Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Canada
Reload this Page >

NB, Nova Scotia, and PEI this summer or fall

NB, Nova Scotia, and PEI this summer or fall

Old Mar 12th, 2013, 11:23 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
NB, Nova Scotia, and PEI this summer or fall

My wife and I are planning on taking our first trip to NB, Nova Scotia, and PEI this summer or fall. We'll be flying from Alberta and rent a car to drive around there, plan to have two weeks in total time (hopefully will have 11 to 12 days to spend in these three provinces). Major interests are scenery drives, mild day hikes, local histories.
Hope someone can help with the following questions.
1. Which city should we fly to, considering the frequency of flights from Toronto (our transfer place), the local car rental prices, and less overlapped drive once there?
2. Which month is the best time to go? - Do they have the full fall color as in Quebec and Ontario, and if yes, will it be late September or early October? Will that time also be good for visiting Cape Breton and other places? Is July or August too crowded with travelers? (Some say May or June is too cold there, is that true?)
3. Should we also consider visiting Acadia NP in Maine? Is Acadia NP similar to Cape Breton or are they totally different?
Thanks!
Rimwall is offline  
Old Mar 12th, 2013, 12:46 PM
  #2  
LJ
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,759
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
1. Halifax works best for air travel. Porter is cheaper, but longer than AC as you have to go via Ottawa or Montreal, and West Jet is fine as long as you can fly direct.

2. True fall colours, yes and probably mid-October is best if that is a draw...otherwise, mid-May through mid-September is best for hiking. July and August are marginally more crowded but we were in Cape Breton (#1 on tourist agenda for Maritimes)early last August and were surprised at the lack of crowds. Reservations were no problem.

3. Acadia is charming, but the Cape Breton Highlands have it beat hands down for spectacular beauty. Also, Acadia, Mount Desert and Bar Harbour?now that IS crowded in high season.

I am more knowledgable about NS and will leave others to comment on NB and PEI-remember there are LONG drives involved here so plan carefully!

If you do come to NS, don't just go to Cape Breton. The South Shore/Lighthouse Route is great (Peggy's Cove, Mahone Bay, Lunenburg UNESCO World Heritage Site). Amazing beaches, great old fishing towns, Kejimkujik Park. Then heading east out of Halifax, even surfing. Halifax itself is well-worth a visit, grand views, great harbour, history of Pier 21, the Maritime Museum and Citadel, and the Hydrastone area, and wonderful restaurants.

Have fun wherever you end up going!
LJ is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2013, 09:43 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
LJ,
Thank you so much for the detailed info and good suggestions!
If we choose early or mid-October to go for the reason of seeing the full fall colors, will it be too cold/windy/foggy/cloudy for other parts of NS and PEI? (some tour book says many B&Bs and hotels/motels will be closed by mid-October?)
What's the weather like in mid-May? Is it generally not a good time for first timers like us?
Rimwall is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2013, 06:43 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 7,559
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hello, Rimwall,

Forget mid-May/June. It's too cold.

For good weather, the optimum time to visit is mid-July to mid-Sept. Don't worry about crowds. I would not plan my trip around leaves. But that's just me.

We always go to Cape Breton for Thanksgiving. Sometimes it is warm and sunny. Sometimes it is cool/cold, rainy and foggy. Sometimes it is all of the above over a 5 day period!

For good weather, optimize your chances by going mid-July to mid-Sept.

OB1
OceanBreeze1 is offline  
Old Mar 16th, 2013, 07:38 AM
  #5  
ltt
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,466
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
although the fall colors on cape breton would be fabulous...i would be leary planning my trip around that. if they get an early "cold", they could all be gone by the time you get there. i'd probably pick september, after the long weekend. that way, you would avoid most of the kids/tourists but the weather would still be nice and water still swimable. a lot of my friends grew up on pei and they traditionally say that mid august is the best time if looking for hot weather/water. personally, i would consider cutting out one of the provinces...you don't really have enough time.
ltt is offline  
Old Mar 16th, 2013, 08:18 AM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi OceanBreeze1,ltt and LJ,
Your good suggestions help a lot in my planning for the trip. Now I have decided to go in end of Aug and early Sept, or all in early Sept.
If I need to cut off one province, should that be NB?
If we want to try one Acadian feast, any suggestion on which restaurant in which city is the best choice?
Many thanks!
Rimwall is offline  
Old Mar 17th, 2013, 12:12 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,765
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yeah, I wouldn't plan such a first trip around leaves either...

And given all you've mentioned, I think I would shoot for early-to-mid September. After Labour Day, and while the weather is still fine.

If flying in, and with 11 or 12 days, you should have time to see all of those places. PEI just simply can't occupy too much of your time. It is quaint, and un-trampled, but PEI just isn't that big...

Before I get lost here, let me suggest the hike to Cape Split, NS as a reasonable hike. You drive as far as you can, to a parking lot, and then hike a 5-mile round trip with no serious hills and at the end, you're out on a bluff, overlooking the Bay of Fundy, perhap with rushing tides all around.

Nowthen, if you fly to Halifax, Cape Breton is such a priority that you should probably get right to it upon leaving Halifax. Maybe 3 nights there, and then choose between Ferrying from Pictou, NS to PEI, or driving around and taking the Confederation Bridge. Visit PEI for 2 or 3 nights, and then leave via the bridge, cutting over to at least Moncton, NB, and down to Hopewell Cape, and potentially on a circle through Fundy National Park before returning to Moncton (unless inclined to visit Saint John or Fredericton) and then back into NS.

The northwestern shore of NS is worthy of your attention, and it is on the path there that you'd find Cape Split. Investigate the areas of Digby and Annapolis Royal as spots to stay for a night or two.

Maybe even circle around southern NS or, at least, cut across strategically so as to visit Lunenburg and Peggy's Cove enroute back to Halifax. There are many, many pleasant nature drives in and around the area (and FOG can do a number on just about any of them at times).

You should be able to cover most of the highlights with the time you have.
NorthwestMale is offline  
Old Mar 19th, 2013, 12:16 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If Cape Breton is a priority, save it for last -- you'll remember it more vividly than the rest of your itinerary, and the drive back to the airport is a relatively easy half-day run from the Baddeck area. Allow yourself four nights in Cape Breton, so with 12 days, start with

Arrival Day: Overnight in Halifax

Day 2 Overnight Halifax, with a day of sightseeing around the city including Citadel Hill and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, walking along the waterfront and an inexpensive and very scenic ferry ride across the harbour and back.

Day 2 When you leave Halifax in the morning, drive to Peggy's Cove for breakfast at the restaurant by the lighthouse, the Sou'Wester, but check the cruise ship schedule before you do - cruise ships mean heavy visitor loads at Peggy's Cove, Travel along Nova Scotia's South Shore to Lunenburg and spend the remainder of your day/evening in this beautiful town.

Day 3 Across the "spine" of Nova Scotia via Kejimkujik National Park to Annapolis Royal area for overnight.

Day 4 Ferry from Digby, Nova Scotia to Saint John, New Brunswick and travel about 1 hour south to St. Andrews by the Sea for a two-night stay

Day 5 Sightseeing around St. Andrews including whale watching on the Fundy.

Day 6 Drive via Moncton and the Confederation Bridge to Prince Edward Island for a three-night stay, taking in the North Shore of the Island and Prince Edward Island National Park, plus all kinds of culinary delights: lobster, oysters, mussels, etc.

Day 7 Take the ferry back to Nova Scotia and drive via the Canso Causeway to Cape Breton Island. Take the Ceilidh Trail along the west coast of Cape Breton to Cheticamp -- this is where you'll run into the fewest tourists -- and stop at the Genora Distillery to see how Nova Scotia Highland Whisky is made.

Day 8 Cabot Trail (clockwise) to Baddeck, with wonderful views along the way, for a three-night stay.

Day 8 Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, where you'll step back in time to the summer of 1744 and walk in the footsteps of the French soldiers who were stationed in this remote outpost. Be sure to have lunch on site in one of the restaurants, offering 18th-Century fare.

Day 9 A day to relax, take a boat tour on the Bras d'Or Lakes or golf, or perhaps take one of the hikes outlined in Nova Scotia's travel guide.

Day 10 Return to the airport.

Have fun!
JeanKnowles is offline  
Old Mar 19th, 2013, 03:36 PM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi NorthwestMale and JeanKnowles,
Thank you so much for your detailed suggestions! They for sure will greatly enhance our first ever experiences in Atlantic Canada.
Rimwall is offline  
Old Mar 24th, 2013, 11:38 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Another option is to fly into Moncton and use that as a base to see NB and PEI, and then drive to Halifax for the NS part of the holiday.

In the NB portion of your stay there are some great hiking trails in Fundy National Park (about an hours drive outside Moncton), as well as the Rocks at Hopewell Rocks (go during low tide to stroll the water area before the tide comes back in..don't get stranded!). There are beautiful beaches (Parlee Beach to name one) just 20 minutes outside of Moncton that will be wonderfully warm in August and Sept, as well as National parks , like Kouchibouquac, where there are more hiking trails, as well as the boardwalk in Bouctouche. For the nostalgic minded there is a drive in theater in Shediac that runs in the summertime until labor day, I believe.

From Moncton you can pop over to PEI (about an hour and a half drive to Charlottetown) for a day or two (it is a small island with lots of beaches, a great bike trail that follows the old railway line and stops at interesting little towns along the way, and live theater at the Confederation Centre). Lots of tourist stops like crafts, and food, and of course Lobster. From Woods Island you can catch a ferry to Pictou Nova Scotia, thus saving crossing NB again. And then all the other things that others have mentioned. You could fly out of Hfx and you will have had a great view of the Maritime provinces. Enjoy!
beba is offline  
Old Mar 24th, 2013, 06:39 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,765
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
LOL @ "Don't get stranded"


I think the urgency of the posted sign gets that message across to most.
NorthwestMale is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2013, 01:07 PM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks a lot, beba! I am reading the tour books and introduction to NPs in these provinces, trying to nail down my must-sees within my time limit. Your suggestions give me more options.
Rimwall is offline  
Old May 29th, 2013, 01:49 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 479
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What great suggestions! I am printing out for my own file. we have this on the bucket list.

Pat
wanttogo is offline  
Old Jul 30th, 2013, 05:26 PM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bookmarking!
beph03 is offline  
Old Aug 1st, 2013, 11:40 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I just got back from an amazing trip to Nova Scotia a few weeks ago and the Cabot Trail was my favourite part of our trip. We flew out of Toronto into Halifax via Air Canada and it was great - no layovers and quick flights.

If you are looking for places to eat, stay, visit and things to do in Nova Scotia, check out my series of blog posts on our trip (just scroll down to the bottom to the beginning):
http://www.mysocalledorganizedlife.c...h/label/travel

Our itinerary was as follows:
1) Halifax
2) Peggy's Cove/Mahone Bay/Lunenburg
3) Baddeck
4) Ingonish
5) Meat Cove/Cheticamp
6) Inverness/Mabou
7) Mabou/Port Hood
8) Halifax
AmberLeigh is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
sulurph
Canada
5
Sep 14th, 2014 08:08 PM
vjulka
Canada
9
Apr 4th, 2013 09:46 PM
jhberkley
Canada
4
Jun 2nd, 2008 06:21 AM
Brandon77
Canada
18
May 9th, 2004 09:23 AM
Sara
Canada
7
May 20th, 2002 07:52 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -