My wife and I, (senior citizens), are planning a driving trip to Nova Scotia starting last week of September for three weeks. The entire three weeks will be in NS. We intend to take the CAT from Bar Harbor and return through NB. We enjoy sightseeing, fine food, local color and hunting antiques. Would like some recommendations for an itinerary, including places to stay, restaurants, whale watching trips, Bay of Fundy, etc. Would also like some info regarding expected weather.

Regarding accommodations, we are interested in more up-scale locations where we can spend a few day?s (as a home base). This will be our first trip to NS

Any suggestions are appreciated

I always get stuff from government tourist bureaus before a trip. Nova Scotia, hands down, had the BEST, most complete booklet I've ever seen. If you don't have it yet, get it!

http://www.destination-ns.com/forms/guide.asp

I have just ordered this book. We want to visit in the spring of 2004. We (us and another couple) decided over a nice bottle of wine that this was our next trip together. We try to take a little holiday together each year is possible. They live in the Hershey, PA, area so the plan is for us to fly to their area, then drive from there up through New England into the Atlantic Provinces and then circle back along the St Lawrence and back down. We are of course open to ideas about things not to miss etc. Have not yet started serious research but will be doing so soon. Should be fun!

You might enjoy staying in one or more of the three government owned Signature Resorts in Nova Scotia. http://www.signatureresorts.com
I'd suggest taking the Lighthouse Route around the southern coast with stops at Lunenburg (Perfect Storm, seafaring town) and Halifax before heading out to Cape Brenton Island. Visit Louisbourg reconstruction (aka Williamsburg) for the history, Sydney, and Baddeck (Alexander Graham Bell) before heading up the Cabot Trail. Accommodations and restaurants are few and far between beyond Ingonish, but the scenery is well worth the trip! Stop in Wolfville and Digby (Bay of Fundy) if time allows before heading back through NB. The Reversing Falls and city market in Saint John are worth a stop and you might enjoy Campbello Island with the FDR connections before returning to Maine.

We just returned from N.S. We took the Scotia Prince from Portland. Stayed 6 nights. I recommend starting with the Evangeline Trail. Digby is a great whale watching location as well as Pleasant Bay in Cape Breton. The Annapolis Valley is beautiful and deserves some time, especially Wolfville and the Grand Pre Historic Site. Cape Breton and Baddeck should be your home base for awhile. One good piece of advice...ignore the lighthouse trail beyond Lunenburg. Also, the Marine Trail is similar in boredom and winding road. Go to novascotia.com and order a catalog and guide. They also have a B&B guide. All is free and a wonderful resource. You probably have plenty of time to go to Prince Edward Island. We stayed in B&B's and I used the Canada 4 star rating as my guide. I was not disappointed. There are beautiful inns that you can choose from. Have a good trip and be sure to do your homework with the guides. I also purchased "explore nova scotia " from Amazom. They delivered within the week.

If you ignore the Marine Drive as posted before you will miss some of the nicest and remote scenery in all of Nova Scotia! I would recommend to take the Marine Drive from Halifax to Cape Breton. Do not take the major highway. Overnight in Seawinds Landing in Carlos Cove. Ask for a room with great ocean views in their guesthouse, not in the main house. Have fun , Nova Scotia is beautiful. We return from Germany at least once a year, sometimes we come in summer AND in fall.
Karen

KarenE: What has the weather been like during your Fall visits to Nova Scotia?
I'll be visiting October 9 - 17, primarily in Cape Breton, and am hoping for rain-free hiking and fall colors (if not too late in the season).

Hello ForkinMouth, usually the weather in fall is nice. Warm days and cold nights. We always had a lot of sunny days and a little rain also. The fall colours should peak by the time you are going. On the South Shore they could be already fading though. But it always depends on the weather. This year we will be in Nova Scotia one week before you go. Last year we went exactly the same time like you - it was absolutely gorgeous!!!
Have fun!
Karen

Thanks "KarenE" for your post. We are really looking forward to our visit! Hope your stay is great!

We just returned from an eleven day tour of the Maritimes. We loved every place that we stayed--the Algonquin in St. Andrews, NB, Dalvay-by-the-Sea in PEI, Keltic Lodge in Cape Breton, and The Senator B&B in Lunenburg. We did a lot of driving, but the scenery was fabulous. And the people everywhere were incredibly friendly. If you have any specific questions you can e-mail me at [email protected].

Louisbourg aka Williamsburg???? I have never heard Louisbourg called Williamsburg!

If you are driving back through NB, I do suggest a few nights. We are every bit as lovley as NS. Saint John I could do without, maybe focus on Fredericton up through Woodstock and over the border at Houlton, or take the number 1 on the Ocean staying at St. Andrews. I would go to some of the islands as someone suggested before.

Just a note, Some of the trees are already starting to change. Not much yet, but within a week or two I am sure they will be more vibrant.

nEIL - DID YOU SPEND ANY TIME IN
HALIFAX? wHERE?
tHANKS FOR YOUR INFORMATIVE REPLY.
VHSHIRLEY

Attention Wow:
I believe that Louisbourg has much in common with Williamsburg. Both settlements have recreated period buildings on site. Both have reenactors in period costumes. Both charge admission and offer guided tours. They also both serve period meals in buildings onsite. When looking for a one or two word phrase to describe Louisbourg, what would you suggest?

Louisbourg

Wow you are obviously not a teacher! In his initial post, WillyA indicated that this was his first trip to NS and I presumed that he is from the states as he is taking "the Cat from Bar Harbor and" plans to "return through NB". It was my intent to give him some points of interest with indicators of what he could expect to experience there.

Since you are such an expert, perhaps we could all be better served if you would share more of your infinite knowledge in this forum rather than resorting to sarcastic one liners aka Rusty!

Shirley:

We did not visit Halifax, but you can probably get some helpful info at www.destinationhalifax.com.

Neil

Rusty who ??

Retired teacher, you can't really be a retired teacher or you would know that "aka" stands for "also known as" and you have used it incorrectly twice !!