Planned trip in Eastern Canada

ehackney · 01-02-2008, 05:59 AM

Hi all.

We are planning a trip to Toronto, Ottowa, Montreal, Nova Scotia and Maine in June/July of this year. (We live in New Mexico.) We will be in a 35' Bounder, towing a Honda and travelling with our two cats.

We will do plenty of research before we go, but thought I would ask this forum for advice about:
- Campsites, public and private. Availability? Is the size of our rig a problem?
- Travel warnings?
- Problems getting the cats into Canada (and back)?
- Language (in Quebeck)?
- Places to not miss?
- Places to miss?

Thanks in advance,

Hack
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ehackney · 01-02-2008, 05:59 AM

Hi all.

We are planning a trip to Toronto, Ottowa, Montreal, Nova Scotia and Maine in June/July of this year. (We live in New Mexico.) We will be in a 35' Bounder, towing a Honda and travelling with our two cats.

We will do plenty of research before we go, but thought I would ask this forum for advice about:
- Campsites, public and private. Availability? Is the size of our rig a problem?
- Travel warnings?
- Problems getting the cats into Canada (and back)?
- Language (in Quebeck)?
- Places to not miss?
- Places to miss?

Thanks in advance,

Hack
--//--

Novi · 01-02-2008, 07:00 AM

Morning Hack, good idea to start checking things out early. Your request covers a lot of ground. The size of your MH should not pose any problems. There are many many campgrounds to chose from both public and private along you proposed route. As of today I am not aware of any travel warnings that would affect you next summer. Lanquage should not be a problem but in Quebec you will find more french speaking people. There are many things along the way I could say don't miss but it depends on what you would like to see. Do you like history? Do you like fishing? Do you like wine tours? Have you seen the Niagara area and Niagara Falls? I would say don't miss the Halifax harbour area the Titanic museum, or the Halifax harbour explosion of 1917. The tides of the Bay of Fundy are world renown. Your problem will be in choosing the ones you have time to see. This does not begin to cover all that is available and I'm sure others will have even better suggestions.

ehackney · 01-02-2008, 10:30 AM

Hi Novi. Thanks for the info. As far as our interest, we're more outdoor people - hiking & bike riding, than city people. That said, we have family in Toronto and Ottowa, so will probably have plenty to do there. We plan to park the RV outside but close to cities, then drive the Honda when we are touring around.

Wine tours - sure! History - no. Fishing - maybe. It turns out my wife has recently discovered fishing and loves it. We have seen the Niagra area and the falls, BTW.

I like ALL harbors, so I'm sure we will see Halifax Harbor. The Bay of Fundy we have heard about and I'm sure we will visit there, also.

Thanks again,

Hack
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The Big Kid · 01-02-2008, 11:44 AM

Hack,

sounds like a mighty adventure.

I live in Nova Scotia now, so most of my advice will be specific to that, based on my experience.

Campsites - most federal and provincal parks are unserviced, a fair number have max length 25' restriction. I have not found many private campgrounds with 50 amp service (not sure if you need it). Some private campgrounds are so private, travellers can't stay there. Your size will restrict you from some that are a little more off the beaten path, but most of the ones on or near a main highway will have some sites that will accomodate you. Wal-Mart parking has been quite a debate here, provincially not allowed, however, there are usually RVs set up in the parking lots and no one tells them to move.

no travel warnings that I can think of.

I travelled coast to coast in 06 with our cat - crossing the border twice. In our research we were told to make sure that rabies and distemper shots were up to date and carry the proof. we were never asked about it, and the border guards couldn't miss the cat as she made point of jumping over to my lap to say hi when the window came down.

Places not to miss -
Harbours - Halifax (natch), Lunenburg/Mahone Bay is nice, Peggy's Cove is one of the prime photo ops of the province.
Fishing - I recommend Cape Breton - Myra River should be a good spot that time of year(record brown trout came of there last June).
Touristy stuff - while in Cape Breton, Cabot Trail, I think our lobster season is june/july timeframe so they should be a fair price. Halifax - harbour hopper tours, brewery tours.

Bay of Fundy - there are a number of places that can take you raftin/kayaking in the tidal bore and let you ride the surge. You do need to get a little off the beaten path, but it wouldn't be a problem for a day trip from a campground.

things to miss - based on your "history -no", anything that refers to a fort_________, is just dripping with history.

If you have more specific questions about anything from Nova Scotia, or want confirmation about anything else you have been told, drop me a PM and I will see what I can find out.

I won't blurt out some campground recommendations just yet, but let me know some of your preferences and I can offer my opinion.

Ottawa · 01-02-2008, 01:04 PM

I live in Ottawa and there is a good Municipal campground about 5 miles from the city centre. Here is the link. http://www.ottawacampground.ca/Contact.html

Also I stay at the following campground in Toronto. It is at the east side about 2 miles from the Toronto Zoo. Large grassy pull throughs, no sewer. but a dump station.

http://www.toronto.ca/parks/recreati...ping/index.htm

Chickadee · 03-28-2008, 07:37 AM

G'Morning Hack (from Casa Grande, AZ): I was just surfing the iRV2 forum and stumbled onto your inquiry re: your upcoming trip to some of the Eastern Provinces of Canada. Thought I'd mention one stop you hadn't talked about, Quebec City. I'd strongly recommend spending at least a few days at one of the various campgrounds located around the junction of EW freeway #20 (just South of the St. Lawrence River), and NS freeway #73 (heading North across the River into Quebec City proper), and touring with your tow car/or towing vehicle from there. Old Towne Quebec is a fabulous place to visit. You'll feel like your in France..old stone, copper roofed buildings, sidewalk restauants, artists painting and displaying on streets and alleys, wonderful spectacular churches,singers and instrument players in the various fountain squares, Frontenac Hotel and the Grand Boardwalk high above the St. Lawrence River. Language is not a problem and try to spend at least one evening in Old Towne. From your campground down on Hwy #20 area, drive N. on Hwy.#73 across the St. Lawrence then Right on Boulevard Laurie and straight into the old city (through stone gates). There are various fee parking lots inside the old city. Ya won't regret it!! Also, take a day and drive the route just East N. East out of Quebec City on the N. shore of the St. Lawrence (Highway #138)and go all the way to the town of Tadoussac (see map). Ya can get there and back to your campground in a pretty easy day drive. Spend a little time in Tadoussac and walk the shoreline boardwalk. Oh, Hwy #138 is an all paved two lane and ends at a free ferry that takes you and your car across a beautiful fjord into Tadoussac...very simple. The vistas along this route are phenomenal. Also you might see whales at various locations or in the fjord by Tadoussa. At least consider visiting this area...it's absoulutely wonderful...and...in our opinion a MUCH better stop than Montreal which is o.k. also, at least down on the waterfront. Have fun. Hope this is useful. Steve & Lynette

ehackney · 04-21-2008, 06:53 AM

Hi everybody. Thanks for all the good feedback. We're getting closer to time to take off and are slowly firming up our plans. One for sure thing we have decided on is Algonquin National Park. We expect to spend close to a week there hiking, biking and canoeing. We expect to be there mid June and are wondering about stuff like:

What are the best campgrounds (for our 35 ft. MH and toad)? (My wife has been doing more of this research and says "Lake of Two Rivers Camppground" looks like it might be the best for our purposes.)

How long in advance will we have to make reservations?

Any other things we should know?

Again, thanks in advance.

Hack
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brad03ca · 04-21-2008, 08:27 AM

Hello Hack....Algonquin Provincial Park is huge, with tons of wildlife, excellent hiking and good campgrounds. Lake of Two Rivers is very nice, but do consider Mew Lake as well. Located a few miles farther west on a small lake, it has a lot to offer aswell as HUGE sites, hiking, etc......remember to fill fresh water tanks at the(filling station) next to the dump station.....located east of Lake of Two Rivers. Mid June....pack your bug repelent