The Set-Up
Where do you go when you have a set of friends all with the adventure bug, a limited budget, one week off, and a month to plan the trip? The answer we came up with…the Maritimes!! Well, specifically New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia, ft. a drive through Quebec.
The Itinerary
Day 1: Montreal to Fredericton (814 KM)
Although a long day of driving, there are lots of places to stop along the way! We decided to stop in Grand Falls, NB to admire the waterfalls and Hartland, NB which is home to the world's longest covered bridge.
Day 2: Fredericton to Moncton (172 KM)
Unfortunately, as we were travelling in the early spring Fredericton was flooded during the first half of our trip, so we quickly made our way to Saint John, NB (NOT St. John's as it was quickly pointed out to me...that's in Newfoundland).
In Saint John we had a lovely walk downtown and visited the Saint John City Market. After grabbing lunch at the Saint John Ale House (the bacon maple scallops were well worth it!), we started driving to Hopewell Rocks (make note of the tide times!). One thing to remember when traveling in the Maritimes is to pack for the weather and not let it stand in the way of your plans. Although we had to miss on the hike in Fundy National Park of Canada, we did get to see the rocks, armed with our rain boots of course, before finishing the drive to Moncton.
Day 3: P.E.I. Day Trip (164 KM)
P.E.I was the one province I had not been to before on this road trip. Stay tuned for an upcoming blog to see what we were able to accomplish during our day trip.
COMING SOON
Day 4: Moncton to Halifax (262 KM)
Had a beautiful drive to Halifax, and ventured out to Peggy's Cove. Luckily the rained cleared which provided the perfect weather for climbing around on the rocks (IMPORTANT: Keep off the black rocks getting pulled into the Atlantic Ocean is not worth the Instagram photo). We then spent the evening exploring the Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk. The waterfront is a great public space with hammocks facing the water and a wide variety of vendors.
Day 5: Day trip to Lunenburg & Exploring Halifax (99 KM)
Early in the morning we set out for Lunenburg NS, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunenburg is personally one of my favourite places that I have visited in Canada as I have fond memories of staying at a local B&B, and going whale watching. As we visited before the tourist season these tours where not open but we were able to admire the architecture and reach about the town history on the various plaques in the city. Read more about the history of Lunenburg here.
After driving back to Halifax we visiting the Halifax Citadel and took a free guided tour. I highly recommend taking the tour as it provided more context as to the role of the Citadel. Finishing off our history day, we visited the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. This has significance to my family as my grandparents first landed at Pier 21 when immigrating to Canada in the 1950s. Pier 21 was one of the best paid activities we decide on this trip as it had a wide variety of exhibits focusing on demonstrating the immigration experiences of a wide range of Canadians and placing it within its historical context.
Day 6: Halifax to Fredericton (436 KM)
Day 6 was a driving day as we made tracks back to Fredericton, but not before stoping in Alma, NB to pick up sticky buns from Kelly's Bake Shop (we caught them on their first day of the season).
Day 7: Fredericton to Montreal (814 KM)
Before heading back to Montreal we checked out the Fredericton Boyce Farmer's Market to get snacks for the road. We also stoped in Quebec City to stretch our legs in Old Quebec, admire Le Chateau Frontenac and walk along the Ramparts of Quebec City.
Accommodation Recommendation
For this we were able to stay with friends and family for most of the trip (a great way to help you stay on budget and get local recommendations when possible). However, as we were travelling in the off season we were able to get a reasonable Airbnb in Halifax which included parking.
Listening Recommendation
"The Secret Life of Canada" is an eye-opening Canadian history podcast. Specifically, their episode title "The Secret Life of New Brunswick," provided historical context for the areas we were passing through, and the inspiration for our stop in Grand Falls, as well as the peoples who live there. Unfortunately, this particular episode is not listed under their current location on CBC, however it can be found in their archives here.
Lessons Learned
With road trips it's much more about the people you are travelling with then the destination (sounds cliche...I know). Passenger might be the DJ but the driver truly controls the music. Tim Hortons vs. McDonalds....you decide! (only in participating locations, selection may very). No you DO NOT want to hit a moose. Car naps are a must pack a pillow!
Happy travels!