lizzyp

My husband and I are Planning a road trip up the east coast from NE Pa. Itinerary to include Quebec City,; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and New Foundland to explore family roots to Boston.

2 1/2 week trip in mid June. Wide open to suggestions of each destination; lodging, ethnic food, history, and culture. We love bed and breakfast; local eatery and exploring the culture.

No extreme adventure excursions-too old; but enjoy walking around!

laverendrye

With 2 /12 weeks including driving time to and from PA and time in Boston, you really don't have time for Newfoundland. You need a minimum of a week there, plus the better part of two days for the ferry there and back, and that's only seeing the east or west coast. I would plan a separate trip there some time, fly there and rent a car. It's a magnificent part of Canada, but it takes time to enjoy it.

For the rest of your trip, Quebec City and environs are worth two to three days, and in New Brunswick you would want to see the St. John River Valley and the Fundy Coast (including St. Andrews and Hopewell Cape). In Nova Scotia, certainly Halifax, the Lunenburg Area and Cape Breton, including the Cabot Trail and Louisbourg.

Scotia

I agree with laverendrye. On this trip eliminate Newfoundland. Having returned from New Brunswick I recommend the Delta Fredericton which is on the Saint John River and the Garden Gate Bed and Breakfast in St. Andrews. The latter was the first time staying at a B and B, and found the hosts very friendly, helpful and the rooms updated, clean and bright. The grounds are lovely as is the entire B and B.

lizzyp

Thanks for the suggestion we love B&B(stayed in a few). We decided to fly into Quebec. Stay two days and move on by rental car. We didn't want to eliminate Newfoundland because I am searching for fraternal roots. We may skip Nova Scotia.

Any suggestions about sighting seeing in Quebec and restaurants? Any for new Foundland. Any suggestions for restaurants in New Brunswick we love local food!

BC_Robyn

I'll let the others pipe in for restaurant recommendations, but it's Newfoundland - all one word, pronounced "Newf'n-LAND" or Noofin-LAND, with the stress on the "land" just like understand.

BC_Robyn

Also, I have been to Quebec City, but over a decade ago. I have yet to visit the Maritimes and Newfoundland. I am a bit of a foodie, I also enjoy ethnic food and local foods, but from my recollection of Quebec City, and my understanding of the Maritimes and Newfoundland is that ethnic food is not that region's forte. Go with local foods.

In Quebec City, Quebecois staples like tourtiere would be a must. Here's a recent overview of some Quebec City favourites, according to this National Geographic writer:

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/tr...n-quebec-city/

For the Maritimes, lobster, oysters, and scallops are a must. Fiddleheads are a locally foraged specialty. Blueberries, cloudberries (called bakeapples in Newfoundland) and PEI potatoes are also local products I'd try to seek out when dining in that region.

Scotia

I still cannot figure out how one gets to Newfoundland without going to Nova Scotia unless one flies from N.B. Perhaps you can give us your itinerary.

eliztravels2

I also suggest you leave Newfoundland for another trip, although with 2.5 weeks from Quebec city it is possible to fit it in.

. When you say ‘searching for your roots” does that mean you know of specific places your ancestors came from that you want to visit, or that you want to do research into your genealogy while you are in the maritimes? Or do just want to just get a general feel for the home of your forefathers?

My recommendation is that you spend some time of Google maps plotting out driving times from the places you most want to see, and of course factor in the ferry crossings. Check out one-way car rentals. If you do up a draft itinerary for us to see and we can be more helpful.

nfldbeothuk

As Scotia says, travelling by car will require NS in order to reach NL. It will be a tight fit, time-wise--I'm a native NLer and have driven straight through the Maritimes a number of times, heading to further destinations, but to actually enjoy the byways of NB and have time to reach NL, especially since a full day is needed just to cross the island.
Map it out, as eliztravels says. The ferry is 6 hours sea time, + the 2-hours-earlier arrival needed to confirm your reservation. If you are "too old" for adventures you will probably want a cabin--book early! And 1-way car rentals from Quebec City with drop-off in NL are highly unlikely, without a breathtaking $$$ penalty.
I suspect things like tortiere and fish 'n brewis are what the OP means by ethnic food--if so the Maritimes will fulfill their hopes.

But if you have a specific area in NL that you want to explore, you will have to have a strict and workable schedule. My home province is not a quick "in 'n out" trip!

lizzyp

Excellent suggestions, thank you. We May need to make the trip longer since Newfoundland is a must! We will be specific about routes after more research.

And yes I am researching my ancestry. That will determine some stops.

Bette

QC dining recommendation:
We very much enjoyed our dinner at Au Anciens Canadiens:
http://www.auxancienscanadiens.qc.ca/en/index.htm

Shopaholicgran

We did Nova Scotia last year and one of the locals told us we had to visit Lunenburg and it was spectacular. We are going back this year in July and we rented a 2 bedroom cottage in Halifax on the water for $600 for a week which is cheap "SEAVIEW COTTAGE( New River Beach Provincial Park area)book 2017" Ad on Kijiji: p. [email protected],. We also booked a 1 bedroom cottage on the water in New Brunswick for 1 week for $675. their information is "Quiet Cozy Waterfront Cottage" [email protected]
It was so beautiful we had to visit again this year to see some of the beauty we did not get to see last year. We also visited Shediac, Pugwash, Pictou, PEI, Peggys Cove every area has wineries, museums a lot of history. The locals are all eager to point you in the right direction for great food and history.

lizzyp

Excellent - we will do the mapping! Drove from NY to Mexico City before Goggle so it will be an improvement. Love the idea of cottages but doubt we will be able to stay a week any one place. Maybe after this 3 week trip.

Thank you,

Liz

birdtoner

Hi there

As others have said, newfoundland takes a long time on it's own - the distances are large. My family and I are planning 2 weeks there this summer and we are only doing the west coast sites in order to keep the pace relaxed. You could do both newfoundland coasts in 2 weeks/10 days if you pushed it and planned to arrive on one side (St Johns by flight or Argentia by ferry) and depart from the other ( deer lake by flight or Port Aux Basques by ferry)
Cheers
Brig

lizzyp