Help with Maritime vacation!

[Dizkneenurse]

Help! Planning a Maritme vacation this summer with the family.

We are driving ( we are from Buffalo) and plan on seeing NB, NS and PEI. My kids are 14, 9 and 3.

Any "don't miss" sights or any advice would be awesome.

Just starting to plan and there is just so much info...need to narrow it down,

We do hope to be in Halifax for the Highland Games Festival in July ( hubby is a Scot ) That is the only plan right now.

Help me out my neighbors!

Thanks!

Heidi

 

[maritimetraveler]

Hi,
Cavendish Beach, PEI area is a must see! It's great for all ages. We've vacationed there for many years with the kids, they loved it!

 

[mbb]

you have to experience the Cabot Trail, and Fortress Louisburg here in Cape Breton

Order your "Doers and Dreamers Guide"
http://novascotia.com/en/home/default.aspx
My inlaws camp here in Inverness every summer...
http://www.macleods.com/

Here's where we stay every summer in PEI, right in Cavendish...
http://www.cavendishpei.com/main.html Fabulous spot for families

And Here's where we live!
http://www.richmondcounty.ca/

Ciad mille failte!!...and hope these help

 

[highland3]

The Halifax harbourfront is excellent. Lots of historic... and not so historic things to see and do. This includes a harbour tour on a boat, perhaps even the historic Bluenose-II.

The Cabot Trail in Cape Breton , N.S. is also breathtaking. Lots of cliffs, mountains and ocean. There are whale watching tours along the trail, but there are typically more whales in the Bay of Fundy, near the town of Digby.

Cavendish Beach on Prince Edward island is beautiful. Take the ferry one way and the monster bridge going the other way. Best of both worlds.

When you drive through Truro, N.S.... wave for me!! It's my hometown and a great place stop for lunch or shopping.

It's a great place. The drive down through northern NY state, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine is one of my ultimate driving trips. Beatiful country. Stop for a trip up Mount Washington!!!

Have fun!!!

 

[digskat]

I agree, do the ferry and bridge. Try the clam chowder on the ferry. I used to travel to the East coast every summer with my parents, and there are no better people than Maritimers. They truly give Canadians a good name. We stayed in Cavendish, PEI, and visited Nova Scotia, PEI and New Brunswick. You will definitely enjoy yourself

 

[Northstar]

About those Highland Games, Heidi... the big deal is in Antigonish, not Halifax. It's an hour or two's drive away. Dying to get there myself some year, though I'll have to fake the Highland ancestry (you should see the local highland dance class in my neighborhood... it's beautifully ethnically diverse. Everybody in Nova Scotia gets to wear the Nova Scotia tartan, though I wouldn't dare show up at the games wearing any other tartan that I don't have a right to!)

I vote for the downtown waterfront area in Halifax in July. It's just so great a place to hang out, walk, eat, observe the harbour, observe your fellow Haligonian...

 

[Northstar]

Me again. Here's a link to the 2005 Highland Games schedule so you can see what might be going on ...

http://www.antigonishhighlandgames.com/programofevents.htm

 

[Dizkneenurse]

Thanks guys! That is a great start on the research trail.

Thanks Northstar! Those Highland Games look great and the dates are so much better for our trip!

I knew the DIS was the place to go for the right info!


heidi

 

[pooksma]

I noticed that no one mentioned New Brunswick. SNiff sniff...

With the ages of your kids, you may want to stop in Moncton. There is a zoo and water park all in one area. Also see the Fundy shore-drive through Fundy Park if you can. Many hiking trails, waterfalls and some awesome lobster in Alma.

Fredericton, my hometown, also has some great sights. The link to all things NB is: www.destination-nb.com



Enjoy your trip in 'our neck of the woods'.

 

[rbork]

Wow, I wish I were traveling w/ you. I love the maritimes! Haven't been to NB but I have been to NS and PEI. Halifax amd the harbour is great and lots to see and learn. I'm glad I visited Peggy's Cove. Sure, alot of tourists go there but it is truely post card like! PEI is great when done in a convertible!
Beautiful, relaxing drive! We stayed in a great B&B ' Kindred Spirits'. I noticed they had several cottages suited for families. Loved the staff at the inn. Good Location w/ stuff around and a pool. Very reasonable too.
Noticed your from NY. Good thing your going this summer, aren't they getting ready for required passports for bordor crossings in a year or too???
You probably alreay have them living so close. We passed thru on our way to Niagra this past summer.
Have a wonderful time!
Good Luck and Do What's Right For You.

 

[snowbird gal]

I have to say the Nova Scotia Tatoo at the end of June, first part of July is a must see when visiting NS.......something for everyone to enjoy and also the buskers, on the halifax waterfront in august is something to see as well!

 

[Cnd_Jen]

If you are going to do both the bridge and the ferry to/from PEI, arrive on PEI via the ferry (down east on PEI,) and leave via the bridge up west. You can get on PEI for free, but you have to pay to leave! (I like to joke it's the only way we can keep our population up ) It's a wee bit cheaper to leave on the bridge. You can spend your saved money getting pressed pennies at the shops close to the bridge.

In Charlottetown, be sure to wander around the waterfront, Victoria Park and up Great George Street.

Hmm, I'm think I'm jealous of you....!

~ Jen

 

[Dizkneenurse]

Awesome Ideas! We are having so much fun looking at the sites, ordering travel book and just talking about it!

Thanks for the info....it has helped so much!

heidi