I know this is a ways off. But: the Kilvertian Pagans are likely headed to Maine in June. We’ve never been. We intend to mostly hang out in the Acadia / Blue Peninsula area, where we’ll day hike, whale watch, catch/eat lobster, etc… .
I’m considering ferrying over to Nova Scotia, and maybe looping back via PEI and New Brunswick. Worth it? Just do Nova Scotia? Concentrate on Maine?
BIG caveat: traveling with two children, who will be approaching their 11th and 6th birthdays by then. Last summer, they yawned at some of the nature/scenery stuff in Colorado I liked the most - but they definitely liked stuff like raft trips.
I think we can take up to two weeks for the entire trip, if work is going OK by then.
Advice, particularly from traveling parents and locals, would be most welcome. Thanks in advance.
It is WELL worth going to Nova Scotia. What I’ve seen of it, mostly in the Halifax area and heading out to Peggy’s Cove and back, is beautiful.
Halifax is a lot of fun, and has something for everyone. In the downtown area, it seemed that there were several pubs on any given street, and you can walk from pub to pub to pub. The music in the pubs is great to hear. There are also lots of great restaurants, and if you’re a seafood lover you’d enjoy it.
If you’re interested in Canadian history, iin Halifax it’s worth seeing the Citadel and the historic waterfront which features largely in the history of immigration to Canada. There are many tours offered in the area including a couple on amphibious vehicles that drive you through the downtown and then go out into the harbour. These tours also highlighted Halifax history in a fun way.
I would definitely like to go back and go to Cape Breton.
(By the way if you go prepare for a lot of Scottish surnames. It’s not called Nova Scotia for no reason at all.)
Oh, I’ve not been to PEI. I have been to Fredericton, NB. I enjoyed it. Its downtown is historic, but it is small in comparison to Halifax. That said, the Bay of Fundy would be cool.
Yes, I would definitely suggest the Harbour Hopper (There’s a few other similar tours,but this is the only one I’ve been on). The price is a bit steep IMHO, but it’s a very fun tour of the city. My BF enjoyed it when he went, and I’ve been three times myself and enjoyed it every time. And I’m sure the kids will find it far more fun than museums. The Museum of Natural History is good though, they tend to aim at being kid-friendly. Also, if you’ve never been to one, there’s a Discovery Centre downtown, which would be another good place for the kids. Not really a touristy thing, but quite fun.
Down the coast a little bit is Lunenburg. I’ve been to the fisheries museum there, which is also a decent place for kids. They have a couple boats that you can tour, including the Bluenose II if I’m not mistaken, and a few water tanks where you can touch the animals. I seem to recall them doing workshops or something similar that would also help keep them entertained, but I’m not sure–it’s been years since I’ve gone.
I’ve been to PEI once myself, but that was years ago. I can’t really give you much on suggestions there, especially on thigns that might be kid-friendly.
Oh by the way, one of my co-workers just came back from Nova Scotia a couple of weeks ago and told me that there are some very nice wineries there that also offer tours.
I agree with Jayn_Newell on the Harbour Hopper. That is the tour I went on as well. There are also tours available on tallships if that interests you.
“prepare”? Is a plurality of Scottish surnames known to cause any ill effects in visitors? Are people picked up wandering the streets muttering MacDonald-MacDougal-MacTavish-MacGregor-MacThis-MacThat-MacOther? :dubious:
The Anne of Green Gables home is–assuming the kids have read the Anne books (or plan to). Close by to Cavendish, where the Anne stuff is, is Cavendish Beach, which might be interesting for the kids regardless of their interest in Anne. Big sand dunes, sea, that sort of thing.
I’ve been to PEI a few times, and I always enjoy it. I like the history myself–the Charlottetown Conference in the 1860s helped create Canada (together wth the Quebec Conference), and the painting of the event is as well known to Canadians as the one of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is to Americans. And today, you can visit Province House, where the conference took place. But even the self-drive tours around the island (directions for which are available from hotels and touristy places) are interesting.
And eat the potatoes. No other potato as good as a PEI spud, IMHO.
