with kids
May 12th, 2004, 07:27 PM
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with kids
We will be going to maine and nova scotia June 25-July 4 with three daughters ages 11,7,2. I am totally at a loss on an itinerary. We will have access to a car. any help is great! We have places to stay in Maine, but NS is overwhelming. We can spend as up to 7 days in NS.
May 13th, 2004, 06:50 AM
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The bigger kids will probably enjoy the ferry ride from halifax to Dartmouth, and the maritime museum in Halifax.
Ocean water around Nova Scotia is generally very cold, so beaches are not that attractive.
If you go to New Brunswick, near Shediac, or to Prince Edward island, the ocean water is much warmer, and the beaches are great for kids.
BAK
Ocean water around Nova Scotia is generally very cold, so beaches are not that attractive.
If you go to New Brunswick, near Shediac, or to Prince Edward island, the ocean water is much warmer, and the beaches are great for kids.
BAK
May 14th, 2004, 02:29 PM
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Nova Scotia has a wonderful toll free reservation service at 1-800-565-0000. Operators are trained to assist you with your special family needs. You can also take a look at their online website www.checkinnovascotia.com
May 14th, 2004, 06:54 PM
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Murphy's on the Water on the Halifax waterfront is a great place for summer fun for families. They have the Theodore Tugboat tour of the harbour, which is fun for kids. Also they have the Harbour Hopper...a giant bus/boat that takes you through Halifax and then into the water with a very animated guide giving you some great background of the city. Kids get a kick out of the Harbour Hopper because it's big and green with a frog on it and at points on the ride the guide gets everyone to "RIBBIT" at passersby on the streets. There's also daily entertainment there, restaurants, shops, ice cream, local artisans..very nice. There are lots of nice places to stay in Halifax too, and i recommend you contact check-in as another poster stated. If you're going to be in NS for 7 days you should also check out Peggy's Cove. And you should go to Cape Breton to do the Cabot Trail. Make sure you go to Ingonish Beach. And if you spend more time in Halifax I recommend the Fortress of Louisbourg. If you want to hit P.E.I. or NB
May 14th, 2004, 06:59 PM
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Murphy's on the Water on the Halifax waterfront is a great place for summer fun for families. They have the Theodore Tugboat tour of the harbour, which is fun for kids. Also they have the Harbour Hopper...a giant bus/boat that takes you through Halifax and then into the water with a very animated guide giving you some great background of the city. Kids get a kick out of the Harbour Hopper because it's big and green with a frog on it and at points on the ride the guide gets everyone to "RIBBIT" at passersby on the streets. There's also daily entertainment on the waterfront, restaurants, shops, ships, ice cream, local artisans..very nice. There are lots of nice places to stay in Halifax too, and i recommend you contact check-in as another poster stated. If you're going to be in NS for 7 days you should also check out Peggy's Cove. And you should go to Cape Breton to do the Cabot Trail. Make sure you go to Ingonish Beach. And if you spend more time in CB I recommend the Fortress of Louisbourg. If you want to hit P.E.I. or NB there are some fun theme parks for kids. P.E.I. has Rainbow Valley (waterslides, animals, rides, entertainment and more). Moncton, NB has Magic Mountain (a water park). Very fun. A lot of my childhood summers involved family vacations to these parks. Hope this helps.
May 17th, 2004, 11:48 AM
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My family (including kids ages 9 and 13) did the Maine to NS trip last year and have wonderful memories. Your kids will probably like the adventure of the CAT ferry to Yarmouth, NS (get reservations now if you don't already have them). Halifax is definitely a must. The Harbor Hopper amphibious vehicles are great fun. The tour is about 2 hours or so and takes you on a tour of the highlights of the city, and then drives into the harbour for a 30-minute float. Great perspective from water-side. (There are 2 of these companies. If one is booked up, call the other one-the local tourist newspaper will have the info. But call early for reservations whatever you do when you get there.)
Instead of driving directly to Halifax right off the ferry, we drove to Digby and then stayed at a place on the island at the bottom of Digby Neck. The drive down the Neck is only about an hour, but you have to take two small ferries for short distances-again, your kids will like the adventure. On the island there are 2 whale watching companies. Fundy Bay is chock full of different kinds of whales in the summer. Be prepared for wind and fog which can roll in quickly. Hence, be sure to bring sweaters and medium weight jackets. Also, if you do decide to drive down to the island, there's a small colony of sea lions just beyond the lighthouse out on the point. Our motel host told us about it and we were able to view the sea lions by ourselves! Again, a very good kid thing.
Yes,Cape Breton is very picturesqe, though my kids quickly tired of "scenery," especially since the drive up is about 5 hours or so from Halifax. Between Digby and Halifax is a gem of a small provincial park called Kejimkujik ("Keji" to the locals). If you'd like canoeing on placid waters and perhaps mountain bike riding through the boreal forest (all flat), that's the place.
Going back up to the Cape Breton area, we stayed in Baddeck, a very pretty little town. We drove over to Glace Bay and toured the Miners Museum, which is operated and guided by retired coal miners. You go down a shaft and my kids really liked it (not scary at all).
If puffins and bald eagles fit your agenda, you'll see advertisements for at least 2 puffin tour boats. Again, my kids liked seeing the pretty little birds up close, as well as over a dozen bald eagles.
Go online and get NS's "Doers and Dreamers" guidebook. It's free, very well done, and highly informative.
Lastly, we took the ferry to PEI, spent 3 days there, and returned to the US via the Confederacion Bridge to NB and then to Maine. But, we had 3 more days than you plan to spend. It might be a stretch to take in PEI on your timeframe, but there are also fun things for kids and adults there too. Hope this helped. Have fun!
Instead of driving directly to Halifax right off the ferry, we drove to Digby and then stayed at a place on the island at the bottom of Digby Neck. The drive down the Neck is only about an hour, but you have to take two small ferries for short distances-again, your kids will like the adventure. On the island there are 2 whale watching companies. Fundy Bay is chock full of different kinds of whales in the summer. Be prepared for wind and fog which can roll in quickly. Hence, be sure to bring sweaters and medium weight jackets. Also, if you do decide to drive down to the island, there's a small colony of sea lions just beyond the lighthouse out on the point. Our motel host told us about it and we were able to view the sea lions by ourselves! Again, a very good kid thing.
Yes,Cape Breton is very picturesqe, though my kids quickly tired of "scenery," especially since the drive up is about 5 hours or so from Halifax. Between Digby and Halifax is a gem of a small provincial park called Kejimkujik ("Keji" to the locals). If you'd like canoeing on placid waters and perhaps mountain bike riding through the boreal forest (all flat), that's the place.
Going back up to the Cape Breton area, we stayed in Baddeck, a very pretty little town. We drove over to Glace Bay and toured the Miners Museum, which is operated and guided by retired coal miners. You go down a shaft and my kids really liked it (not scary at all).
If puffins and bald eagles fit your agenda, you'll see advertisements for at least 2 puffin tour boats. Again, my kids liked seeing the pretty little birds up close, as well as over a dozen bald eagles.
Go online and get NS's "Doers and Dreamers" guidebook. It's free, very well done, and highly informative.
Lastly, we took the ferry to PEI, spent 3 days there, and returned to the US via the Confederacion Bridge to NB and then to Maine. But, we had 3 more days than you plan to spend. It might be a stretch to take in PEI on your timeframe, but there are also fun things for kids and adults there too. Hope this helped. Have fun!
May 18th, 2004, 12:42 AM
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Lots to do with kids in Nova Scotia. If you are entering through Yarmouth, take the Evangeline Trail. Upper Clements Park and Woodlawn Zoo are two attractions that come to mind. Make sure you take the kids on a whale watching tour out of Digby Neck. You have to take two ferries to get to the destination so the drive there is fun. Annapolis Royal there is a fort - fun to explore. Grand Pre has a new interpretation centre and at the very end of that road it is on there is a beach you can spend an afternoon at. If the tide is out, it may not look that attractive but fun to see. Hall's Harbour - they can sit on a wharf and enjoy a lunch - watch the activity from the boats. Remember, you will see some of the lowest and highest tides here - unbelievable!
Halifax has a lot to offer. Discovery Centre located on Barrington St is a great way to spend a few hours (hands on Science Center). The Freak Lunchbox is a candy store you won't want to miss. Sit in front of the library on Spring Garden Road and have an order of spuds! July 1st is Canada Day so there should be lots going on at the waterfront in Halifax - fireworks for sure! Just outside of Halifax is the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park - fun for a day's outing. Peggy's Cove for an afternoon - my kids love to rock jump but keep a close eye on them and don't let them get too close to the water. Queensland Beach is small but very popular (and cold). Just outside of Halifax and a pretty drive. If they do want to burn off some energy, the Dartmouth Sportsplex has Pirates Cove with huge waterslides. The Natural Museum of History is also a great spot to spend an afternoon - my kids love it and you will learn all about Nova Scotia's past.
Enjoy your trip!
Halifax has a lot to offer. Discovery Centre located on Barrington St is a great way to spend a few hours (hands on Science Center). The Freak Lunchbox is a candy store you won't want to miss. Sit in front of the library on Spring Garden Road and have an order of spuds! July 1st is Canada Day so there should be lots going on at the waterfront in Halifax - fireworks for sure! Just outside of Halifax is the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park - fun for a day's outing. Peggy's Cove for an afternoon - my kids love to rock jump but keep a close eye on them and don't let them get too close to the water. Queensland Beach is small but very popular (and cold). Just outside of Halifax and a pretty drive. If they do want to burn off some energy, the Dartmouth Sportsplex has Pirates Cove with huge waterslides. The Natural Museum of History is also a great spot to spend an afternoon - my kids love it and you will learn all about Nova Scotia's past.
Enjoy your trip!
