Planning a camping trip to the Maritimes

[vaneramos]

Ideally, this is what I would like to do:

• August 9, drive from Guelph to Voyageur Provincial Park, on the Ottawa River and the border of Ontario and Quebec (MapQuest), estimated travel time (ETT) 6:34. An early start should allow us to arrive, set up camp and possibly drive to Montreal for the evening, 59 minutes (MapQuest). Book site for August 9 and 10.
  
  
• August 10. We'll spend Wednesday visiting the Biodome and Old Montreal (Plan du Metro).



• August 11. Long driving day. Break camp and drive to Caraquet NB (MapQuest), ETT 11:19. There are two campgrounds in Caraquet: Camping Caraquet has its own website. Alternate: Camping Ile Lamèque. Book campsite for August 11 and 12.
  
  
• August 12. Friday visit Acadian Historic Village and explore the Acadian Peninsula, perhaps Lamèque Eco-Parc.



• August 13, break camp and drive to Whycocomagh NS (MapQuest), ETT 7:09. Confirm with Gary B. whether we can stay at his farm. Alternates: MacLeod's Beach and Campsite or Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Book for August 13 to 15.
  
  
• August 14, 15. This will give us two full days to explore the Cabot Trail, possibly go whale watching and/or visit Fortress of Louisbourg (MapQuest for Whycocomagh to Louisbourg, ETT 1:53). There's also a chance to look for a Bicknell's thrush on Benjies Lake Trail and Bog Trail in the park.
  
  
• August 16, get an early start leaving Cape Breton and head to Peggys Cove (MapQuest) ETT 3:43. After exploring the village we'll camp at Kejimkujik National Park (MapQuest) ETT 2:07. Book for August 16 and 17. Depending on time and energy we could also explore more of the Lighthouse Route on the South Shore.
  
  
• August 17. Wednesday morning follow Digby Neck and Islands Scenic Tour off the Evangeline Trail, catching the ferries to Long Island and Brier Island. (MapQuest ETT 2:34). Looking for seabirds.
  
  
• August 18, break camp and head to Wolfville (Mapquest) ETT 2:04 to explore Minas Basin. Then drive to Prince Edward Island National Park (MapQuest) ETT 4:18. Book site at North Rustico for August 18, 19 and 20.
  
  
• August 19, 20. Things to do on the island: build sand castles, dig for clams, explore sand dunes, visit Green Gables and Charlottetown. Old Home Week is underway and The Gold Cup parade takes place downtown on August 19 at 10 a.m.
  
  
• August 21, break camp and drive to Grand Manan Island NB (MapQuest) ETT 6:19. Ferry crossing required: p.m. departures from Blacks Harbour include 13:30, 15:30, 17:30 and 21:00. At Hole-in-the-Wall Park and Campground request a "cliff edge" site for August 21 and 22. Cathy and Colleen said expect our sleep to be disturbed by whales breaching.
  
  
• August 22. Things to do and see on Grand Manan Island.
  
  
• August 23. Break camp and drive to Quebec City, then on to Mont-Sainte-Anne (Mapquest) ETT 10:13. Book for August 23 and 24.
  
  
• August 24. Wednesday free to explore Quebec City.
  
  
• August 25, break camp and return to Guelph (MapQuest) ETT 9:50.

But the amount of driving is daunting, at least 6,100 km (3,800 miles), and an average in-car time of 4.5 hours per day, combined with the hassle of pitching tents and taking them down at least seven times in 17 days. I have never planned anything like this before. I'm remembering trips with my parents, who packed in a lot of sightseeing, but we usually combined camping with hotels, a luxury I can't afford. I'm also worried about the cost of gas, which someone told me is more expensive in the Maritimes. The legs of the journey I feel most inclined to cut are the Acadian Peninsula and Quebec City, but they are intended partly to cut down the longest driving times. I'm going to mull this all over for a day before I start reserving campsites. Any suggestions, especially from road trip veterans, would be welcome.

Comments

[teddyb.livejournal.com]

I don't have any suggestions, just a heartfelt "bon voyage" wish.

I know this is going to be an unforgettable trip for you and the girls.

I hope that every moment is a joy.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot Bob. I think the memories will be worth the effort.

[lilactime.livejournal.com]

I'd recommend the Lighthouse Route - even if you don't make it as far as Lunenburg, there's always Mahone Bay - both towns are incredibly pretty with lots of fun shops. Coming through Chester you an also get a good look at some of the amazing waterfront mansions. And there's always Oak Island - you can't get onto the island itself, but there's a museum on the mainland, right at the causeway. Check this out beforehand if it sounds interesting - the various Island residents are always squabbling so the museum might have wacky hours.

You might also want to have a Plan B for the clam-digging, just in case. It's been really warm down there lately and they might be too full of bacteria - unless you're not planning on actually eating them, but that seems like an awful lot of digging for nothing.

Also in PEI, on your way back to the bridge from Charlottetown is a little town called Victoria. It's not very big, but it's wonderfully cute, with some shops and even a tea room. It's worth a visit if you're passing by and have time.

[rfmcdpei.livejournal.com]

Victoria, emphatically, yes.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I haven't had a chance to review the PDF file on the Lighthouse Route, but I'll probably print it off and have a closer read before we go. Your words have brought back to me the fact that my parents took me to the Oak Island museum when we were there; I was 11. I would like to allow more time for the South Shore if possible so we can explore more thoroughly.

Someone else suggested clam-digging, but my heart isn't really set on it. My one experience happened on the West Coast with my brother and the result was not very palatable. My younger daughter doesn't like shellfish anyway. I remember watching calm diggers on PEI when I was 11. If we do it, it will be more for the experience than the eating.

[lilactime.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh then, I wouldn't even bother. It's hard work and terribly messy and hard on the ol' fingernails. :) Although you might want to look into the possibility of watching a kelp harvest. I'm not sure exactly where they do it, but that's pretty interesting.

[mhkrabat.livejournal.com]

Holy Katz, what an amazing itinerary! I'm marvelling at it all.

Ofcourse your car is fit to make the trip (been in for a check up?) It's almost always preferable to have stuff done by someone you're familiar with opposed to being in situations where it becomes an emergency and you no longer have a choice when and where to have something taken care of (gosh I hate to piss in the punch bowl but it'd be great to not have to do any thing more than fill the tank for the month of august)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I plan to take it for a tuneup the week ahead of the trip. It's my dad's 2002 Sunfire and only has about 52,000 km, a large portion from my summer excursions with the girls. So far it is the most reliable car I have ever driven.

[gr8grizz.livejournal.com]

Best of luck on your trip Van. Have a great time.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot!

And thanks for the Suthern hospitality, by the way.

Good luck with the trip

[djjo.livejournal.com]

You and the girls have an amazing time! I'm looking forward to all the stories and pictures.

Re: Good luck with the trip

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

And there will be lots and lots of pictures thanks to you, my sweet.

[ubermunkey.livejournal.com]

no suggestions other then
have a great time
where ever you go as long as it is about you three
that is what matters

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

That will certainly be the focus, giving them lots of memories. There are one or two places I want to take side trips to do a little birdwatching, and that is just for me, but they look like interesting enough places to keep us all occupied for a while.

The hard part for all of us is going to be the driving. I need to make sure Marian has lots of books and batteries for her CD player, and Brenna has lots of craft supplies.

[rsc.livejournal.com]

Wow. That is a lot of places. Hope you have a great time.

I would recommend that you not skip Quebec City. It's wonderful. (Or at least it was the last time I was there, 30 or so years ago. But the pictures from ruralrob's recent trip suggest that it's still wonderful.)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I'm considering skipping it, not because it isn't worth seeing, but because it could conceivably be included in another trip. It's only a nine hour drive from here compared to Nova Scotia, which is at least 18. And I'm not sure one day is enough to do it justice.

[eloquentwthrage.livejournal.com]

Isn't gasoline expensive up there? It's really high down here right now.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Lately it has been ranging between 86 and 98 cents per litre around here, which converts to $3.30 to $3.75 per US gallon. How does that compare? I expect it to cost at least 10 per cent more in the Maritimes.

[eloquentwthrage.livejournal.com]

We're about $2.27 here in NJ, which is about the lowest in the nation. Guess that's about the same with the conversion.

[paulonleave]

The trip sounds wonderful. My only advice would be to book your campsites sooner rather than later, just in case they fill up.

I personally loved the Cabot Trail and Fortress Louisbourg.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yes, the reason I'm planning now is so that I can make reservations. I want to settle on an itinerary so I can make some calls today and tomorrow.