gatordoc
hopelessly addicted...
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2007
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At airport on our way home from our ABD Maritimes trip. Overall it was great! Here’s some info for those who might be interested.
On Day 1, we flew into Halifax, and after clearing immigration were picked up with several other families and taken to the Marriott Harbourfront Hotel, which was very nice. We met our fantastic guides Mike and Jessie (both from Canada), and were given a quick overview. We were told there were 33 guests total on the trip, including nine kids and several teens. We got our stuff settled then went out to explore the harborfront. It’s beautiful, with lots of boats on the water, and bars, restaurants and shops along the Boardwalk. After some excellent ice cream at Cows, we were off to the hotel for the welcome dinner. It was a typical banquet meal - fine, but nothing special, and we got our first pin of the trip hidden in our napkins.
On Day 2, after an adequate breakfast buffet at the hotel, we boarded our coach and met our fantastic driver Don. We headed off to Sugar Moon Farm, where we learned how maple syrup is made, had a nice pancake brunch, and made some maple candy over ice, where we received our next pin. We then set out for a brief stop in the small town of Pictou - which had an interesting historic ship plus a few little shops. We then reboarded the bus and went to the dock to get the ferry to PEI. Once the bus was on the ferry, we were free to get off and move around. They had a restaurant, bathrooms, and several outdoor decks with great views. On arrival, we visited the Wood Islands Lighthouse, which I thought was really cool - we got to see lots of interesting artifacts and could climb to the top (three stories) for some nice views. Afterwards, there was a kite making activity, which was fun, and we got our pin for the day. We then went to check in to the Rodd Crowbush Golf and Beach resort, which was very nice. It has a spa, golf club, and an excellent beach. We had a group dinner at the hotel, which was again fine but nothing special.
On Day 3, after a pretty good breakfast at the hotel, we had some free time so we walked down to the beach. It was beautiful, and we enjoyed dipping our feet into the rather cold water. We were then off on the bus to the Green Gables Heritage House, which is a museum with some nice collections and walking paths “inspired” by the books. We then went “Avonlea Village” for lunch. These are some original buildings from Lucy Maud Montgomery’s time, but repurposed to serve food - the church for example is now a burger joint. I highly recommend La Rose Bistro. We had some outstanding PEI mussels, and everyone who went there really seemed to enjoy their meal, as opposed to some of the others locations. We then went over to the Lucy Maud Montgomery museum, where we participated in activities such as planting potatoes and carriage ride. The house was interesting, with a lot of artifacts from the author. We then had cookies and lemonade, met “Anne” for a photo op, and got our pin for the day. It was then back on the bus for a trip to Cavendish beach, where we spent an hour or so, then off to the PEI Preserve, which had beautiful grounds with lots of flowers and even some wildlife, for a group dinner.
On Day 4, we checked out of the hotel after another good breakfast and were off on the bus to New Brunswick. We crossed the 8 mile Confederation Bridge, then stopped for some photo ops before heading to Shediac. There, we boarded a “lobster boat” where we learned a little about lobstering, and a lot about how to break down and eat a whole lobster. The boat ride and presentations were excellent, and after a lobster lunch we got our pin for the day. Then back on the bus, and on the way to Moncton, there was a stop at a huge lobster for a photo op, then we checked in to Delta Hotels by Marriott Beausejour, which was fine. Dinner was on our own, and we had a nice meal at the Tide and Boar gastropub.
On Day 5, after an adequate breakfast at the hotel, it was off to the Bay of Fundy and the Hopewell Rocks. It was a foggy, rainy day, but this was still one of the highlights of the trip. The tidal height is over 40 feet, and we were there at low tide and got to walk on the sea floor and see lots of interesting rock formations, with a great local guide. We also got our pin for the day. We were then off to Broadleaf Ranch for a group lunch, and then a choice of horseback riding or kayaking. Both were again in the rain, but everyone had fun. It was then back to the Bay of Fundy, now at high tide, and everywhere we had walked was completely submerged. We then went back to Moncton for a group dinner, which was just OK.
On Day 6, we checked out of the hotel after breakfast and went to visit the Millbrook Culture & Heritage Center of the native Mi'kmaq people. There we got to hear about their history, and see a short film and a number of artifacts. There was also a talking stick craft activity, and we received our pin for the day. We then went to the Masstown Market, where we had box lunches that were just OK, but then also got some amazing ice cream. It was then back on the bus to return to Halifax, where we again checked in to the Marriott Harbourfront. We had dinner on our own at the Five Fishermen, where we had excellent food and service.
On Day 7, after breakfast at the hotel, we went to hike the Cole Harbour salt marsh trail, which was very peaceful with lots of birds. Back in town, lunch was on our own - we had some good seafood at McKelvie’s. We then boarded the Tall Ship Silva for a nice harbor cruise, but it was not a private cruise, which was a little bit awkward, especially when they gave out our pins for the day and had to tell others in the ship that they couldn’t have one. We then had our farewell dinner at Pickford & Black, which was a very nice “Canadian” buffet, including poutine and donair! There was music and dancing, and a great end-of-trip slide show.
On Day 8, after breakfast at the hotel, we got our final pin and were taken to the airport to travel home.
Overall, we really enjoyed the trip, especially the various outdoor locations, scenery, and wildlife. We also had a great group that really bonded and enjoyed each others’ company, and great guides that really went above and beyond to try to enhance our experiences.
The only downsides of this trip are first, that there is a lot of bus time. Sometimes several hours in a day. It was reasonably comfortable, and our guides included lots of activities to help pass the time (trivias, scavenger hunts, crafts, movies, etc.), but it got tiring after awhile. And second, most of the group meals were just OK. We had some great food when on our own, but the group meals were average banquet service at best. Not sure there’s much that can be done about that, but it was disappointing.
Then there’s the area where YMMV, and that was the Anne of Green Gables experiences. Opinions on this were across the board, from some who loved it, to others who found it disappointing in being far less grand than they had imagined, and overly tacky/touristy.
Hope this is helpful to those considering the trip. We’re glad we went, but wouldn’t really see this one as repeatable (though we might be interested in exploring other parts of the Maritimes on our own). We’d also love to be on any tour with our amazing guides Mike and Jessie - definitely the best we’ve had on any of our ABD trips!
On Day 1, we flew into Halifax, and after clearing immigration were picked up with several other families and taken to the Marriott Harbourfront Hotel, which was very nice. We met our fantastic guides Mike and Jessie (both from Canada), and were given a quick overview. We were told there were 33 guests total on the trip, including nine kids and several teens. We got our stuff settled then went out to explore the harborfront. It’s beautiful, with lots of boats on the water, and bars, restaurants and shops along the Boardwalk. After some excellent ice cream at Cows, we were off to the hotel for the welcome dinner. It was a typical banquet meal - fine, but nothing special, and we got our first pin of the trip hidden in our napkins.
On Day 2, after an adequate breakfast buffet at the hotel, we boarded our coach and met our fantastic driver Don. We headed off to Sugar Moon Farm, where we learned how maple syrup is made, had a nice pancake brunch, and made some maple candy over ice, where we received our next pin. We then set out for a brief stop in the small town of Pictou - which had an interesting historic ship plus a few little shops. We then reboarded the bus and went to the dock to get the ferry to PEI. Once the bus was on the ferry, we were free to get off and move around. They had a restaurant, bathrooms, and several outdoor decks with great views. On arrival, we visited the Wood Islands Lighthouse, which I thought was really cool - we got to see lots of interesting artifacts and could climb to the top (three stories) for some nice views. Afterwards, there was a kite making activity, which was fun, and we got our pin for the day. We then went to check in to the Rodd Crowbush Golf and Beach resort, which was very nice. It has a spa, golf club, and an excellent beach. We had a group dinner at the hotel, which was again fine but nothing special.
On Day 3, after a pretty good breakfast at the hotel, we had some free time so we walked down to the beach. It was beautiful, and we enjoyed dipping our feet into the rather cold water. We were then off on the bus to the Green Gables Heritage House, which is a museum with some nice collections and walking paths “inspired” by the books. We then went “Avonlea Village” for lunch. These are some original buildings from Lucy Maud Montgomery’s time, but repurposed to serve food - the church for example is now a burger joint. I highly recommend La Rose Bistro. We had some outstanding PEI mussels, and everyone who went there really seemed to enjoy their meal, as opposed to some of the others locations. We then went over to the Lucy Maud Montgomery museum, where we participated in activities such as planting potatoes and carriage ride. The house was interesting, with a lot of artifacts from the author. We then had cookies and lemonade, met “Anne” for a photo op, and got our pin for the day. It was then back on the bus for a trip to Cavendish beach, where we spent an hour or so, then off to the PEI Preserve, which had beautiful grounds with lots of flowers and even some wildlife, for a group dinner.
On Day 4, we checked out of the hotel after another good breakfast and were off on the bus to New Brunswick. We crossed the 8 mile Confederation Bridge, then stopped for some photo ops before heading to Shediac. There, we boarded a “lobster boat” where we learned a little about lobstering, and a lot about how to break down and eat a whole lobster. The boat ride and presentations were excellent, and after a lobster lunch we got our pin for the day. Then back on the bus, and on the way to Moncton, there was a stop at a huge lobster for a photo op, then we checked in to Delta Hotels by Marriott Beausejour, which was fine. Dinner was on our own, and we had a nice meal at the Tide and Boar gastropub.
On Day 5, after an adequate breakfast at the hotel, it was off to the Bay of Fundy and the Hopewell Rocks. It was a foggy, rainy day, but this was still one of the highlights of the trip. The tidal height is over 40 feet, and we were there at low tide and got to walk on the sea floor and see lots of interesting rock formations, with a great local guide. We also got our pin for the day. We were then off to Broadleaf Ranch for a group lunch, and then a choice of horseback riding or kayaking. Both were again in the rain, but everyone had fun. It was then back to the Bay of Fundy, now at high tide, and everywhere we had walked was completely submerged. We then went back to Moncton for a group dinner, which was just OK.
On Day 6, we checked out of the hotel after breakfast and went to visit the Millbrook Culture & Heritage Center of the native Mi'kmaq people. There we got to hear about their history, and see a short film and a number of artifacts. There was also a talking stick craft activity, and we received our pin for the day. We then went to the Masstown Market, where we had box lunches that were just OK, but then also got some amazing ice cream. It was then back on the bus to return to Halifax, where we again checked in to the Marriott Harbourfront. We had dinner on our own at the Five Fishermen, where we had excellent food and service.
On Day 7, after breakfast at the hotel, we went to hike the Cole Harbour salt marsh trail, which was very peaceful with lots of birds. Back in town, lunch was on our own - we had some good seafood at McKelvie’s. We then boarded the Tall Ship Silva for a nice harbor cruise, but it was not a private cruise, which was a little bit awkward, especially when they gave out our pins for the day and had to tell others in the ship that they couldn’t have one. We then had our farewell dinner at Pickford & Black, which was a very nice “Canadian” buffet, including poutine and donair! There was music and dancing, and a great end-of-trip slide show.
On Day 8, after breakfast at the hotel, we got our final pin and were taken to the airport to travel home.
Overall, we really enjoyed the trip, especially the various outdoor locations, scenery, and wildlife. We also had a great group that really bonded and enjoyed each others’ company, and great guides that really went above and beyond to try to enhance our experiences.
The only downsides of this trip are first, that there is a lot of bus time. Sometimes several hours in a day. It was reasonably comfortable, and our guides included lots of activities to help pass the time (trivias, scavenger hunts, crafts, movies, etc.), but it got tiring after awhile. And second, most of the group meals were just OK. We had some great food when on our own, but the group meals were average banquet service at best. Not sure there’s much that can be done about that, but it was disappointing.
Then there’s the area where YMMV, and that was the Anne of Green Gables experiences. Opinions on this were across the board, from some who loved it, to others who found it disappointing in being far less grand than they had imagined, and overly tacky/touristy.
Hope this is helpful to those considering the trip. We’re glad we went, but wouldn’t really see this one as repeatable (though we might be interested in exploring other parts of the Maritimes on our own). We’d also love to be on any tour with our amazing guides Mike and Jessie - definitely the best we’ve had on any of our ABD trips!
