Our next trip - Nova Scotia Trip

[BPritchard]

Nova Scotia June 15th – June28th.
Stay in Halifax for two days.
Prince Edward Island for 4 days.
Then Cape Breton for 5 days.
Then drive to New Glasgow to spend the night and fly home the next day from Halifax Airport.

My wife has spent the last six months gathering information on what to see and where to go.
I am getting her Dragon software so she can transcribe her notes and possibly publish a travel book sometime in the future. Self-publishing is becoming easier.

Of course, the highlight of the trip will be Cape Breton and the Cabot trail.

TB trip buddies for me will be my CoPilot, FJN, Side Effect, and Ruk’s sac as camera bag.

We will pack a week’s worth of clothes and do laundry halfway into the trip. This way, we only have to check one bag. Our carry-ons are wheeled 22x14x9 bags. At this stage in our lives, we need wheeled luggage.

My wife is thorough on her research for things to do and see; however, suggestions would be appreciated.

[Moose]

BPrichard,
May I suggest a place called Meat Cove? It is the most northern point of land on Nova Scotia. There are no services there but the view is stunning to say the least. The Cabot Trail is beautiful. The photos I've seen of it do not do it justice.
Have a good trip,
Moose

[Seesul]

My son went for French immersion in Church Point and the Evangeline Trail is beautiful, but it looks like you won't be heading in that direction. That area is a trip in itself. Too bad the CatFerry was cancelled, because it was a fun and easy trip from Maine.

In Halifax proper the dock front is a nice stroll and it leads up to to the Maritime Museum. Part of it is an exhibit on the Titanic, another ship memorabilia, some extremely old and lastly yachts on the ground floor. If you are interested in that sort of thing, it is well worth it and very well put together. I believe they gave a AAA discount.

We also went to Peggy's Cove, which is also stunning. The drive from Halifax to Peggy's Cove is very nice as well. I haven't been to part of NS that I didn't find beautiful and the people are very friendly as well. Have a wonderful time, it will be hard not to

[jannilee]

I think you should steal a couple of days from somewhere. The Annapolis Valley and highway along the coast are not to be missed. My memories of Cape breton are lots of trees and cliffs and small villages. interesting enough but not worth missing Chester, Peggy's cove and the Annapolis Valley. The high speed highway down the middle is faster but not as scenic as the coastal routes. YMMV.

[scotlib]

Hi BPritchard, I drove around the lower part of NS a couple of years ago. I agree with jannilee that the Annapolis Valley was beautiful driving.

I don't know how far this is from Halifax, if one were driving with intent (vs. meandering, I mean). I enjoyed the Ross Farm Museum, a living history museum, http://museum.gov.ns.ca/rfm/en/home/default.aspx. I followed roads to the Flight 111 memorial but only did a quick in and out of Peggy’s Cove, which was just so full of tourists, I didn't bother to try and stay.

In Halifax, I remember most strongly the Martime Museum, http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mmanew/en/home/default.aspx. I spent several hours there. I was interested in the Titanic section and learned about the Halifax Explosion of 1917 (biggest man-made explosion up until the atom bombs, http://www.cbc.ca/halifaxexplosion/). The Citadel is interesting, of course. I didn't quite like the Alexander Keith brewery tour, or my memory is just a bit sour on it. My notes say I thought it "good, but expensive." If I were prioritizing, it'd be lower on the list, I guess.

Did you get a Doers & Dreamers guide? You still have time to order one to help research a trip, http://www.novascotia.com/en/home/default.aspx.

Have fun!

[scotlib]

Too bad the CatFerry was cancelled, because it was a fun and easy trip from Maine.

lol, Seesul, I took the ferry Portland-Yarmouth for my trip to NS. It was only by taking the ferry that I discovered my tummy does not really appreciate boat trips. I also discovered while talking to my B&B hosts in Halifax that if I had left home in a car and driven, I could have been in Truro, NS, in the same time it took me to drive to Portland (I'm about an hour north), wait for the ferry, cross, and land in Yarmouth.

The B&B owners would frequently recommend a harbor sail, but I would just thank them and ask for another recommendation, lol. Car, next time for sure, for me anyway, and not just b/c the ferry has stopped at this time ;-)

[Moose]

Hi BPrichard,
I just realized you are going mid to the end of June. I should have mentioned, take lots of bug spray, bug shirts, bug hats or any other bug protection you have available. I was last there the first part of June and while hiking and climbing there were lots of very hungry bugs.
Have a good time,
Moose

[Seesul]

lol, Seesul, I took the ferry Portland-Yarmouth for my trip to NS. It was only by taking the ferry that I discovered my tummy does not really appreciate boat trips. I also discovered while talking to my B&B hosts in Halifax that if I had left home in a car and driven, I could have been in Truro, NS, in the same time it took me to drive to Portland (I'm about an hour north), wait for the ferry, cross, and land in Yarmouth.

The B&B owners would frequently recommend a harbor sail, but I would just thank them and ask for another recommendation, lol. Car, next time for sure, for me anyway, and not just b/c the ferry has stopped at this time ;-)

It did not run from Portland when we crossed, only from Bar Harbor, so the ride is shorter and perhaps smoother, but then again, I don't have a problem on boats. I'd love to take the round about way sometime though, and now that the CatFerry is gone, looks like I'll have to. Any way you slice it NS is just one of those hidden treasures that shouldn't be missed!

[Seesul]

Hi BPrichard,
I just realized you are going mid to the end of June. I should have mentioned, take lots of bug spray, bug shirts, bug hats or any other bug protection you have available. I was last there the first part of June and while hiking and climbing there were lots of very hungry bugs.
Have a good time,
Moose

I actually had these huge bees dive bombing me, but I was in a wild strawberry field. I then figured out they were going for a clay rose barrette in my hair that must have seemed real to them. Don't wear anything that resembles a plant, as they will think you are one. That includes any kind of scented lotion, especially floral. Yes, don't go without the bug protection.

[BPritchard]

Sorry so late in my thanks

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions!
I've told my travel agent of your suggestions.
Very easy to do since she is my wife and life partner.

[Guest]

Well BPritchard I would say that you and your wife has selected some very good and relaxing place for your trip. I want to add some places in your list as I have been to these places with my family last year and the trip was remarkable. If you couple are interesting in beaches then Bay of Fundy is a must visit for you. You can attend some famous festival events that are held all year. Hope you enjoy your trip!

[bnett]

My wife and I love Nova Scotia and PEI. Although it has been a while, I recall with great fondness the Celtic Lodge and the Celtic College.

Regards,
Brian

[BPritchard]

Ready to Go

Here is what we are doing. Wife's notes and not edited for proper sentence structure.

Day 1
Fly into Halifax and arrive around 3:40. Get our rental car and drive 30 minutes to Bedford,a suburb of Halifax. Check into our hotel.

Comfort Inn Halifax
560 Bedford Hwy
902-443-0303

Drive 15 minutes into Halifax and park by the waterfront. Maritime Museum is open until 5:30. Walk around and have dinner here Salty’s, Little Fish Rest. & Oyster Bar(Argyle St.), McKelvies Delishes Fishes Dishes(old fire hall). Poutine-fresh cut French fries topped with cheese curds & gravy. Donair-ground beef, bread crumbs, seasonings; on a pizza crust topped with a sweet garlic sauce (milk, vinegar, sugar garlic) and then topped with tomatoes and onions. This you get at a pizza place. We’ll be looking for hese N.S. special dishes, as well as Lobsterpalooza goes from May to July.

Day 2
Halifax

Drive 90 minutes to the historic seaport of Lunenburg, on the Southern coast. (1753) Take a carriage tour (very steep hills).see the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, the tall ship, Bluenose II and have lunch. Lunenburg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They have fish processing plants here also. 2-3 hrs.

Drive to Mahone Bay, walk around the little town, photograph the three churches. This is a famous photo-Anglican, Lutheran and United.
Drive to the famous, touristy Peggy’s Cove to see the octagon shaped lighthouse (a post office on the first floor)
Back to Halifax (30 min.) Maybe do a Harbor Hopper tour, or take a ferry over to Dartmouth, or take a harbor cruise(Murphy’s on the Water offer a lot of water tours).Visitor center on boardwalk,1655 Lower Water St.
Haligonians-people who are native to Halifax
Dinner in Halifax, but first we will need to take an Alex Keith’s Brewery tour(they dress in costumes)
The Wooden Monkey Rest. Also has rave reviews (Grafton St.)

 
Day 3.

Halifax/Prince Edward Island

Drive into Halifax by 9:00 and tour The Citadel or sleep in and come back to Halifax for Citadel tour before our 4:00 flight home on the last day. Regardless, we need to begin our 2 hr. drive to Caribou by 11:00. Want to get the 2:45 ferry to PEI, and need to be there an hour early. It is a 75 min. crossing. Will arrive in Woods Island, PEI at 4:00 ,then drive Rt. 1 to Charlottetown which will take about an hour. We will stay at:

Royalty Maple Motel and Cottages
89 Malpeque Rd. Charlottetown
902-368-1030

Drive 10 min. into Charlottetown for a lobster dinner at the Water Prince Corner Shop. Walk around Peake’s Wharf and we’ll need to get some groceries for breakfast and lunches.

Day 4
Prince Edward Island

North Cape Coastal Drive all day. Begin at the 2nd largest town at Summerside. Walk the town and begin coastal drive. Some highlights: bottle houses, potato museum, Cedar Dunes Provincial Pk.,3 lighthouses, Irish Moss(seaweed pie),wind farm etc. Lots to see. Maybe have dinner in Northport at the The Boat Shop Steak & Seafood Rest. Or go back to New Glasgow area to The Olde Glasgow Restaurant and to see the Preserve Co. nearby.

Day 5
Prince Edward Island

Happy Father’s Day, Bud

Drive, starting at the East side (Greenwich) to see PEI National Park. Greenwich has gorgeous dunes and the red in the soil is because of high amounts of iron oxide. PEI is called the Gentle Island “red sand, red lobster and red potatoes ”. The island is only 3 miles wide in places. Described as 2 huge beaches separated by potato fields. You cannot just drive straight to see that. Park but have to go in and out. We’ll do Greenwich dunes, Dalvay by the Sea, Brackley Beach, Cheese Lady’s Gouda, Rustico (lunch),Cavendish Beach and Ann’s Land(Anne of Green Gables)
Take a 5:00 London bus tour of Charlottetown and dinner in town. Fishbones Oyster bar and Grille or Sirenella’s on Water St.

 
Day 6
Prince Edward Island/Cape Breton

Need to leave around 7:30 AM to drive to Woods Island to take the 9:30 ferry back to Nova Scotia. Get to ferry an hour early. Same 75 min. crossing as arrival to PEI. However you only pay when you leave PEI, whether the ferry $67.00 w/car or $43.00 or so on Confederation Bridge. We’ll have to pay ferry price. Ferry should get to Caribou by 11:00, then we will drive to the Canso Causeway and over to Cape Breton. Should be there around 12:30. (take 106 to 104 to Cape Breton} The culture here is a blend of Scots, Irish, French Acadians and English. Old ways and songs are reserved here. My Dad would have loved it, and the scenery.


Over the causeway and we are in Port Hastings where there is a Visitor Center for maps. We will take the Ceilidh Trail, up Rt. 19, and go up the West side of the island. This side of Cape Breton is known for it’s Scottish traditions and Gaelic folklore. Ceilidh (kay-lee) is Gaelic for party or gathering and these ceilidhs are held all over Cape Breton in churches, barns and pubs with fiddling, bagpipes, dancing and singing; squaredances too. Some points of interest along the 67 mile road on and off the beaten path(so to say) are: Judique Celtic Music Interpretive Center, Port Hood, Mabou Highlands, Mabou, Mabou mines ,Glenville Distillery, Inverness, Broad Cove, Dunvegan. We’ll stay 2 nites on this side of the cape.

Inverness Beach Village
Housekeeping Cottages by the Sea
P.O. Box 617,
Inverness, Nova Scotia
B0E 1N0
Tel/Fax: (902) 258-2653

I bedroom waterfront cottage on the Gulf of St. Lawrence “Sunset side of the island” .Hope it’s pretty!

Maybe go back to the pub at the distillery for dinner and some fiddling music. Ask around where the music is.

Day 7
Cape Breton

Drive up coast to Margaree Harbor, the end of the Ceilidh Trail. Walk around the colorful fishing community. Turn left across the Margaree Harbor Bridge to Belle Cote (getting into French Acadian), Cap LeMoine Joe’s scarecrows, other small communities to Cheticamp, biggest community on Cabot Trail. We will spend the day here and maybe do a whale watch. Some highlights: Visitor center, Les Trois Pignons, St. pierre’s Church, Flora’s Cape Breton Handcrafts, lighthouse, Ristorante Acadian, Doryman Tavern for fiddling Cheticamp is famous for its rug hooking. It is at the foot of the highlands.

Day 8
Cape Breton

Check out. Drive to Margaree Forks . There is a Co-op there to get food and a visitor center. On to NE Margaree to see the Salmon Museum and Two Macs, a great arts and crafts store. NE margaree is on the Cabot Trail. Were on our way to Baddeck and I think it’s about 30 min. farther along the trail. Hope to get to Baddeck by noonish and have lunch and see the Alexander Graham Bell Museum, then drive 10 min. to Hunter Mtn. Chalets, where we will be for 4 nites.
Hunter Mtn. Chalets
562 Cabot Trail
1-800-996-3392 Roland Palmizi (6 miles from Baddeck)

Check in to our cottage and take a short rest. Drive back to Baddeck and go on the 4:30 boat trip on the schooner, Amoeba. Baddeck is the sailing center of the Bras d’Or Lakes, a huge salt water lake. As we sail, we’ll not only learn about the area, but we’ll also look for bald eagles and see the beautiful mansion where Alexander Graham Bell lived, Beinn Bhreagh. 200 pair of eagles live here. Dinner in Baddeck. (

Day 9
Cape Breton

Tour of the Cabot Trail with Bannockburn tours. (not sure which day we’ll do this; depends on weather). We’ll learn more doing the Highlands and Trail with a guide. Only up to 15 of us on a little bus. We begin in Baddeck and will go counterclockwise, up the east side, stopping in Indian River and Ingonish, as well as scenic pull-overs; lunch in Pleasant Bay at top of Highlands, then on to Cheticamp for a few stops (lots of photo stops all along) and back to Baddeck. About a 10 hour tour; all day $85.00 ea., but no stress and much info.

Day 10
Cape Breton

Drive 25 min. to Englishtown; Exit 12 to Government wharf just before the Englishtown ferry. Here we’ll go on a Donelda’s Puffin Boat Tour, a 3 hr. ride out to Bird Island. We are guaranteed to see puffins as well as many other kinds and seals. Bring a snack. Trip begins at 10:30, $34:00 ea.(1-902-929-2563)
After the boat trip, go to the area around St. Anns, have lunch and tour the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts. Tour the Museum of the Clans (lobster galley restaurant next door). Or before we go to the college there is the Englishtown bus Café right there by ferry I think. Also can go in some artisan shops in St. Ann area. Back to our cottage. Rest. Into Baddeck for dinner. Also in Englishtown we can see the Giant Mac Askill Museum. He was 7ft. 6in. tall. Day trip
 
Day 11
Cape Breton

Day trip to the Fortress of Louisbourg. It will take about l and one half hrs. to get to Louisbourg. The fortress sets on a peninsula and temps will be colder there. Stop first at the Visitor’s Center of the fortress; then take a 7 min. bus ride to the fortress. It is North America’s largest historical reconstruction. In 1744 the Fortress was a thriving seaport, one of the busiest harbors in N. America.Four hrs. to tour it. It is divided into theme centers; Dela Plagne House (history), Ordonnateur’s House (paintings), DeLa Perelle House, and Carrerot House. Nearby the fortress there is also a lighthouse.

Day 12
New Glasgow

We will leave Baddeck today and drive to New Glasgow (about 2 and one half hrs.) This is half way to Halifax. We will spend one restful day and night at:
Country Inn and Suites
700 Westville Rd.
1-800-456-4000
The East River of Pictou runs thru this city and the St. George Bridge escorts you into the downtown area, and overlooks the riverfront Marina with shops and eateries. New Glasgow is called “New Scotland” Eat at Hebels on the east side. Drive 10 min. to Pictou and see the marina, Hector Quay,and Grohmann Knives; see them being made

Day 13
Halifax then Home

Check out by 9:00 and drive to Halifax and park at the Citadel (2 hr.drive). Tour the Citadel, 12:00 cannons go off too. We will tour the Citidel if we didn't get a chance on the first part of the trip. Have lunch downtown, then drive to the Halifax airport. Our flight was changed to 4:20 or so which worked out perfect for us to see this landmark.
Or if we had a chance to see the Citadel, we will find something else.

Bags I'm taking are the Side Effect, FJN, Copilot, and Ruk's Sac. The FJN and Copilot will be stuffed into the Ruk's Sac to qualify as one bag take on. Ruk's Sac is then great for a day backpack and the FJN and CoPilot can be carried individually. Actually, I have attached the FJN to the Co-Pilot with carbiners. Will have pictures when I return and see how it works out. I use the combination daily for work.

[BPritchard]

Back Home

We had a wonderful, relaxing trip to Nova Scotia. The views were spectacular. If you ever get a chance to visit, it is highly recommended. This is one location that we would return to. Back home too soon!

They have had a miserable spring; raining and cold. Fortunely, we arrived on the tail end and only had a few times of rain.

My personal carry-on was the Ruk's Sac, CoPilot, SideEffect, and FJN. CoPilot carried my Netbook and Ruk's Sac carried the Kindle and FJN. Didn't have to remove for security. I put the CoPilot inside of the Ruk's Sac to board the airplane. Then I separated them at my seat.

While touring, the Ruk's Sac carried my Canon XS, purchased items, and clothes to layer since it was cold in the morning and warmed up in the afternoon.

Sometimes the Ruk's Sac didn't carry all we needed. I'm looking at the Snapse or Smart Alec as a larger backpack. I'm leaning toward the Smart Alec since I like all the interior open space.

Then, I'll leave the CoPilot home and substitute my large cafe bag. The CoPilot is my daily work bag. I found on this trip that I didn't need the organizational features of the CoPilot.

I make use of the organizer pouches, so the Smart Alec seems to be the answer for me.