Recommend Route to Canadian Maritimes

[rogelling]

We plan visit to Entegra in May And Are Thinking About traveling to the maritimes from there and down to New England to visit daughter. Never been RVing east of the Mississippi.

[docj]

Having spent last summer in the Maritimes, I strongly suggest that on the trip north you go through Montreal and Quebec. If you consult Google Maps you'll find that, surprisingly, there is very little difference in going that way compared to the route through New England. Since you are going to visit your daughter on the way south you will go through New England on the return trip and this way you will have new sights to see in both directions. Spending a few days seeing (and eating in) Old Quebec City is a wonderful experience.

As for routing, I would take I-81 to I-84 to I-87 and on into Canada which gets you to Montreal. From there Quebec is a short drive and it's easy to go east from there into New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Coming south spend as much time as you wish driving the Maine coast then onto I-95 and around Boston on I-495. From there it will depend on where your daughter lives. But once you are heading south you can use I-84 to avoid the worst of the traffic in the I-95 corridor. We usually take it all the way to I-81 and continue south from there.

I hope you have enough time available to truly "see" the Maritime provinces. All of them are different. As you come through New Brunswick seeing the tidal cycle at the Bay of Fundy is a truly unique experience. In Nova Scotia one of the "must sees" is Cape Breton Highlands National Park. If you are near Halifax anytime in the beginning of July be sure to get tickets to the Tattoo. Regardless of whether or not you are an Anne of Green Gable fan or not, do spend at least a few days on Prince Edward Island which is our favorite idyllic spot. On your way out of the Maritimes spend a day or two on the water at St. Andrews NB, another charming location. As you enter Maine take the time to see Campobello, FDR's summer home. From there, the drive down the ME coast is pleasurable and scenic.

These are but a few of the things one can do while you're there. We spent ~10 weeks there last summer on our second visit and could have spent longer. In fact we're going back to PEI next summer.

As you plan your trip, if you have specific questions feel free to PM me.

Joel

[RW8804]

Further to the comments from DOCJ, I would recommend travelling on the south shore of the St Lawrence river between Montreal and Quebec City, and then beyond. This is the recommended route, and I have taken it many times.

If you want to see Quebec City, there is a KOA just off the highway with a shuttle bus over into Quebec City.

If you are willing, and stay on the north side of the St Lawrence past Quebec City (ie north east), there is a great deal to see in the Tadoussac area. In particular, there is a large pod of Beluga whales in the area as well as many other whale species all easily visible from shore. This is about the only place in North America where you can easily drive to see Belugas nearby. We have seen them from shore as well as by zodiac.

Leaving Tadoussac is the problem. You either have to drive back to Quebec City and double back east on the south side of the St Lawrence or take a ferry across (and I don't know the charge for an Entegra - it's by the foot). We didn't have our coach with us last time we were there. By the way, you are likely to see whales on the ferry crossing as well.

If you scuba dive, Escoumin, near Tadoussac, has a dive center. Our daughter dove there and said it was spectacular underwater with very colorful coral easily seen - and she's been to the Great Barrier Reef. And this is in the St Lawrence River! But be forewarned, the water is close to freezing and you need a dry suit.

[docj]

Originally Posted by RW8804

Further to the comments from DOCJ, I would recommend travelling on the south shore of the St Lawrence river between Montreal and Quebec City, and then beyond. This is the recommended route, and I have taken it many times.

If you want to see Quebec City, there is a KOA just off the highway with a shuttle bus over into Quebec City.

Agreed, we stayed at that KOA but we drove ~15 minutes north and parked at the Levis-Quebec Ferry. The ferry runs frequently, costs very little if you don't take the car and drops you off in the center of Old Quebec.

[rogelling]

Thank you for all the great tips. I have been to Montreal and Quebec City many times both summer and at 10 below, but never RVing always rented cars. We don't scuba anymore but are big food & wine enthusiasts so look forward to local fare.

[voltdoc]

To add to the other recommendations, try to work in a visit in to see Acadia Nat'l Park (one of our favorites) in ME, take your toad up to the summit of Mt. Cadillac for some awesome views. The park and touristy Bar Harbor will be pretty quiet during that time of year. The "bar" at Bar Harbor is hard mud and you can drive your car out on it at low tide. Bar island at the other end of the "bar" from Bar Harbor is an interesting nature and historical walk. You will be too early to see the fields of Lupine in full bloom though.

May timeframe might be what the northern NE locals would probably call "Mud Season" as the snow melt is still in progress. The high season up there in ME doesn't start until mid June at best.

Further south in ME we like Camden/Rockport/Rockland area. Take your car up to the top of Mt. Battie for an awesome view of the Harbor. There is a nearly 1 mile long walkable breakwater out to a lighthouse in front of the Samoset Resort.

If you take a ride over to Bretton Woods, NH I'm sure you will still find plenty of snow on top of Mt. Washington aka "the rock pile" but hopefully not down in the valleys. The Mt Washington Hotel is one of the last few grand hotels, a historic spot and worth a visit, with great views of the rock pile from the enormous back porch. I doubt if it will be running that early, but the Cog Railway, though expensive, is a neat trip to the summit.

I-95 is fine all the way south and yes use I-495 to go around Boston. I-90W to I-84 south is ideal if you don't have any interest in eastern MA, RI, or eastern CT. (South of the exit to I-90, Normandy Farms is an excellent campground off I-495 in Foxboro - should be pre-season discounts available in May/June).

If you want to hug the coast a little more, I-495 will hook back up with I-95 south of Boston, continuing south take I-295 to loop around Providence. I-95S from there is fine until you get to New Haven and then it goes downhill. We usually take CT 9 at Old Lyme and for southern destinations work our way back to I-84 and/or I-81 to circumvent the mess around NYC/Philly/Baltimore/DC. If you want to brave I-95 south of New Haven, never follow your GPS and take the I-95 route thru NYC (ugh), at the very least exit I-95 at I-287 and cross the Hudson at the Tappan Zee Bridge (although we avoid that these days too).

In CT back north of Old Lyme, the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic just off I-95 is quite interesting as is the aquarium there. A decent campground is at the same exit for the Museum.

If you find yourself in the RI area give me a shout (although we might not be back until late May early June) and we can show you some of the "hidden" natural scenery around parts of Narragansett Bay that most people drive right by.

Oh, and if for some reason you are in Nova Scotia and want a short way back, the Yarmouth NS to Portland ME ferry is back in business as of 2014. They can handle rigs up to 51' but I'm sure you will pay dearly. Not sure when service resumes for 2015.

Rob

[TheBusDriver]

Hi Roger and Debbie, there are so many things to do once you get to Nova Scotia. When you enter Nova Scotia you will be traveling on Hwy 104 the Trans Canada Highway. If you know our famous singer Anne Murray, you can visit her history and music in Springhill off Exit 4 and travel on Hwy 2. If you are making your way to Halifax make sure you exit on Exit 15 at Truro to Trans Canada Hwy 102, it's the most direct route. At Truro you can see the highest tides in the world at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy. There is also a campground near by the Scotia Pines Campground off of Hwy 104 between Exit 12 & 13. They have 50 amp, pull through, wife.

If you are looking for the closest campground near Halifax you would exit off Trans Canada Hwy 102 at Exit 3 and head towards Hammond Plains Rd. About 12 to 15 min. You will arrive at Woodhaven RV Park. 50 amp, pull throughs, wife. Your 25 min. from downtown Halifax where the history of the Halifax Explosion to Halifax's connection to the Titanic rescue & recovery. From the RV Park your not that far from the famous Peggy's Cove & Lighthouse where you can enjoy fresh seafood on Route 333. There is parking at Peggy's Cove by the Sou'Wester Restaurant where Tour Coaches park but be careful of the rocks going around the turn. If there's no parking at the restaurant, you can park at the entrance as you come in to Peggy's Cove off to the right side where there is enough parking for 45' RV's.

You where looking for good wine, then you have to head down to the Annapolis Valley where several award winning winery's about a 1 1/2 drive from the RV Park on the Trans Canada Hwy 101. It all begins around Falmouth at Exit 7, Sainte-Famille Wines to Wolfville Exit 10 to Grand Pre Wines, Atlantic Canada’s oldest Winery “Domaine de Grand Pre, Gaspereau Vineyards, L’Acadie Vineyards, Luckett Vineyards & Grand Pre Wines.

The South Shore of Nova Scotia, Trans Canada Hwy 103 you have a beautiful drive along the water to Chester, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg the birth place of the Bluenose Schooner and another great place for fresh local seafood.

Heading north backup towards Truro again from Hwy 102 to Hwy 104 you can go east towards Cape Breton Island. Cross the causeway at Aluds Cove into Port Hasting and stay on Hwy 105 and head towards Baddeck but just before you reach Baddeck we have of famous Cabot Trail. There are a lot of pull offs to take in the scenery and photo ops. Driving through Cheticamp you will experience the rich Acadian culture. It's a beautiful drive but make sure your Jake-brakes are working when going through the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. I have been driving Tour Coaches for many years through the Cabot Trail, just gear down and let the Jake-Brakes do the work and take your time.

In Baddeck you have Alexander Graham Bell's Museum and also the popular Baddeck Lobster supper. If you like to travel to the Fortress of Louisburg National Park you can continue on Hwy 105 to Hwy 125 and follow through pass North Sydney to Sydney to Route 22 to Louisburg.

There is so much to see here in Nova Scotia to write about but I already have taken to much space on the forum so I have a link here you can go to and order free of charge the 2015 Doers & Dreamers Travel Guide and maps in the spring. At the present they will only send you 2014 issues. If the link doesn't work, here is the web address you can Google. www.novascotia.com/travel-guide‎

Doers & Dreamers Nova Scotia travel guides, maps | novascotia.com

[Kuzzy]

Great write up bus driver. I'm following this thread with interest as that's where we'll be touring next summer.
Sounds like the campgrounds have some interesting features but since my better half is going to be with me I don't think I'll need to use the wife feature you mentioned. ;-)
Cheers
Dave

["007"]

Here is a trip we use to take to that area and also visited the Tattoo in Halifax, NS.
Lots of fun for kids or grandkids.

[spsm]

The Bus Driver...............where you driving those buses back in the fifties when the Cabot Trail was gravel with no guard rails ? I bet that was fun.

[TheBusDriver]

Hi Kuzzy, I meant Wi-Fi an not wife, sorry about that I missed it on the spell check.. When you go into the www.NovaScotia.com/travel-guide web site there will be ( 5 ) guide books you can order free of charge. The Doers & Dreamer’s Travel guide has a wealth of information from campgrounds, attractions, restaurants and historic facts throughout Nova Scotia. There are a lot of campgrounds towards Cape Breton but with 50 amp hook-ups are hard to find, most are 30 amp’s. The Doers & Dreamer’s guide will list them all as well as our ( 5 ) UNESCO World Heritage sites in Nova Scotia. The new 2015 publication should be out at the end of February.

SPSM, I have driven many years around the Cabot Trail from GMC P8M-4505 Hwy Coaches with a 5 speed standard with no Jake to the newest MCI D4500, J4500, Prevost X3-45 and my all time favourite the H3-45. I have seen many changes through the years but one thing hasn’t changed. I have seen other tour companies with the same coaches I have driven, seen pop-ups to Class A motor homes down to the regular 4 wheelers and with today’s roads, guardrails and warning signs, I still see driver’s get into trouble. So as a professional driver out of habit I feel obligated to mention caution regardless of experience or skill level.

[rogelling]

10-4 Bus Driver lovely to hear of so many wonderful sights.