Happenstance1201

Two of my friends and I have decided to take a last minute road trip in the Maritimes the last week of June and first week of July. One of the friends was involved in car accident about two years ago and now has an back which is causing the friend to get depressed since she used to lead a very active life. The trip is mainly for her and we're focusing on short hikes and scenic drives. We have outlined the general itinerary of the trip but haven't worked out the details yet. We'd like to get feedback to see if what we're planning is realistic, if we're hitting all the hot spots, and asking for advice.

Days 1-4: PEI
We’re starting out in PEI. We plan to stay about 4 days here.
1. Camping: Instead of staying in hotels or B&B's, we decided to camp in at one of the campsites in Cavendish.
2. Clamming: We've decided to partially "live off the land". I've read that there are paid guides that take you out to go clamming. Can we go clamming w/o a guide? If so, do we have to get permits for it?
3. Scenic Coastal Drive: Is it worth it to do all 3?
North Cape Coastal Drive
Central Coastal Drive
Points East Coastal Drive.
4. Scenic Heritage Roads:Walls Road: Which of these have the most flowers and breath-taking landscapes?
Hackney Road
Millman Road
Princetown - Warburton Road
Perry Road
Junction Road
Jack’s Road
Klondyke Road
County Line Road
Mellish Pond Road
New Harmony Road
Currie-Farrar Road
McKenna-Appin Road
County Line Road - Anne's Land
MacArthur Road
Glen Road
-Some of the most scenic areas of the Island are found along the Blue Heron Drive, and a Land Trust has been formed in the name of Montgomery to protect some of the pastoral vistas so typical of Prince Edward Island.

5. Hiking Trails: We’re looking for beautiful trails. Could you please recommend ones that aren’t very difficult?
6. Anne of Green Gables: Plan to visit Green Gables since our friend is an Anne of Green Gables fan. I read somewhere that LM Montgomery's relatives give tours of the house she used live in.
7. The Royal Tour (Prince William and Kate Middleton): We’ll actually be in PEI when Prince William and Kate Middleton will be visiting. We’ve been looking for some updates to see if we want to participate in some of the activities haven’t been able to find a list of events for this. If someone knows where to find a list of events, please share!
8. PEI Eats:
- Lobster Supper (Fisherman's Wharf): Read pretty good reviews about the Fisherman's Wharf's 60ft long salad bar. If there's a better place for Lobster Suppers, please advise!
- Mi'kmaq Eats: Is there anywhere we can get Mi'kmaq cuisine?
- Seaweed Pie: Is this a definite must try?
9. Ferry to Nova Scotia: I hear the ferry ride is about 1.5 hrs. Is there a faster one?
10. Are there any must sees and dos that I’m missing?

Days 5-6: Nova Scotia
1. Cape Brenton: Take the Cabot Trail to Cape Brenton and follow the trail from Pleasant Bay to Cape Smokey. Possible camping at the Alexander Graham Bell Park (Baddeck).
2. Fortress of Louisbourg: This is a possible stop. We haven’t decided on this but would like to stop if we have enough time and if it’s worth seeing.
3. Peggy’s Cover & Lunenberg: Read that these towns are worth seeing. Very picturesque.
4. Bras d'Or Lakes Scenic Drive: We probably won’t have time to do the entire drive, but we’d like to at least see the lake. We’re trying to incorporate part of this route on our way to NB.

Days 7-8: New Brunswick:
1. Moncton: If we have time, we’d like to check out the Bore on the Petitcodiac River and the famous Magnetic Hill. We haven’t decided on this yet.
2. Hopewell Cape: We’d like to go during low tide so can explore the sea caves. Are there sea caves in this area? Where are the best sea caves in the Bay of Fundy?
3. Saint John: Take the Fundy Coastal Drive to Saint John, via St. Martins, to visit the Old City Market and Reversing Tides.
4. Saint Andrews: We’d like to plan a nature cruise that goes through the narrow island passages of the Deer Island Archipelago en route to the open Bay of Fundy.
5. Clamming & Crabbing: I actually heard stories that people just pick up crabs right off the ocean floor during low tide. Does anyone know of where we can go to do this too?

mat54

A couple comments on Cape Breton:
The Cabot Trail is a circle route. The portion through Cape Breton Highlands National Park is the most spectacular. Baddeck is essentially on the trail at the south end. Baddeck is also on Bras d'Or Lake so you will see it if you stop or stay in Baddeck. There are campgrounds in the park as well as elsewhere.

Fortress of Louisbourg is a bit out of the way, but if this kind of thing interests you, then worth the diversion. If natural landscapes are more what you're looking for you might skip it.

Lots of hiking trails in Cape Breton. Go to the National Park website for descriptions of those ones. Popular ones include Skyline Trail, also Middle Head Peninsula.

Hopewell Rocks are quite spectacular especially at low tide. Alma and adjacent Fundy National Park also highlight the dramatic tides, especially if you can plan to be there for both low and high (otherwise target low - there are tide tables online).

I've never clammed in Atlantic Canada but I have noticed that coastal areas that look promising often have warning signs posted - Red Tide (a toxic algae). Most of the clams and mussels you purchase these days are farmed and tested for toxins and microorganisms. If there are clamming tour operators, I would consider them. I don't know about picking crabs off the ocean floor. I've only ever seen very small ones. Big ones (e.g. Snow Crabs) you need a license to fish and they have to be in season.