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Author Topic: Out and About in the Maritimes
jrose
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posted 06 August 2008 08:50 AM      Profile for jrose     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I've just booked my first trip out East (for October), flying in and out of Halifax. We will be there for six days/five nights and I'm realizing that flying in and out of Halifax might not have been the smartest idea (Forgive me, I'm not an avid traveller). In hindsight, we should have flown into Halifax, migrated somewhere else in the Maritimes and then headed home from there. Oh well, flight is booked.

So, I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas for getting the most out of five or six days in Halifax and the surrounding area. We're thinking of jumping on the VIA and heading to Moncton for a night or two of our trip.

Suggestions are very welcome!


From: Ottawa | Registered: Oct 2006  |  IP: Logged
Ghislaine
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posted 06 August 2008 08:58 AM      Profile for Ghislaine     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by jrose:
I've just booked my first trip out East (for October), flying in and out of Halifax. We will be there for six days/five nights and I'm realizing that flying in and out of Halifax might not have been the smartest idea (Forgive me, I'm not an avid traveller). In hindsight, we should have flown into Halifax, migrated somewhere else in the Maritimes and then headed home from there. Oh well, flight is booked.

So, I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas for getting the most out of five or six days in Halifax and the surrounding area. We're thinking of jumping on the VIA and heading to Moncton for a night or two of our trip.

Suggestions are very welcome!



For October I highly recommend touring the Cabot trail, if you can rent a car for a day. The fall colours will be out and it is absolutely stunning. I was there for the first time last october and absolutely loved it! If you can make it to PEI, there is a ferry that leaves from caribou, NS and it is also beautiful here!

I should add that this is about 5 minutes away from where the ferry arrives on PEI

My fave restaurant in Halifax is
The Wooden Monkey, located downtown. It is local and organic, with only free-range meats. Delicious!

[ 06 August 2008: Message edited by: Ghislaine ]


From: L'Î-P-É | Registered: Feb 2008  |  IP: Logged
jrose
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posted 06 August 2008 09:19 AM      Profile for jrose     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Thank you! I think renting a car for a day or two might be the best idea. It will give us the freedom to explore more places than just downtown Halifax.

Has anyone travelled with Acadian Bus Lines?


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Caissa
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posted 06 August 2008 09:22 AM      Profile for Caissa     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I've travelled with Acadoian. They are generally on time other than in the winter and reasonably priced. You could take the ferry from Digby to Saint John, N.B. if you want to see that province as well. Saint John is still doing a steady cruise ship business in October.
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jrose
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posted 06 August 2008 10:26 AM      Profile for jrose     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I think that might be the best bet. My boyfriend isn't a huge fan of driving (well, driving he doesn't mind, but he gets quite grumpy if we get lost) so I'm thinking a bus trip might be the best idea. The hard part will be deciding where to go. This line goes to a few dozen different cities, across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI. I'd love to visit PEI.
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Ghislaine
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posted 06 August 2008 10:31 AM      Profile for Ghislaine     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
If you are travelling by bus line jrose, I would just caution that on PEI there is no public transit whatsoever outside of Charlottetown. Acadian Bus Lines stops in Chtown, S'Side and Hunter River I believe and no where else.
From: L'Î-P-É | Registered: Feb 2008  |  IP: Logged
jrose
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posted 06 August 2008 10:37 AM      Profile for jrose     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Ghislaine:
If you are travelling by bus line jrose, I would just caution that on PEI there is no public transit whatsoever outside of Charlottetown. Acadian Bus Lines stops in Chtown, S'Side and Hunter River I believe and no where else.

Okay great, that's good to know. Are any of those places worth the drive to check out, or would you recommend I stick in either Nova Scotia or New Brunswick?


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Ghislaine
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posted 06 August 2008 10:39 AM      Profile for Ghislaine     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by jrose:

Okay great, that's good to know. Are any of those places worth the drive to check out, or would you recommend I stick in either Nova Scotia or New Brunswick?



Charlottetown is definitely worth checking out and you would be driving through central PEI on the way, ie the highlands and wonderful fall foliage. But without a car, I would say NS and NB would be more worth your time - depending on what you want to do.


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jrose
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posted 06 August 2008 10:41 AM      Profile for jrose     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Ghislaine:


Charlottetown is definitely worth checking out and you would be driving through central PEI on the way, ie the highlands and wonderful fall foliage. But without a car, I would say NS and NB would be more worth your time - depending on what you want to do.


Great, Thanks. So much to think about!


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KenS
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posted 06 August 2008 05:26 PM      Profile for KenS     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Personally, I think the view from most of the places the bus goes sucks royally.

Nova Scotia is not very big, and signage is pretty good.

You can get a 90 page atlas that has every road on it, for as little as $10. That and the regular highway map, and taking your time, and you don't need to get lost at all. We go off the beaten track to areas of NS and NB that we don't know at all.

When in October?

You won't need to worry about reservations by the way. And if you rent a car there are still plenty of campgrounds open. All you have to take on the plane is a small tent, 2 sleeping bags and an air mattress.


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sandpiper
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posted 06 August 2008 06:50 PM      Profile for sandpiper     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by jrose:
My boyfriend isn't a huge fan of driving (well, driving he doesn't mind, but he gets quite grumpy if we get lost) so I'm thinking a bus trip might be the best idea.

Definitely go by car in NS, unless you won't for environmental reasons. Cape Breton is the highlight, I'd say, although many people love a day in Halifax, a day in Chester, a day in Lunenburg...


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WendyL
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posted 07 August 2008 02:18 AM      Profile for WendyL     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
The previous posters are absolutely correct about seeing the highlands of Cape Breton at that time of year. It is an experience not to be missed and, generally, it is quite difficult to get lost in our part of the world, so consider the car rental for a portion of your time. The kindness of strangers counts for a lot in these parts - they'll redirect you as needed (and sometimes, just take you there themselves).
Friends of mine own an incredible sugar bush near Earltown, NS. If you happen to be around for one of their Chef's Nights, you will experience something of the sublime in their sugar shack. You'll find the owners, Scott and Quita to be fascinating and helpful folks.
The Annapolis Valley of NS is also stunning, great hiking in the Blomidon area, awesome cafes in Wolfville, and grand history, wine, and artisans in the Grand Pre area. Great accommodations can be had at The Blomidon Innin Wolfville (also owned/operated by friends)if you are up for a night or two of friendly lux.

Regardless of what you end up doing, you are bound to have a memorable time.


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alisea
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posted 07 August 2008 03:06 AM      Profile for alisea     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Ditto, ditto, ditto Cape Breton, and the car rental. Don't waste your time working around Acadian Lines scheduling - you've only got 5 nights, and the buses run on our equivalent of the 401. You're inland, on highways built for convenience and speed, not to see anything interesting -- long stretches of scrubby spruce woods.

I think you're stretching too far to try to pack in New Brunswick.

Halifax - eastern Annapolis Valley - Cape Breton - Halifax is more than enough! If you do go to Wolfville, you absolutely have to eat at Tempest there. You just have to. You'll remember it for the rest of your life.

If you do want to get out of Nova Scotia, I'd do a loop through PEI on the way up to Cape Breton. It's lovely, and very different from Nova Scotia. Here's what I'd do, if I had 5 nights:

Day 1/night 1: Halifax
Day 2: Putter around Halifax in the morning. Drive up to Pictou, take ferry to PEI.
Night 2: Charlottetown
Day 3: PEI National Park - the dunes at Greenwich and a long walk on the shore (note I did NOT mention Cavendish and Green Gables ;-)). Back down to ferry. Drive to Cape Breton.
Night 3: Stay in a country B&B in the Mabou/Inverness area. Find a local ceilidh!
Day 4: Drive around the Cabot Trail. Hike the Summit Trail on the western side.
Night 4: Stay in Iona/Grand Narrows area - there's going to be more music around.
Day 5: Back to Halifax. If you've gotten used to the local roads, you can take the coast road along the Eastern Shore. Get the world's best smoked salmon at Krauch's Smokehouse in Tangier. Otherwise, a 3.5 - 4 hour drive back along the main highway.
Night 5: Halifax. Look at thecoast.ca for music listings. Halifax has very lively night life - tons of clubs, pubs, and very good restaurants.
Day 6: If the weather's nice, and you're on an evening flight, get on a boat and out into the Harbour - you've your choice of old schooners ( e.g., Mar II), or more modern whalewatching and/or deepsea fishing boats. Or go over to Eastern Passage and get the boat that runs over to McNab's Island, and go for a hike out along the Devil's Island spit.

I rent cars a fair bit, and I generally find National has the best rates, and very good service.


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Ghislaine
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posted 07 August 2008 03:49 AM      Profile for Ghislaine     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Great suggestions above for your jrose, which I agree with. I felt a little too polite to say it earlier, but I agree that a rental car is the way to go in the Maritimes. It really is hard to get lost. (Especially on PEI where there are like 5 ways to get anywhere and if you are on the wrong track, the water will greet you soon enough).

I like alisea's recommendations and think it should be stressed again: do not bother with cavendish or green gables on PEI, but check out the Greenwich dunes. Blomidon, NS is also wonderful place to see the Fundy tides and I have looked for and found amethyst rock on the beach there


From: L'Î-P-É | Registered: Feb 2008  |  IP: Logged
jrose
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posted 07 August 2008 05:04 AM      Profile for jrose     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Excellent, Thanks so much everyone! I think you're all right -- renting a car is definitely the way to go. Now I just have to wait the two months until it's time to go! Keep the ideas coming; I really appreciate the insight!
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KenS
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posted 08 August 2008 05:29 AM      Profile for KenS     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
When in October you come matters as far as intensity of fall colours.

Can't know that in advance. But as it gets closer to the time you are coming, the Herald [and probably other media] do stories on where the fall colours are unfolding. The pace, etc.

September and early and mid October also tend to be our best weather.


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jrose
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posted 08 August 2008 05:31 AM      Profile for jrose     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by KenS:
When in October you come matters as far as intensity of fall colours.

Can't know that in advance. But as it gets closer to the time you are coming, the Herald [and probably other media] do stories on where the fall colours are unfolding. The pace, etc.

September and early and mid October also tend to be our best weather.


I'm heading out that way mid-October. We're leaving on the 15th and staying until the evening of the 20th.


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damngrumpy
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posted 20 August 2008 11:08 AM      Profile for damngrumpy        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I have a lot of family in Cape Breton and sometimes I make it back, as a matter of fact I have some property on the south end of the Island. I really like the area around Myra and out to the old fort, that is a day or two in itself. In Glace Bay they have the Miners Museum. The shopping centers in the old building down by the warf in Halifax is kind of nice too. Another really nice place to go to is Wolfville and area, the apple growing country.
Last year I went there for a fruit growing conference and it really is nice
Ah but this year I will be going from BC to Saskatchewan for a holiday, wife's family waits for me to come and prune their trees and shrubs

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jrose
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posted 21 October 2008 12:38 PM      Profile for jrose     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Thank you all for your suggestions! Our trip was beyond lovely (and the weather was beautiful!) We really lucked out.
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