Summer Road trip - Maine & Nova Scotia - suggestions?

[dan79brooklyn]

Hey Guys,

SO it looks like no big travel plans for August, so I would like to do an 7-10 day trip through Maine and take the Ferry to Nova Scotia Canada.

Looking for fun things to do...It will be my wife and I.
I don't mind camping, but she really doesn't like it much.
(might bring the tent though)
Any reccomendations on places to stay in Maine and Nova Scotia and interesting things to do along the way.
Sight seeing
Short hikes
and GOOD FOOD are the priorities.
We usually don't like touristy things, but will do Museums and Whale watching activities.

Good roads, of course we're taking the 911! are also a priority...

Thanks for anything you can offer!

Dan

[cool_chick]

Acadia National Park in Maine. Simply beautiful.
Whale watching tour
Bar Harbor, Maine
lobster bake
Warm clothes

[sprio]

Dan, as a former Mainer, here's a couple of suggestions: take a day in Kennebunk/Kennebunkport area. Although lots of high priced tourist related shopping, there are several great eateries, such as Clay Hill Farm, the White Barn Inn, and the Cape Arundel Inn (outstanding food and wonderful ocean views, overlooks Bush's Walker Point summer home). Portland has too many good restaurants to list ... Camden/Rockport are also great places to visit. I'll second cool_chick's Acadia National Park as a must see. If you're interested in more rustic/primitive camping and hiking, get up to Baxter State Park.

Have a great trip - I miss Maine!

[gaijindabe]

Very nice folks up in Nova Scotia. Just like Brooklyn!

[notfarnow]

Can't go wrong driving from Yarmouth to Halifax... beautiful scenery and some great driving. Lunenburg, Mahone Bay and Chester are personal favorites... I always meander through them when I am down there.

OldE can chime in to talk about the wonders of the Annapolis Valley.

If you have time, one of the best drives in Canada (if not THE best) is around Cape Breton. I haven't done it myself, but everyone who has says it is incredible. Fantastic vistas and great driving... absolute 911 material.

[notfarnow]

Lighthouse Route from Yarmouth to Halifax:
http://novascotia.com/en/home/planatrip/gettingaround/scenic_travelways/lighthouse_route/map_lighthouse.aspx

Cabot Trail (Cape Breton NS)
http://novascotia.com/en/home/planatrip/gettingaround/scenic_travelways/cabot_trail/default.aspx

[Tishabet]

If you're taking the CAT from maine to NS, you're leaving from Bar Harbor. I would definitely recommend spending a night in town to check it out, maybe spend a day exploring Acadia (GREAT biking in the area). In Nova Scotia, can't miss the Bay of Fundy.

[kaisen]

I took that same trip 10-11 years ago and LOVED it. Gorgeous country. Take the ferry from Bar Harbour.

E

[steve185]

Dan
Check out Halifax, if you like museums there is the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, lots of stuff there about WW1, WW2, Titanic and the Halifax explosion. There is usually something happening on the Halifax water front.
In the way back you can stop in New Brunswick's Fundy National Park where there is the highest tides in the world, it's on your way back to Maine. There are lots of short hiking trails there.
I think I am going to go the other way, leave Moncton and get the ferry from Nova Scotia to Maine then to Boston.
I went to NYC last year and loved it, definetly will be back, one of the high lights was when we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge into Brooklyn.
Steve

[oldE]

Actually, The Cat runs from both Bar Harbour and Portland, this year. Search for: Bay Ferries: http://www.nfl-bay.com/

Yarmouth: SeaFest, Firefighter's Museum, (oldest wooden pumper in NA, I think)
East & North on highway #1 through Claire, the French Acadian region. Hear the Acadian dialect spoken in restaurants (try 'Rappie pie') and small stores along the route.
Church Point, the largest wooden cathedral in Canada.
Digby, Scallop fleet, Digby Neck, Whale watching, Balancing Rock and some of the best seabird watching in NA.
Bear River, "The Switzerland of Nova Scotia", an old village built on the banks, (and up the hills) of a narrow river valley. First Nations Cultural Center. Artists specializing in handcrafts, furniture, painting.
Annapolis Royal: Port Royal, the oldest permanent European site north of St Augustine FL., Delaps Cove walking trail, Bohaker Falls,
Annapolis Royal, Capital of Acadia and Nova Scotia for about 100 years, recently voted one of the world's most livable communities, (some buildings built in 1708). Oldest English Cemetary in Canada, (Candlelight Gaveyard tours!) The Annapolis Tidal Generating plant, (the only one in NA. Stop in and see us. We do tours, Monday through Friday, generating times {based upon the tides} permitting) Historic Gardens (10 acres of a variety of styles of gardens and trails along the dyked marshland)
The Annapolis Valley, miles of great roads through farming country, apple orchards, wineries and small towns where folks say "Hi!"
The Bay of Fundy, world's highest tides, tidal bores. Halls Harbour, (can you say "lobster"?)
Grand Pre, National Historic site, commemorating the expulsion of the Acadians.
Halifax, Citadel Hill, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic (Titanic stuff and more)
Peggy's Cove, perhaps the most photographed lighthouse in Nova Scotia.
Mahone Bay, (ditto for the churches)
Lunenburg, World Heritage Site, home of the Bluenose.
Miles of beautiful coastline, amazing beaches and historic towns.
Do see Cape Breton, but give yourself another week to do it. (or go there this year, 7 hours from Yarmouth, and save the "Southwest Nova Scotia" loop for the next time.

Don't forget to set your watch and your pace to 'Nova Scotia Time'.

If you want to hear more, PM me. (Yes, I do work in the Tourism sector. Why do you ask? )
Les

[notfarnow]

[hijack]
Hey Les, any luck finding a decklid for your E?
[/hijack]

[dafischer]

I'll do a third to Acadia National Park, it's just plain beautiful. It's on Mt. Desrt Island, along with Bar Harbor. The island has some great two lanes which won't give you much speed, but great touring and views, and lots of distance to cover. Some great lobster dinners in the small towns around the island.

Cadillac Mountain (drive up) has fantastic views on a clear day, and sunrise can't be beat.
Sand Beach in the park is great. No sand, just ground up shells that look like sand, but good for laying out in the sun. The water lends new meaning to cold, even in August.
If you bring the tent, there are some nice campgrounds on Somes Sound, the only fjord in North America.
Great places to eat in Bar Harbor. The sunset cruise is good too, great scenery plus cocktails.

Check out www.acadiamagic.com for a good overview of the area.

Other good stuff in midcoast Maine:
Owl's Head Transportation Museum, just south of Rockland. Old cars, planes, etc.
Camden is a great town...lot's to see, more lobster.
Freeport's got the LL Bean outlet, if someone in the party has a shopping urge, and you don't mind busy.

Did I mention lobster?

[cool_chick]

I'm jealous

[sprio]

Nice thing about L.L. Bean is it's open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year - you can avoid crowds if you go during odd hours. It's worth a stop.

[dan79brooklyn]

Thanks for the tips!

This is going to be a great road trip.

We will definitley take pictures along the way and post them here when we return.

I'm trying to get in touch with a friend whose family has a place in PEI
So we might make it up there too...

I can almost taste the Lobsters now and smell the salty air!

Dan

[ejames19]

'Alexander Keith's' brewery TOUR. A must when in that part of Canada. Halifax is beautiful and I second,third and fourth Cape Breton...Fantastic drive and scenery!

[tabs]

Don't Forget to join the Order of the Good Time while your in NS.

There are several ways to get to NS from the USA. One is the Ferry which leaves Boston and another I think from Portland, Me. They basically arrive in Halifax.

However another way to do it is by going overland. Take 95 to Bangor (about 20 miles N of Portland is Harraskeetes, turn off the main highway for about 6 miles and you will find a Lobster Shack type of restruant on the wharf). and then Route 9, crossing over into Canada at Calais. Then motor on down Route 1 to St Johns. (its quiet a rural route almost all the way to St Johns, you come over a rise and suddenly your on a 4 lane highway) You can take the ferry at St Johns to Digby, NS if U like (N Shore). Or you can continue on to Moncton,(this is a very picturesque highway with green farms as far as you can see) there U can turn South and go into NS or keep heading east and go to PEI by ferry.(PEI is very touristy) At the S end of the island a ferry to New Glasgow NS. Motor on to Truro....hehehe...There is/was a Lobster Buffet in Truro, which was very reasonable, all the food was homemade and it was a VERY informal affair. (12.95 US)

From Turno you can go out to Cape Breton (the road out to Sydney is very picturesque)...Sydney is a nice town. what you want to do here is ask where you can buy Lobster directly from the fisherman. I found a house where the guy sold Lobster that he caught out of his garage. Two cooked Lobsters weighing 5 1/4 lbs cost me $18.00 US. Need I say more......

When out there be sure to visit the Fortress at Louisberg...its a step back in time.

Once back off Cape Bretton you can take the South shore line road to Halifax which would be slower or the main highway...I took the main highway as I was pressed for time. Halifax is a clean little city, that you think this is the way New England should look. Can't say I spent much time in Halifax. But from there you can take the Ferry back to Boston or Portland.

[tabs]

I've been through Anapolis and saw the power station, took the ferry from Digby to St Johns and then up through New Brunswick on Route 2 to Fredreton and over the top of Maine down the St Lawerence seaway into Quebec city, on to Montreal and down through Vermont, New Hampershire and Boston.

[gaijindabe]

The drive is about as far as Florida from Brooklyn. A good compromise is the ferry from Maine to I think Yarmouth. I took the overnight ferry years ago. Then a few hours drive to Halifax. A beautiful part of the world. Excellent mussels and other seafood.

[tabs]

Yeah but it gona be done in A Porsche...