To hotel or not hotel?
May 23rd, 2006, 04:50 PM
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To hotel or not hotel?
I would like to visit Nova Scotia late July, early August for about 10 days. I will be driving with another teacher friend from West Chester, Pa and we'd like to spend a night somewhere in New England.. maybe even Bar Harbor.?. We plan on taking the 3 hr ferry to Yarmouth. I need help with an itinerary. We love the beach, and hiking, nice restaurants, clean hotels, Irish music, an occasional glass of wine or martini, etc. I have never been to Nova Scotia before and neither has my friend. I definitely want to see Halifax. But for how long? We like flea markets, antiqueing, general markets and sailing.
From Halifax, I want to make my way to Cape Breton and drive and hike along the Cabot trail. Any suggestions for that journey and where to stay? How long do I plan for Cape Breton and do we need reservations?
Is it worth stopping at Prince Edward Island on the way back? I definitely want to see the Bay of Fundy and then back to Yarmouth.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm reading and researching, but it's much more helpful to get first hand suggestions.
Thanks.
Rosemary
From Halifax, I want to make my way to Cape Breton and drive and hike along the Cabot trail. Any suggestions for that journey and where to stay? How long do I plan for Cape Breton and do we need reservations?
Is it worth stopping at Prince Edward Island on the way back? I definitely want to see the Bay of Fundy and then back to Yarmouth.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm reading and researching, but it's much more helpful to get first hand suggestions.
Thanks.
Rosemary
May 23rd, 2006, 07:15 PM
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Ocean water is really cold, EXCEPT for a miracle of currents, where the water on the north shore of Prince Edward Island, and the shore of New Brunswick facing PEI is amazingly warm. So, for beach lovers who actually want to get int he water deeper than their ankles, PEI is a good bet.
Nova Scotia coast water near Chester, Peggy's Cove, Liscombe, etc. is very cold. The same for the Atlantic near Bar Harbor.
BAK
Nova Scotia coast water near Chester, Peggy's Cove, Liscombe, etc. is very cold. The same for the Atlantic near Bar Harbor.
BAK
May 24th, 2006, 02:32 AM
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Bar Harbour is a charming place and I would recommend you spend a night there before boarding the CAT.
If on a weekend in Nova Scotia, you will see lots of yard sales on the secondary roads. Keep an eye out for community markets and if in Halifax on a Saturday, make sure you visit the Farmer's Market at the Brewery. In Halifax, the Old Triangle may provide you with some "Irish" entertainment! Lots to do in Halifax! A big outdoor flea market on Sundays in Lr. Sackville.
If you love beaches, spend a couple of days in Pictou County. It is the same body of water as PEI. Melmerby Beach is a good one to visit as well as Caribou. Lots of charming B&B's in Pictou as well and great places to have a glass of wine! Check out Carver's Studio - there might even be a wood carving class going on. In New Glasgow the Dock is a traditional "Irish" pub with an Irish owner. For a great meal with scenery, try Pictou Lodge or in New Glasgow the Bistro has terrific food!
If on a weekend in Nova Scotia, you will see lots of yard sales on the secondary roads. Keep an eye out for community markets and if in Halifax on a Saturday, make sure you visit the Farmer's Market at the Brewery. In Halifax, the Old Triangle may provide you with some "Irish" entertainment! Lots to do in Halifax! A big outdoor flea market on Sundays in Lr. Sackville.
If you love beaches, spend a couple of days in Pictou County. It is the same body of water as PEI. Melmerby Beach is a good one to visit as well as Caribou. Lots of charming B&B's in Pictou as well and great places to have a glass of wine! Check out Carver's Studio - there might even be a wood carving class going on. In New Glasgow the Dock is a traditional "Irish" pub with an Irish owner. For a great meal with scenery, try Pictou Lodge or in New Glasgow the Bistro has terrific food!
May 24th, 2006, 06:36 AM
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i camped at the caribou/munroes provincial park up by pictou last year and the beach was beautiful and the water was warm. you can watch the ferries come in from pei as you relax on the beach. i loved the town of pictou.
after arriving in yarmouth, i'd drive up to lunenburg or mahone bay and spend the first night there. next day go visit peggy's cove then onto halifax for 3 nights. i stayed at the waverley inn and thought it was great. then go up to the pictou or antigonish area for a night.
then, onto cape breton. for 3 nights. i took a sail boat trip out on the lake from baddeck and it was a nice way to spend a morning. when leaving cape breton, plan on spending a 1/2 (or more if you are into forts) at fort louisberg then work your way back to yarmouth via the fundy coast line (but, by my schedule, you are running out of time.)
have fun. remember that driving around nova scotia is beautiful but you can not travel too fast so don't try to book too much in or you'll just be rushing the whole time.
after arriving in yarmouth, i'd drive up to lunenburg or mahone bay and spend the first night there. next day go visit peggy's cove then onto halifax for 3 nights. i stayed at the waverley inn and thought it was great. then go up to the pictou or antigonish area for a night.
then, onto cape breton. for 3 nights. i took a sail boat trip out on the lake from baddeck and it was a nice way to spend a morning. when leaving cape breton, plan on spending a 1/2 (or more if you are into forts) at fort louisberg then work your way back to yarmouth via the fundy coast line (but, by my schedule, you are running out of time.)
have fun. remember that driving around nova scotia is beautiful but you can not travel too fast so don't try to book too much in or you'll just be rushing the whole time.
May 24th, 2006, 06:53 AM
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Hi Rosemary,
I'm in the West Chester Area myself.
WE've done this trip, and spent 6 days in NS. We've never spent SO MUCH time in the car-NS is bigger than you think!
I think 10 days would be great to spend just in NS. You can see the Bay of Fundt effect from Brier Island, which is on the Northwesternmost end of NS. Brier Island turned out to be just about our favorite stop, maybe because we didn't have great weather while we were on the Cape Breton end.
~Liz
I'm in the West Chester Area myself.
WE've done this trip, and spent 6 days in NS. We've never spent SO MUCH time in the car-NS is bigger than you think!
I think 10 days would be great to spend just in NS. You can see the Bay of Fundt effect from Brier Island, which is on the Northwesternmost end of NS. Brier Island turned out to be just about our favorite stop, maybe because we didn't have great weather while we were on the Cape Breton end.
~Liz
