Eastern Canada Trip

[davidI]

After the Montreal Grand Prix I'm thinking about traveling a bit of Eastern Canada.

Current though is to take the train with stops in Montreal > Quebec City > Moncton > Halifax and then fly to St. John's.

I don't know much about the Maritimes - are there other cities I should visit? Recommendations for things to see or do in any of the places I listed?

[ExtraSlow]

Get out and meet people everywhere you go. The people are the real attraction out there. Loved Halifax the one time I was there. Looking to get back when I can.

[killramos]

Cabot trail in Cape Breton is pretty cool.

I wouldn't dedicate to much time to Halifax itself personally, I lived there for 2 years, unless you want to sit in a bar all day all night imo it doesn't have TOO much to offer. The alezander Keith's brewery tour is cool and a walk on the boardwalks. But that's like 2-3 hours tops.

The bay of fundy and the Annapolis valley has more to see and do (1 hour away) I lived there for a couple years as well.

Maybe people will disagree with me about Halifax but imo do your research on things you actually want to do and see before you lock in to much time there.

Mahone bay and Peggy's cove are not far from Halifax. Imo I would do all 3 in a day and stay wherever is cheapest or most convenient. Find a roadside lobster place for lunch and you are set.

My maritime knowledge doesn't extend to far outside of Nova Scotia unfortunately.

[Penguin_Racecar]

Chiming in to say I loved St John's. As I was there for work I didn't get that much time for sightseeing, but what I did see was neat. You can also take a ferry to St. Pierre et Miquelon (French self-governed territory) which is 25km off the cost of Newfoundland.

[davidI]

Originally posted by Penguin_Racecar
Chiming in to say I loved St John's. As I was there for work I didn't get that much time for sightseeing, but what I did see was neat. You can also take a ferry to St. Pierre et Miquelon (French self-governed territory) which is 25km off the cost of Newfoundland.

I'm planning to fly there from St. John's I think. The ferry is quite expensive and the flights from St. John's don't seem too bad...I think they're around $300 return.

[baygirl]

Originally posted by davidI


I'm planning to fly there from St. John's I think. The ferry is quite expensive and the flights from St. John's don't seem too bad...I think they're around $300 return.
The advantage to taking the ferry is having to drive from St. John's to Fortune. Even I have to admit Newfoundland is beautiful, and the roads can be fun to drive on(lots of twists and turns). Just watch out for moose and potholes.

[NoPulp]

Hopewell rocks, go kayaking there.
Drive the Cabot trail and stop at the little businesses.
If you like scallops go to digby I think in August?
Halifax and Moncton were my favorite cities probably.

Don't go to saint john (NB) haha.

Other then that you can't go wrong with the east coast.

[brucebanner]

How much time do you plan on spending out there David?

Cabot Trail would be a must see, along with the Bay of Fundy(NS or NB side). Cape Breton as a whole is nice. Same with Newfoundland, can't go wrong driving around sight seeing.

I have to agree with Extraslow, the people are great.

I'm from Cape Breton myself, so I may be a little biased. :D

[2Legit2Quit]

PEI ftw

[Jlude]

I grew up in the maritimes and currently in Saint John until the end of the summer, feel free to PM me with any questions you might have.

[phreezee]

Gros Morne National Park is quite nice. I did a few hikes, some ocean kayaking, whale and puffin watching. Get screeched in, eat cod tongues, and have turkey dinner with "dressing" in St. John's.

[chathamf]

Originally posted by bruceod
How much time do you plan on spending out there David?

Cabot Trail would be a must see, along with the Bay of Fundy(NS or NB side). Cape Breton as a whole is nice. Same with Newfoundland, can't go wrong driving around sight seeing.

I have to agree with Extraslow, the people are great.

I'm from Cape Breton myself, so I may be a little biased. :D

Ingonisher here! Haha

[Nufy]

Originally posted by phreezee
Gros Morne National Park is quite nice. I did a few hikes, some ocean kayaking, whale and puffin watching. Get screeched in, eat cod tongues, and have turkey dinner with "dressing" in St. John's.

Ches's Fish n Chips...with Dressing n Gravy...

Artery clogging heaven...:drool:

[timdog]

for the love of god go to cape breton

[Canadian Si]

https://www.facebook.com/TourismCB?fref=nf

[Dumbass17]

my girl took me to the east coast last christmas to meet her folks. didn't really care for it....:dunno:

[killramos]

^ One of the big things you need to get used to visiting there from living in Calgary.

Random people coming up to you on the street and having conversations about their and your personal lives. Or in any social interaction. Cashiers, baristas, bus drivers, taxis, etc.

Turns a lot of people off, particularly those who are less outgoing or more private in their lives :dunno:

[brucebanner]

Originally posted by Dumbass17
my girl took me to the east coast last christmas to meet her folks. didn't really care for it....:dunno:

Winter time isn't the best time to visit. Personally, I think that fall is. When everything is changing colors, that's my favorite anyway.

I was back east this past fall for the first time in many years, I was just amazed by the views.

[Jlude]

I moved from Winnipeg to Saint John for the winter to avoid -50... Saint John had record snow falls. It was a disaster.

Yes, the maritimes are beautiful and yes, the people are salt of the earth, friendly people, but as some have mentioned, most maritimers have that small town mentality still and don't have filters when it comes to social practices. They will tell you anything about their lives and ask almost as much as they tell. Seriously, don't be surprised to know someone quite well after a brief conversation. It's strange.

The architecture here is pretty cool (SJ) because everything is so old. Even the 4 unit building I own is 150+ years old and protected by heritage laws, etc.

Spring to fall is the best time to visit. Summers are great here, when it's nice out, everyone takes advantage and get's out to do something, with alcohol in hand

I use this to describe the maritimes to people. You can go out to a pub by yourself and within 10 minutes, someone is buying you a drink and chatting you up. Within 20 minutes, if someone was to give you any trouble, they would have to deal with your new friends. Maritimers are fiercly loyal and just overall friendly people. It comes from the small town/simple roots. Both of my parents are from Newfoundland, if you know newfies, then you know what my childhood was like, a gong show of alcohol and seafood.

[baygirl]

The biggest adjustment I had when I was back there is that no one is ever in a rush. Including the people who are serving you. Oh, there's a line up of people waiting to pay for their groceries? Too bad, the cashier needs to talk to this particular customer about the kitchen fire that happened yesterday and killed someone's cat. Or god forbid the ambulance went up, they need to spend 20 minutes discussing who has been sick and guessing who was in it.

[davidI]

Been on the move a lot so sorry for not coming back to post in this thread - love all the info though.

Unfortunately, when I left Canada's tax system I had to give up my drivers license so that limits me quite a bit as I know the driving is beautiful and a lot of the best activities are in rural areas.

This will be my "city sampler" trip as hopefully next time I'll be there prepared to hike and such. Ever since starting my travel blog and going to "TCC" countries I've wanted to visit St. Pierre & Miquelon so that was a key point of the trip.

I have friends in PEI and from Cape Breton so I hope to get out there again when it's not fishing season and do some hiking and such.

My time is pretty limited - 2 weeks after the Grand Prix - so my plan is:
Train to Quebec City for 3 nights
Fly to Moncton for 2 nights
Train to Halifax 3 nights
Fly to St. John's 1 night
Fly to St. Pierre & Miquelon 2 nights
Fly to St. John's 2 nights
Fly Milk-Run to Calgary

[BlueHaloGirl]

Raised and born in Halifax, great place!!! Since you don't seem to have the means or time to leave the city and explore this time around make sure to visit and walk the waterfront. Visit the Alexander Keiths brewery, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and do some pub crawling. Find pizza corner and have some pizza at 2am after a few pub crawls...lol
Citadel Hill is right there, go up and do a tour, great history to be had as well as beautiful views.
Go out on a tour of the harbour in a sailing ship or go on the harbour hopper...whichever is up your alley.
Point Pleasant Park is also nice which is right at the mouth of the harbour.
Enjoy some great seafood while there. I'd recommend taking the ferry across to the Woodside location and enjoy a feed of John's Lunch famous fish and chips at 325 Plesant st. Dartmouth NS. They have won awards for their fish and chips. Don't be fooled by the state of the tiny house like building...it's such good local fish and chips. Go hungry!!!