lake Ontario waters and has become a centre for restaurants and small wineries drawing on local produce. Then continue to your possible destination in Quebec.

Although Quebec is a fabulous vacation spot, I wouldn't choose it for a beach vacation. I've been to Tadoussac, which is a charming beachside town, but the water is frigid and not particularly inviting. On the other hand, there are some nice lakeside resort towns like Magog and North Hatley. Being immersed in Quebec's French culture is fun, and you can explore the countryside on some of the world's best bike paths.

My suggestion would be to take the Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle and then either go to Vancouver BC or take the ferry to Victoria. What month were you planning on traveling?
The water temperature is a lot better in Vancouver than in Nova Scotia or the Bay of Fundy.

Have you considered flying to Halifax & renting a car to drive to PEI? Or, Cape Breton Island?

OB1

Is this a joke?

From Chicago to Parlee Beach Provincial Park is 2400km/1500 miles. Most would say a 3 day drive. ONE WAY.

A 7-10 day vacation out of which 6 will be spent driving!

Dulcius,
Throttle back. OP is simply asking a question. No need to be so rude.

Perhaps OP is simply contemplating following your motto: The more difficult something is, the more satisfaction we take in having triumphed over it.( Dulcius Ex Asperis).

OB1((h))

you don't have enough time to get to the maritimes and enjoy it unless, as suggested, fly to halifax and rent a car. i was going to suggest just staying in the states and maybe going to martha's vineyard but even that is a 17 hour drive, one way. i think you need to do more research or extend the vacation. just for the record, i found parlee beach to be really, really packed, when i was there.

There's nothing difficult about 6 days of driving OceanBreeze, just a lot of time in a 7-10 day vacation. Nothing 'sweeter after difficulties'.

Dulcius,
That depends on your perspective. I hate driving. For me it is difficult. I would never do that drive. Never. So, I would never have the opportunity to test your motto/maxim. For me, it would be "sweeter after flying!"

BTW, I love your screen name!

OB1((h))