BS: Dutch invasion of Nova Scotia

Subject: BS: Dutch invasion of Nova Scotia
From: Will Bakker
Date: 03 Jan 03 - 04:54 AM

Dear Catters,
In October my wife and I want to go on holiday in Nova Scotia. My brother in Chicago will marry that month and I think I would like to drive from Chicago or take a plane to Montreal and rent a car there. I have always been intrigued by Nova Scotia because of all the songs and history. Can anyone tell me what the weather is like in October and some inside-information of what to see and where to stay? Thank you!

Subject: RE: BS: Dutch invasion of Nova Scotia
From: mooman
Date: 03 Jan 03 - 07:10 AM

Dear Will,

I'll PM you a list of the spots and sights we've been to and liked a lot over several visits. You'll love it...it's a special and beautiful place.

Best regards,

moo

Subject: RE: BS: Dutch invasion of Nova Scotia
From: gnu
Date: 03 Jan 03 - 07:31 AM

Wasn't there a thread not that long ago about events and weather in the late summer and fall in the Maritime Provinces ? I posted a bunch of links for NB. And talked about the weather as well. I'll have a peak.

Subject: RE: BS: Dutch invasion of Nova Scotia
From: DMcG
Date: 03 Jan 03 - 07:36 AM

There was certainly a thread not very long ago about Dutch invasions. Be warned!

Subject: RE: BS: Dutch invasion of Nova Scotia
From: gnu
Date: 03 Jan 03 - 07:44 AM

Can't find that thread but heres a related one thread.cfm?threadid=45452&messages=16

Anyway... in early October the weather can be 25C in the day and -5C at night. Drive carefully at dawn, dusk and during dark.... moose... especially at dusk and for an hour or two after because they like to stand on the pavement and soak up the heat emitted from the sun warmed road.

Subject: RE: BS: Dutch invasion of Nova Scotia
From: meg
Date: 03 Jan 03 - 11:44 AM

A friend and I went in October to the Celtic Colours festival, which is all over Cape Breton. Their website is at www.celtic-colours.com, I think. Depending on the dates, this might be an option for you. Buy tickets early. They announce the lineup in the summer and a lot of the shows sell out. Outside of the festival events, we spent an afternoon at the Red Shoe Pub in Mabou, listening to fiddler Dave MacIsaac and a piano player whose name I've forgotten. Then we went to the local high school for the annual parish concert, which was a hoot, and then out to the Glencoe Mills square dance to hear Buddy MacMaster. It was a long day, but full of amazing music. We rented a cottage in Baddeck, which we were told was about an hour's drive from everywhere. The Nova Scotia tourism board puts out a handy catalog with directories of restaurants, tourist attractions and lodgings, which you can get mailed to you from their web site. October is at the very end of their tourism season, so many restaurants and historic sites were either closed or winding down for the winter. Hope you have a good time ... fall is a beautiful season.

Subject: RE: BS: Dutch invasion of Nova Scotia
From: mg
Date: 03 Jan 03 - 12:00 PM

Oh Cape Breton for sure...such music and such scenery. You couldn't go wrong renting a car..although you might want to check the mileage or kilometers as distances are pretty good. You'd drive through Quebec, which is beautiful. Prince Edward Island if you have time is very beautiful. And Newfoundland is not to be missed..you could take a ferry over from Nova Scotia..I forget where...Halifax never appealed to me for some reason, although it is a nice enough city...Peggy's Cove is right outside Halifax...it is highly photographed, and a tourist destination for its history and charm..and who can forget how the people all rallied around when that plane went down there..well, any place you go at random will be great. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Dutch invasion of Nova Scotia
From: Will Bakker
Date: 04 Jan 03 - 12:07 AM

Thank you for your reactions, especially about the Celtic Colours festival. It takes place exactly at the time we hope to be there!

Subject: RE: BS: Dutch invasion of Nova Scotia
From: gnu
Date: 04 Jan 03 - 07:20 AM

The NF ferry is in North Sydney, Cape Breton. Book reservations early. Mary.... how could you leave out New Brunswick when talking of scenery ? It is, after all, "The Picture Province". Not to mention Canada's only officially bilingual province, because of the large percentage of people of Acadian hearitage, mostly in the northwest and southeast of the province. The Acadian and Celtic festivals here are excellent.

Subject: RE: BS: Dutch invasion of Nova Scotia
From: gnu
Date: 04 Jan 03 - 07:25 AM

For NB tourism, http://www.tourismnbcanada.com/web/english/main.asp

Subject: RE: BS: Dutch invasion of Nova Scotia
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jan 03 - 09:25 AM

I wouldn't drive from Chicago! It will take up too much time. Fly into Canada from Chicago for sure.

Subject: RE: BS: Dutch invasion of Nova Scotia
From: gnu
Date: 04 Jan 03 - 09:54 AM

There are lots of places to land in Atlantic Canada as well. Air Nova, a regional carrier owned by Air Canada flies Dash 8's into New England. The Dash 8 is a reasonably comfortable twin turboprop that I consider one of the safest planes in the sky. They also have jets, but I'm not sure if they fly any into New England from the Maritimes. As far as any other carriers operatiing on these routes, I'd be careful about what they are flying as some have some rinky-dink equipment.

Subject: RE: BS: Dutch invasion of Nova Scotia
From:
Date: 04 Jan 03 - 12:10 PM

For Nova Scotia Tourism contact them at

http://explore.gov.ns.ca/

They will send out a 400+ page book on the sights in Nova Scotia to see.

Also you may want to check out

http://www.celtic-colours.com/

for information on Celtic Colours. This is a Celtic Music Festival set during October. It starts the weekend of Canada's Thanksgiving (2nd Monday of October) through to the following weekend.

Subject: RE: BS: Dutch invasion of Nova Scotia
From: Will Bakker
Date: 06 Jan 03 - 05:58 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: BS: Dutch invasion of Nova Scotia
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jan 03 - 08:59 AM

Nova Scotia is gorgeous...but Lunenburg county is spectacular,, In fact, the entire place isa gem. Enjoy.

Subject: RE: BS: Dutch invasion of Nova Scotia
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jan 03 - 12:24 PM

I find Halifax a lovely city..lots of history, some great pubs, easy to get around and a beautiful location. But the truly special thing about Nova Scotia is the people..just so helpful.