Hi I am planning a solo trip from Toronto to Quebec City for 3 nights 4 days and then on to Grafton NB for one night and then St John 2 nights. I was then going to stop in Alma NB and on to Hopewell Rocks. I am hoping for some advice for the forum on this adventure going forward. 1. I would like to stay somewhere close to the Rocks so that I can spend the whole day there and have a quick drive to my overnight spot. I would then like to get on the road early and maybe try to complete a bit of the Cabot Trail before finding 2 overnights in maybe Baddeck. to complete the Cabot Trail loop. I would have 1 more overnight before I need to concentrate on heading back to Toronto (I would like to have 3 days to drive. Would it be worth my while to try to see a bit of PEI or just cross the bridge and come back for the experience or try to find a fabulous zodiac whale watching tour? back I would appreciate any input that readers can give me.
Thanks so much, Carol

Carol,

I posted a lot of information on PEI here.

Halifax and PEI

You may want to spend more than a few hours on the island, so much to see and do not to mention the $50 bridge toll….lol. A few days will give you a feel for the island. Folks from NS and NB go to PEI to vacation to give you an idea how it is. If you have any questions after reviewing the link please let me know.

More information here on the difference between NS and PEI

https://www.travelawaits.com/2776102...y-differences/

Tom

Thanks Tom for your reply. Do you think it is better to just concentrate on Halifax and do PEI another time? Have you got any suggestions for the Cabot Trail Places to see and must sees?
Thanks Carol

Hi Carol!

Your trip looks like good fun to me; I always enjoy my visits to the Maritime provinces! If I understand your question to Tom correctly, you’re wondering whether for a day post-Cape Breton if you should focus on Halifax rather than PEI? As much as I appreciate PEI, I think indeed Halifax would be the better plan; given the toll to PEI, it’s a place one would want to linger a few days. If you’ve never been, Halifax and vicinity is a rewarding destination. I find the views of the harbour, Peggy’s Cove, the Citadel, the Public Gardens and Point Pleasant Park in particular offer a superlative experience.

Best wishes

Daniel

Carol,

Given your limited days I would go to PEI when you can spend 3-5 days on the island. So concentrate your time on NS and NB.

Tom

Carol,

Look for posts or contact

NorthwestMale

He is very knowledgeable about NS & NB.

Tom

Carol, one option for accommodations immediately after your day at the Hopewell Rocks: Moncton. It is only about 45 minutes up the highway, and it is a small town offering a variety of hotels and B&Bs. You will have no trouble finding places to eat there, as well.

Moncton to Baddeck is a reasonable drive. Moncton to Sutherlands River (just east of New Glasgow) is four lane highway (with a $5 toll on the Cobequid Pass just south of Amherst); from Sutherlands River to Baddeck is two lanes, lots of traffic, with a great deal of construction in various places going towards the causeway to Cape Breton.

There are accommodation and dining options in Baddeck, and it is itself a pleasant but small place to explore.

You can certainly complete the Cabot Trail drive in less than a day. Going clockwise, you would retrace your steps back towards Nyanza, and then drive north on highway 30. You end up back at Baddeck later that day. Alternatively, you could go around counter-clockwise from Baddeck, a preferred direction for some people because most of the parking spots for look-offs will be on your right hand side. Either way, you will go through a national park gate; there's one at Ingonish Beach on the east side and one at Chéticamp on the west side. You will need to stop for a day pass if you intend to use any on the park facilities.

The two best things about the Cabot Trail are the views and the walking trails, at least in my opinion. The north end of the park has a couple of mountains to ascend and descend, providing dramatic views, especially when the leaves change in October. There is also some beautiful coastline on the west side of the park.

If you are a walker, there are a lot of easy trails to choose from this list, and you would probably have time to walk at least one of them:

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ns/cbr...ndonnee-hiking

The Skyline Trail is the most popular in the park, mostly an easy well-groomed trail, although there are stairs at the end:

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ns/cbr...hiking/skyline

Corney Brook and Le Chemin du Buttereau on the west side of the park are also easy walks.

About your options for Halifax and PEI: given your time constraints, I would do one or the other, but not both. If you do decide to visit PEI, consider the ferry from Caribou NS to Wood Islands PEI, staying the night on PEI, and then leaving the island via the Confederation Bridge.

It's a tough choice ... Baddeck to PEI for one night and then on to Toronto, or Baddeck to Halifax for a night, and then onwards? As Daniel Williams points out, there is a lot to see in Halifax (I live on St. Margaret's Bay, just west of the city), and tlc points out that PEI may best be savoured over a few days, but I would be tempted to head back to Toronto via the ferry and PEI, and then the bridge and on to Moncton.

Truer words...

Thank you so much for all the tips very much appreciated. I actually took Cape Breton Cabot trail out of my plans and I’m just going to do Halifax down Peggy’s cove Lunenburg to Yarmouth I’ve done the ferry from Digby to St John. I think my initial plan was to industrious for 2 weeks