boston, maine, novascotia
 

We have six nigts to travel and will fly into Boston. We want to stay two nigts in Boston. We want to travel through Maine and may take the ferry to Yarmouth. Is this too much travel for such a short time? If yes, what would you want to do to get the best trip in a short time. Perhaps drive to Acadia and stop half way for a night?

The ferry from Portland, ME to Yarmouth is going to be very time-consuming for you. I wouldn't recommend trying to stuff that into your intinerary if you want to see much of Maine, but here's the site for that ferry (Scotia Prince):

http://www.scotiaprince.com/

Keep in mind that Yarmouth, NS is still a bit of a drive from Halifax (and if you make it to Nova Scotia, you really should take in Halifax.)

If you try to drive the entire distance to Halifax instead of taking the ferry then you're looking at a LOT of windshield time -- a long day there and a long day back. I would skip Nova Scotia and settle for something in New Brunswick, in that case.

There is a ferry out Bar Harbor, ME that is much faster and will also drop you off in Yarmouth:

http://www.catferry.com/index.html

If you want to see Nova Scotia, that would be my choice with the time you have to play with and I would almost be willing to say it is the ONLY choice.

Bottom line: You can't do it all, so cut down on trying to see too much more of Maine if you're planning on doing Nova Scotia and you want two nights in Boston (a great destination that you won't want to shortchange either.)

Clay -

The suggestion to take the cat ferry from Bar Harbor is a good one. I've been to BH several times but not continued on via the ferry. The drive from Boston to Bar Harbor is short, even if you take the more senic coastal highway. Bar Harbor is a lovely place to stay overnight and spend a little time, and visit Acadia NP before headding onward to Nova Scotia. You can stop for some outlet shopping and to visit LL Bean in Freeport. We found driving in the outer areas of Maine to be mostly just rural living, not all that scenic. Depending on how much time you want to spend in NS, it seems like your time frame is rather tight, especially with 2 days allocated for Boston.

Given the amount of time you have, I would not bother with Nova Scotia. The things most people want to see are at the extreme eastern part of NS on Cape Breton Island. That is a good 10-12 hours driving time from Yarmouth, NS.

I would concentrate on Boston and Maine including Bar Harbor and leave NS for a separate trip.

I did a two week home exchange in NS in 1992. The distances take a lot longer to drive than it looks from your map. There is also nothing particularly worth seeing in Yarmouth. Some people do take the ferry back and forth to gamble as the gambling is legal as soon as the ferry hits international waters.

If you have 6 nights to travel including the 2 nights in Boston - i.e. 4 nights outside - then don't bother to go to NS. Not worth the time and money for the ferry. Halifax is still 330km (i.e. 3+ hours) from Yarmouth.

If 6 nights don't include Boston, then yes, it can be a decent trip.

I agree with the previous posters who recommned postponing Nova Scotia on this trip. However, you can still have a wonderful Canadian Maritimes Provinces experience if you go to St. Andrews By-the Sea in New Brunswick. This charming town has some lovely hotels, good restaurants, shopping and great scenery. Go on a whale-watching trip in the Bay of Fundy. Be sure to stop at East Quoddy lighthouse (in Maine) on the way.

There is plenty to see and do in Maine without trying to go to Canada and the best part of the Maine coast is Acadia and south. Southern Maine begins with outlet shopping in Kittery and sandy beaches but the coast becomes rockier and there is less commercialism the further north you travel. If you like great restaurants and shopping you might choose to overnight in Portland. If you want to explore backroads and eat steamed lobster overlooking the water, the Damariscotta/Pemaquid Point area might be better. If you are going as far north as Acadia, figure at least two nights so you can have one full day to drive around the island, take a cruise, enjoy the view from Cadillac, etc. You could overnight in the Kennebunk area and spend the evening at the summer playhouse in Arundel before driving to Boston for your flight home.

LSK said exactly what I would say- NS is wonderful, but will not fit in this short trip.

We spent 6 days in Bar Harbor/Acadia a few years ago. We spent one day taking the Cat to Yarmouth. We took a tour of Yarmouth which we enjoyed (it is pretty expensive to take your car on the Cat for one day), but if you don't take a tour, there is nothing much else to do in Yarmouth. IMO there is so much to do in Bar Harbor/Acadia--I wouldn't use one day to do the ferry trip, unless it is something you really want to do. I would like to go back to Nova Scotia--but like everyone else says--that is probably a separate (or longer) trip. I don't know if you have tried the Canadian (Nova Scotia) postings--but there is information there on Nova Scotia that may help you decide.

Thank you all, we are so greatful for the information!! We will just enjoy Boston and Maine on this trip.

Thanks for getting back to us, clay1992. Enjoy your trip!