After staying in PEI for a week, we are planning to drive thru New Brunswick to Maine and stayin Bar Harbor for a couple of days. Now I'm thinking of adding a day into the trip so we can stop off and see a little of Hopewell Rocks and the Fundy National park. Can anyone give me drive times from, say Confederation Bridge to Hopewell Rocks, Rocks-to FundyNP or Alma, Alma-St John and finally St John-Bar Harbor? I'm trying to figure out how to break up the drive, and where to stay. I'm considering the Captains Inn in Alma as a place to stay...somebody here recommended it. Any other ideas?

thanks!

Hi. I grew up about 5 km's from the Hopewell Rocks so I should be able to give you some fairly reliable driving times (plus answer any other questions you have about the area).

Confederation Bridge to Hopewell Rocks - 90 minutes driving time (I think it's about an hour from the bridge to Moncton and it's only a 1/2 hour from Moncton to the Rocks)

Hopewell Rocks to Alma/Fundy - 1/2 hour

Alma to Saint John (sorry, it's Saint to St.) - between an 60 to 75 minutes

Saint John to Bar Harbour - not sure. It's one hour from Saint John to the Maine border but I'm not sure of driving times to Bar Harbour.

I'm not sure about accommodations in Alma (as I haven't stayed over night there in over 20 years). Captain's Inn is right in Alma. I'm sure it would be fine, but I really can't say more than that.

Other ideas for accommodations:

www.falconridgeinn.nb.ca - I've seen this place on the top of the hill (so not right in Alma but close). It's pretty new and looks very nice. It would have fantastic views of the Bay.

http://www.fundyparkchalets.com/ - I stayed in one of these years ago (and planning on staying here this summer when I go home to visit). They are absolutely NOTHING FANCY, but are in a great location in Fundy National Park, which is where I prefer to be. They overlook the golfcourse and are right next to a nice restaurant. It's about a 10 minute walk to Alma from here.

http://www.cliffsidesuites.com/suites.html - these look fantastic but I can't say more than that.

http://www.parklandvillageinn.com/ - this would likely be fine as well. Right on Main Street in Alma. Five minute walk to Fundy. I've had dinner at their restaurant many times and it's quite good. Nothing fancy but good seafood, etc.

When are you planning to go?

Hi Caryanne

we are going in August. I actually checked the tide tables for the day we would be doing this, and found the low tide is most inconvenient...7:20AM and 7:40PM. I don't think we will leave PEI early enough to get to Hopewell Rocks before the mid tide in the morning. So probably we will stay in Alma, and try to drive back to Hopewell Rocks in the late afternoon, like 4-5PM. Maybe we'll try to see Cape Enrage or Mary's Pt or something in between.

thanks for the info, its very useful. I think I would like to be right near the water in Alma, so the Captain's Inn, or maybe the Parkland.

We probably won't see much of the National Park, except for a drive through, on the way to Bar Harbor the next day. Are there any particular spots we should plan to stop, and have a look? Maybe a short walk fora waterfall or a view would be nice.

china-cat,

If you are interested in wilflife, a visit to Mary's Point might be worthwhile. In August, especially early in the month, you can sometimes find huge numbers of migrant shorebirds at Mary's Point. High tide is best.
Flocks of 10's of thousands of semi-palmated sandpipers and other species are often present.

Watching 20,000 birds lift off in unison, whirling and diving together while a peregrine gives chase is a memorable sight, to say the least.

Jerry

For a short easy hike in Fundy, try Dickson Falls. It's easy and has a nice waterfall...very pretty through there. My cousin actually got married right beside the falls last summer.

Cape Enrage or Mary's Point is a good idea. I've done both although it's been quite awhile. The lighthouse at Cape Enrage is nice as is their tea room.

Enjoy your trip. August should be a good month weatherwise.

From the Maine border to Bar harbor will be about 2 to 2.5 hours . It's about 90 minutes from the border to Bangor. From Bangor it's about 60 minutes to Bar Harbor. There's a more direct way from Route 9 than to go to Bangor and loop back though.

I highly recommend the Bar Harbor Inn in BH. We stayed there last summer and it was awesome. We've stayed at the Bluenose, which is aptly named since the staff were not the friendliest. The Atlantic Oakes by the Sea is good at a more modest price. The Bar Harbor Inn is worth the extra money for the convenience and location, IMHO.

Where are you staying in PEI? We'll be there end of June this year too. Our "home away from home" is PEI.

Hi Sorchamac,
I just made reservations at the Bar Harbor Inn a couple days ago. I'm looking forward to it.

On PEI we've rented a house on the north east coast. I think the closest little town is called Hermanville. It's due north of Souris. if you have any suggestions for places to go, or things to do on PEI I'd love to hear them. We mostly plan to relax, and spend time on the beach.

so, let me see if I've got the drive time's right, for Alma to Bar Harbor...

It should be 1.15 Alma-Saint John, another hour to Calais, and then maybe 2 1/2 to Bar harbor, so I'm looking at roughly 5 hours to get from Alma to Bar Harbor? that's not too bad, I thought it was going to be longer. Oh yeah, and I gain an hour on the clock when I cross into Maine, too, right? so it will seem even shorter

The beach and boardwalk at Greenwich National Park is beautiful and not to be missed if you can. The touristy things like Anne of Green Gables and Woodleigh Replicas are really quite cute. If you're going in summer Woodleigh has lovely gardens. And the castle replicas are cute and worth some pictures. And Anne's has a very nice trail through the woods on the property. New Glasgow Lobster Suppers restaurant is quite popular and liked even by the locals (I have family in PEI). Charlottetown is where to go for "civilization" (stores of all sorts) and they have a nice walkable downtown area with some antique shops etc. You might even look for a ceilh (sp?) which is a Gaelic dance often open to the public. Sumemrside has a school of Piping and often has concerts if you like bagpipe and Gaelic music.

Have a great time!!!

Have fun -