Nova Scotia etc.
 

I will be driving from Maine to New Brunswick, to PEI and Nova Scotia in July. Is it faster to drive through Bangor on the highway to N.B. or along the shore route? Which is better to spend a day visiting, St. Andrews or St. John in N.B?Is it worth going to the Fundy Nat.Park and the Hopewell Rocks? How long to drive from St. John through the Park to Amherst? Where is the best place to see the Tidal Bore? Which way do you drive around Cabot Trail? I understand it is a one way road.
Someone told me you can take a tour bus around Cabot Trail so you don't have to drive it? Where do you get this tour bus? How long to drive from Halifax to Baddeck? Is Summerside worth visiting? Has anyone done the Evangeline Trail? I heard it costs $25 CAD to cross the Conferderation Bridge. Is this true? Obviously my first visit, but thanks for all your help.

Hi there! Glad you have chosen the Maritimes for your visit. I'll allow someone with more knowledge speak to you about NB.

The Confederation Bridge is $38.50 for a car. You pay the toll when you exit PEI. If you are arriving from NB and heading to NS and first Cape Breton, you could take the ferry off the Island from Wood Islands to Caribou. The cost is approx $50 (car and passengers). From Pictou you are about a 1.5 hour drive to the entrance of Cape Breton and about another hour to Baddeck(+-) depending on traffic. Halifax to Baddeck is about 3.5 hours. Doesn't matter which way you travel the Cabot Trail it is breathtaking! Don't know of any specific "bus" that would take you around but I am sure there are tour companies that do so.

for NB, St. Andrews is nicer than Saint John. Saint John is a port city, with lots of oil tanks, a refinery, big ships etc. There are a few nice area's but over all, not the nicest city in the area by any means. St. Andrews is a resort town. There are many boat tours you can take for whale watching, etc. Lots of cute b&b's. The Algonquin is a famous hotel built in the 1890's (Stephen King wrote one of his bookes at this hotel for that one with the creepy hotel and the guy goes crazy, can't remember what it is called) Along Water street there are lonts of shops and restaurants. A nice thing about St. Andrews is that a town bylaw prohibits large business so there will be no Walmarts and crap like that to ruin the sea side town.

I have to say, I am not sure of driving distances from Saint John to Fundy and so on.

Janecita:

Taking I-95 past Bangor to the NB border will get you to NB faster. However the areas your looking to see (St Andrews, Fundy) are much-much closer on the shore route and in summer the roads are fine (albeit a standard road rather than highway there shouldn't be a lot of traffic) ... and if your going that route don't forget Campabello Island (FDRs summer home is the main tourist attrication there) ...

Cabot Trail is a two way road but depending on the direction your going for parts of it you'll be on the 'cliff' side or the 'wall' side & nervous drivers tend to prefer the 'wall' side ...

I've never driven from Saint John to Amerst directly (but have done the parts individually) so would put it at under 4 hours (I recall my sister saying its ~5 hours from Fundy to New Glasgow with a tent trailer) ...

PEI is worth visiting but not a lot in Summerside ...

Z

PS Lissa - The Shining

Thanks ever so much for all your advice. I am looking forward to my first strip there.I am thinking about taking the Scotia Prince back to Maine. Has anyone taken it. Do I need to make reservations long in advance? Where can I stay in Yarmouth that is not too expensive?

Driving the shore road will take a *lot* longer -- in summer you can count on creeping through Camden/Belfast, and the Boothbay/Bar Harbor areas. However, it's a much, much more scenic and interesting drive than the inland route, which is one of the most boring long drives possible in New England.

You would also do well to heed the advice about skipping St John, especially the well-publicized and utterly forgettable Reversing Rapids.

Finally, you should definitely have a reservation for the Scotia Prince if you're taking a car. (You'd also need one if you wanted a sleeping cabin, but those aren't as useful on the daytime Yarmouth-Portland crossing.

Don't forget there is always the CAT from Yarmouth to Bar Harbour. Only a 3 hour trip

I did a home exchange in NS in 1992. We took the Scotia Prince both ways. If you just want to take it over at night, it is quite expensive one way. You get a huge break on a round trip as fewer people want to take it back during the day.

If you are going over at night, you may be too late to book a cabin so get crackin'. I do recommend a cabin both ways (from Yarmouth to Portland during the day there is only a nominal charge for one because the demand is slight). A cabin gives you a place to sleep at night and a private toilet during the day (and a place to nap or rest).

During the Yarmouth to Portland trip during the day there are films for kids in an effort to keep them busy. Please note that many people do the trip simply to gamble in international waters.

More Spam regarding Cape Breton on the Canada board by the previous poster - I can see this being a regular occurance so can the moderators please get rid of it.
Thanks!

Last summer, we spent two weeks traveling to Bar Harbor, ME, New Brunswick and PEI. It was a great trip, but lots of driving. After spending 3 nights in Bar Harbor, we headed up Route 1 to Campabello Island for a tour of the FDR summer home and a 2 hour hike on one of the island trails. We continued on to St. Andrews and spent 2 nights at the Algonquin. Both places were very worthwhile. The Algonquin is pricey, but nice. We did not choose to eat there as we preferred the more casual places on Water Street with a water view. From St. Andrews, we continued on to St. John. We only spent a couple of hours in St. John, visiting it's large indoor market, a few shops and a historic home. About 45 minutes from St. John is St. Martins. The Fundy Trail originates here and we spent the remainder of our afternoon hiking it. We overnighted at the St. Martins Country Inn, a charming Victorian B&B. The next morning we headed to Fundy National Park and hiked one of its coastal trails for a couple of hours--wish we had spent more time here. We then headed to the Hopewell Rocks. We planned our visit to arrive at low tide and we not disappointed--this is a cool place. We spent about an hour walking amongst the rocks. Next, we headed to Port Elgin, a few minutes from the Confederation Bridge, arriving in time for dinner at the Little Shemogue Country Inn where we stayed over night. We had a wonderful dinner here and the location was gorgeous. Our 4 nights at PEI were spent at the Inn at Bay Fortune on the east side of PEI. We spent our days touring the island and our evenings enjoying the very fine restaurants at the Inn and its sister property, the Inn at Spry Point. We returned to the US via Fredericton, NB, staying 2 nights there and visiting Kings Landing, another worthwhile place to go. Let me know if I can answer any questions. BTW, we visited Nova Scotia in 1989 and did the Cabot Trail clockwise. I have also heard that the Tidal Bore is a waste of time.

To Tartantours: Advertising is NOT permitted here. The very best way to ensure that everyone who peruses this forum to otherwise ignore your "plug" is to disregard the posting guidelines. Not to mention that it would appear that the original poster mentioning your services was no more than a "plant" and otherwise not worth paying any attention otherwise, when they may very well, indeed, be chock full of useful information and advise.

To whom it may consern, First I want to say I am sorry I had not read your posting guidelines & I am in error for that. Second is that I do not know Tanya in any way shape or form. It sounds like she is a very informed person about Nova Scotia & Cape Breton Island. She knows her stuff when it comes to Tourism, any backlash should be refered to me & me only. Thank You for your time.

Hi, I am not trying to be picky, but in NB we spell Saint John, not St. John. I am guessing the reasoning is because of St. John's in NFLD. I think it help seperate the two cities, as they are both on the east coast and come people may get confused, I don't know, but just for future reference.

I can honestly say I posted the website in reference to what the poster had requested specificaly. No association whatsoever. I am just a NS'er who loves to help people experience our Province!

I certainly appreciate all the advice I am getting. Now I need some information about places to stay at Yarmouth, PEI an Baddeck. Not too expensive, I am travling with a 16 year old. Also, what do you recommend to see along the Evangeline Trail? Thanks