BS-Nova Scotia trip

Subject: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: GUEST,LynnT
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 01:11 PM

My husband wants to go see the 18th-century French fort/settlement at Lewisbourg in Nova Scotia this summer. We are both F&I reenactors, so I am more than willing to go along (for our honeymoon we drove to a F&I event at Ft Ticonderoga, and went on to Montreal. Wonderful trip!

We live in the DC suburbs. So this is either a veeeeerrry long drive (which would let us take camping gear), or we are considering flying into Brunswick ME and renting a car. It would be best if we could do this without missing more than a week and a half of work (Mon-Fri one week, and part of the next).

I know I want to see the tides at Fundy, but what else would you recommend while we are in the area? There's got to be some great music up there -- where and when? We can go pretty much any time in June/July/August, and already know that the best days for the tidal bore are
--July 3-8
--Aug 2-7
--Aug 18-26.

Interesting gardens, historical sites, food (restaurants or sources), fairs (NOT renfaires!), places to hike or camp, any offbeat ideas are welcome! Thanks for any grist you can provide the mill...

Lynn

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Beer
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 02:04 PM

If you plan on flying, why not directly to Halifax International Airport and rent a car there. You could then visit Citadel Hill which is pretty fantastic then walk down to to Spring garden Road and walk the beautiful Botanical Gardens. You are still about 4 hours from the Fortress of Louisbourg but a little nearer than Brunswick ME.
The music scene someone else will have to suggest.
Adrien

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Elmore
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 03:32 PM

Don't miss Cape Breton. If camping, bring lots of mosquito repellent.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: GUEST,LynnT
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 03:45 PM

Real simple, Beer -- it's more than twice as expensive to fly to Halifax as to fly to Maine: $650/person to Halifax vs $270/person to Bangor. So we may go to Halifax, but it wouldn't be by the direct flight -- lovely as it sounds.

Lynn

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 04:23 PM

The part of the Bay of Fundy with the highest tides is the Minas Basin and the worlds highest point is to be found at Burntcoat Head. There is a picnic park and a lighthouse as well as a viewing platform there. You can go down and walk the beach at low tide but always follow safety directions because it is easy to quickly get cut off from a safe retreat. This site shows a weekend jam session at the park. There is lots of camping in the area.
Burntcoat Head
When you come to Cape Breton to see Louisbourg you will find lots of music at any time of year. The Cabot Trail and the Bras D'or Lake offers a scenic invite as well. This site has a lot of great information about musical events.
Cape Breton Choices
If you refresh this thread a few weeks before your trip I may be able to provide more up to date info.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Beer
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 04:35 PM

Oh my!! That is quite a jump. Good luck and I like what Sandy suggested by refreshing the thread.
Ad.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: GUEST,Teribus
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 12:43 AM

Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival 9-12 August

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: mg
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 12:55 AM

Freom Bangor I think it is ab out 40 miles to Bar Harbaor and there is a lovely ferry across to Nova Scotia..you couold probably rent a car there and drive around the island.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Beer
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 06:53 AM

Here is an excerpt of the cost. Which is probably last years`figures.



``The downside of the Cat Ferry is its cost. An adult foot passenger pays $69 one-way from Bar Harbor and $99 from Portland, plus a $10 U.S. security fee. From Portland, you can pay $139 return on a 'Weekend' rate and stay up to 64 hours. Children 5 and under travel for free.

For a small car and trailer, add on another $115 for the Bar Harbor-Yarmouth run or $164 for the Portland-Yarmouth sailing, plus a $25 fuel surcharge each way.``
toll free: 1-877-359-3760

ad.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: maeve
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 07:02 AM

The Cat ferry is no more... click here

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Beer
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 07:18 AM

Well I'll be!!
That ferry ran a long time.
ad.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: maeve
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 07:32 AM

It's a loss in many ways.

Still, Nova Scotia is well worth 'most any mode of travel to get there and stay a while. Love to return, me.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Ed T
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 07:39 AM

I live in Halifax, Nova Scotia and can supply some information/ideas later.

There is a CN ferry from Saint John New Brunswick to Digby Nova Scotia, crossing the Bay of Fundy. Just a note that East Coast Canada gasoline prices are steeper than where you live (and, the Canadian Dollar is floating around par or higher versus US, so it does not look like you will have a US currency benefit to make it up).

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: kendall
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 08:14 AM

I've been toying with the idea of a visit to Louisbourg myself. I was there in May 1965 and they had just started to restore it.
I also want to return to the Cabot Trail, but it would be a 1400 mile trip from Scarborough Maine. With gasoline headed toward the $5.00 a gallon mark, it aint likely.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: gnu
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 01:41 PM

My post went gone! Drat!

Okay... in a nutshell : Tidal bore on the Petitcodiac River... skip it. The causeway built years ago has turned the "Mighty" into the "Muddy" and the bore is a shadow of it's past.

Magnetic Hill... skip it. It's more boring than the bore. No indication as yet as to who will headline the big summer concert this year on The Hill... we've had The stones, U2, Lynard Skynard, etc.

Close to Moncton... Hopewell Cape, Shediac Lobster Festival (warmest salt water north of the Carolinas) but do NOT expect cheap meals during high season and traffic is a crawl. Parlee Beach at low tide is excellent (if you plan to go there, let me know and I'll give you a safety tip regarding "quicksand" which does occur in a few spots if you wade or swim out out in the water too far at low tide).

Oh... if you do go to The Bore Park in Moncton, be sure you see The Saxby Gale plaque... get eye level with the high water mark, look out across the river and imagine what a storm it was. Chilling.

You can google those names and Tourism New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Now, Newfoundland... fantastic, but you can't see it all, eh?

The ferry from Saint John to Digby can be fun if whales and porpoises are on the go. Other than that it's a 3.5 hour bore. Add 1.5 hours de/boarding and it's not a good gamble to possibly see some big trout.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: GUEST,LynnT
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 02:09 PM

Thank you all for chiming in -- it's good to get the real skinny to undercut the tourist-bureau hype. Too bad we'd be there in midsummer, which as you point out Gnu will undoubtedly be peak season. I'll keep checking in.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Ed T
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 02:24 PM

I would not worry about "peak tourist season" for most areas of the Maritimes. Only a few locations-events do not get a huge number of summer visitors that would interfere with your enjoyment of the locales in any way.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: gnu
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 03:46 PM

I expect that's true, Ed but Shediac's population, and traffic, goes from small to Holy Shit! after May Run. 6 000 people live within the town limits and "the shore" has plenty more so when you add 25k+ tourists and thousands of summer cottage owners in one swat, it gets kinda crowded. Still, it's not that bad and I have always enjoyed it, mostly because my buddy has the first cottage on the shore west of Parlee beach and there is a walkway to the beach 20 feet from his lawn... think me in sunglasses and a parade of beach bunnies all day long. Of coarse, at my age, I like fishing mackerel and smelt from a lawn chair in front of his cottage even more.

BTW, Lynne, the drive from Shediac east along the coast is a definite do. Beautiful part of Acadie. Make sure you hit a bakery (boulangerie) or two as the French KNOW how to cook. And, have a REAL poutine (poutine râpée, as opposed to that cheesey crap from Uppity Canada) with some brown sugar (white if necessary).

Ya know, I like this thread. It's interesting to hear the various comments from other locals and I am looking forward to more. If I ever travel around the Maritimes again, I shall reference this thread. I have been pretty much everywhere in Atlantic Canada... all five provinces >;-) and I'd like to do it all again.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Bettynh
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 04:32 PM

It presently needs an update, but here are the county "fairs" in NS.

My favorite route to Atlantic Canada goes through Eastport, Me, to a ferry to Deer Island, NB. The ferry from Deer Island to the mainland (a bit south of St. John, NB) is part of the roadsystem, so it's free. Best time of all if no school calendar intervenes is the week after Labor Day. The weather's still warm, things are still open, but the tourists have mostly gone away.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: artbrooks
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 04:47 PM

We stayed at the Halifax Youth Hostel last year. Very convenient for everything in Halifax, and they have connections for tours out into the countryside. Private (couple) rooms are available, but limited. Halifax is very up-and-down, but a walkable city none the less.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Ed T
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 06:07 PM

Deer Island is a small but very pretty Island. There is also a small ferry from Campabello Island to Deer Island. Campobello Island, a larger, but also pretty Island, is accessed from Lubec, Maineby the Franklin D. Roosevelt International Memorial Bridge.

I believe Deer Island still has claim on the world's largest lobster holding facility,where both Canadian and USA lobsters are stored for market.

There are a few p[ictures on thsi site:
Deer Island

Near Deer Island is St. Andrews By the Sea. It is a nice coastal small town that is friendly and laid back with some interesting things to do, if you are not too "young at heart".

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 06:31 PM

Sometimes you find car rental places that don't like you to drive over borders so you might want to check ahead of time. Remember Acadia includes parts of Maine and not only Canada..a drive from Bangor through Aroostook County would be great..into New Brunswick and off to Nova Scotia...mg

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: number 6
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 06:56 PM

Good to see some mention of Deer Island, New Brunswick .... Deer Island is probably my favourite spot here in the Canadian Maritimes. I get out to there at least twice a year.

some photos of Deer Island

biLL

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: kendall
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 07:31 PM

According to their web site it is not free.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: number 6
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 07:46 PM

The ferry from and to N.B. to Deer Island is free ... run by the provincial government .... the ferry to Eastport Maine, and Campobello Island is a family business and does charge a fee.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: kendall
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 08:23 PM

We always stop at the tourist info place just south of St. John. Very pleasant rest stop.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Ed T
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 08:36 PM

Saint John, New Brunswick.

The city folks used to be sensitive about the spelling (they did not like St.). I suspect because of potential mix up with St. John's Newfoundland.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: GUEST,Curtis
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 10:02 PM

Stan Rogers Folk Festival June 29-July 1. Canso, Nova Scotia.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Beer
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 10:28 PM

Now there is a festival that is worth mentioning.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 10:30 AM

Stanfest for sure but it is a bit early for Lynn's window. I have not seen any performer list yet but it is always top notch. Watch here:
StanFest

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: gnu
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 02:32 PM

Minister's Island is cool... you can drive there at low tide but you don't wanna break down when the tide is coming in at 13' in hours on accounta you can't swim in that kinda current. People have died. And, I always enjoyed a visit to St. Andrews by the Sea. Lovely spot. Grand Manan Island is nice but, again, time consuming due to the ferry ride.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 02:51 PM

I would suggest South Shore Nova Scotia, Lunenburg, Mahone Bay, Green Bay and it has most of the best beaches and scenery anywhere.
I would also suggest the Red Shoe in Mabou, Cape Breton..oh so much and all so beautiful..and the people are grand as well.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 02:53 PM

I forgot to mention that you would probably be better off, if flying, to fly into Halifax Nova Scotia and rent a car there.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: GUEST,LynnT
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 03:02 PM

Great stuff! Oh, another thing we both love, is English country dancing (I am just as happy with contradance, but he prefers the earlier stuff -- though we had a WONDERFUL time last winter contradancing at Greenfields MA on a visit to his folks in Hadley.)

We COULD go in June, but the tidal-bore website doesn't publish a "good" rise for then, only JUL/AUG. and I notice most of the standing music events in Sandy's Cape Breton Choices link are in July & August.

Lynn

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: gnu
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 03:05 PM

Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site of Canada

http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ns/grahambell/visit.aspx

What tidal bore website is that, LynnT?

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 03:18 PM

About 10 years ago, my parents, 7-year-old son, and I drove up from New Jersey for a couple weeks in July. We stayed in a farm "cottage" rental outside Mabou on Cape Breton Island (the exchange rate was really favorable that year), and had a wonderful time exploring from there up to the Cape Breton Highlands National Park in the north. Look up the "Ceilidh Trail" for lots of music venues: ceilidhs, square dances, etc. I was very sorry to miss singing at the Red Shoe Pub, but got to a ceilidh across the street at the Community Hall. I see they have a Ceilidh Days festival in Mabou in late July... Definitely get to a square dance, even if you don't intend to dance, because the music is great and you'll see some fine step dancing. (And, actually, you may find that the dance is simple enough to give it a try.)

We went over to PEI afterward, and got to the Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival, which was wonderful.

There's lots of info available online. I'm sure you'll have a great time.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 03:26 PM

Lynn, this is are sampples of the dancing to be found in Cape Breton:
SquareDance
StepDance

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Ed T
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 05:45 PM

Th NS Tourism guide, Doers and Dreamers, will be available March 15th. It should provide useful information. It can be ordered here: NS Tourism guide

If in the Halifax area, I recommend a visit to Mahone Bay Chester and Lunenburg(UNESCO Historic site). Small, pretty coastal towns with a relaxing atmosphere. All about within an hour's drive from halifax in the same southward direction.


The Tall ships are in Halifax somewhere around July 19-23, July 24-30

Halifax Buskers August 2nd to 12th


On the way to Cape Breton,:

Tidal bore's are frequent at specific locations. But, tidal bore rafting is fun. It is between Halifax and Truro.
Tidal bore rafting

The 149th Antigonish Highland Games will be held from July
8th - 15th, 2012 in Antigonish Nova Scotia.


There are plenty of music events in Nova Scotia, and Cape Breton is especially musical. I have enjoyed the Broad cove Scottish Concert, the largest outdoor Scottish concert in Cape Breton (Always the last Sunday in July). Broad Cove Scottish concert

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Beer
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 05:57 PM

Do they still have Nadal Day in Halifax harbor?

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Ed T
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 06:03 PM

There is a natal day. First Monday in August. It involves alot of activities at the waterfront.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: GUEST,LynnT
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 08:44 AM

I think that's the same rafting site Richard (my husband) found:

http://www.tidalboreraftingtours.com/

that's where we got the dates I put in my first post. He wants to plan the trip around one of their "peak tide" dates if we can.

Sure, it'd be simpler to fly into Halifax, but that's $760 more for the plane tickets than flying into Bangor. Even though car rental rates in Halifax are a bit cheaper -- we'd save about $50 total by renting in Halifax vice Bangor -- and we'd have to budget for an extra night's stay getting from Bangor to & from the more interesting areas, it doesn't balance the initial wallop.

I'm also keeping track of individuals renting rooms via Craigslist; we got our room in Montreal that way & it worked out very well, cheaper, more fun & more interesting than staying in a hotel.

This is going to be fun!

Lynn

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: kendall
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 12:49 PM

I've never seen the Annapolis valley but I hear it is beautiful when the apple trees are in bloom.
Anyone remember "Alberta Slim"? He sang a song called When it's apple blossom time in Annapolis valley."

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Ed T
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 01:22 PM

Some internet pictures of Annopolis valley blossoms:
APPAPOLIS

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Beer
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 01:23 PM

Sure do. Although it was Wilf Carter that made it famous.
ad.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: gnu
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 01:29 PM

Kendall. I worked construction for 6 weeks at the Waterville Airport one spring and stayed in a cabin at The Old Ochard Inn. The Apple Blossum Festival was great. I recall one eve... I had taken a young lady out on the Inn's second floor rooftop deck for a "private waltz" (yes, an actual waltz was playing in the lounge... get yer mind out of the gutter... it's crowded down here). It was sunset and the deck was level with the tops of the trees of the "Old Orchard" which was huge and it was in full bloom. The pink sunset glowing on the blossums, the air heavy with the the scent of the blossums, the sight of the pollen rising from the trees. A perfect moment. A perfect kiss.

And, she was from Lunenburg. The Fisherman's Museum tour in Lunenberg was amazing. Her grandfather gave us a THREE hour tour out of season. He was in his late 70's and his stories of fishing by schooner and dory were incredible. The islands in the area are beautiful. Her old man would take us touring around them in his punt. He made his own ale and it was powerful and tastey.

Shoulda married that girl but I was 20 years old and still had a lot of stupid things to do.

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 01:55 PM

Eric Edwards wrote the song. He performed under the name Alberta Slim and his friend and mentor Wilf Carter performed under the name Montana Slim. Wilf was born and raised in Nova Scotia but Alberta was his home for much of his adult life. They wrote and sang similar songs and it is little doubt that they are often confused! This is Wilf singing Eric's song:
Apple Blossom Time

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Ed T
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 02:06 PM

gnu, I stayed at "Old Orchard Inn" last fall overnight. (It had been awhile since I had stayed there).

I sat on the same roof top deck with my 4 year old granddaughter on my knee, just after sunrise, waiting for brunch, and looking over the Inn's apple orchard- with many big red apples hanging on the branches. A real nice place to reflect on nature. I never had the kiss you fondly recalled. But, was there with a real lovely girl:)

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: gnu
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 02:38 PM

Ed... this was strange... 25 years later, I was looking at my old pics one afternoon and some were pics of that airstip construction. Just after supper that same day, she phoned, from Lunenburg, just to "catch up".

Hehehee... just came to mind. I was working in Waterville on my last Friday there and I had steel-toed boots, shorts, ballcap and sunglasses on. I did up the final estimates on the weekend back home in Moncton. On Monday afternoon, I had a snowball fight with my crew in Nain, Labrador. From a large private cabin at The Old Orchard Inn (posh) to a trailer with a roomie with two feet between our beds in three days. Life on the road CAN be fun and then...

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: kendall
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 03:11 PM

I like that clip but when I try to email it it says removed

Subject: RE: BS-Nova Scotia trip
From: Ed T
Date: 01 Mar 12 - 04:48 PM

""Life on the road""
Sounds like good fodder for a song, a poem, or at least a thread.

It brings me back.....