Stay : Journey across the Maritimes
The Maritime Provinces is the name given to the three provinces on the east coast of Canada: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. This stay of twenty days allows you to discover them through their national parks and their turbulent histories.
Summary of the stay
Best time to go
21 days
€€ - Charm and comfort
Detail of the stay : Journey across the Maritimes - 21 days
Day 1: Caraquet and the Acadian Village
Steps: Bertrand, Caraquet, Grande-Anse, Campbellton
Breakfast in Cambellton, the starting point of the stay, then Route 11 towards Bertrand with a few stops to enjoy the landscape, particularly in Bathurst and Grande-Anse. Visit of the historic Acadian Village (plan several hours, lunch on site). Take your dinner in Caraquet, Overnight on site or in a chalet in Bas-Caraquet (bonus: free access to the beautiful municipal beach located a stone's throw away).
VILLAGE HISTORIQUE ACADIEN
Day 2: Incursion into Acadian penisula
Steps: Caraquet, Shippagan, Île Miscou, Île De Lamèque
Breakfast at the bakery of the village and drive to Shippagan. Visit of Aquarium et Centre Marin of New Brunswick, then head for the Lamèque and Miscou islands. On the programme: an ecological park, lighthouses (including that of Miscou "at the end of the world"), beautiful quiet beaches, lobster and seafood shacks... The true holidays! Dinner and overnight in Caraquet. Tip: for a drink in the evening, we strongly recommend that you take a tour of the Carrefour de la Mer site.
AQUARIUM ET CENTRE MARIN DU NOUVEAU-BRUNSWICK / PHARE DE L'ÎLE MISCOU / PARC ÉCOLOGIQUE DE LA PÉNINSULE ACADIENNE
Day 3: Bouctouche, between dunes and Acadian history
Steps: Bouctouche, Shediac, Kouchibouguac
Take your breakfast and take Route 11 again towards Bouctouche. Nature lovers will perhaps make a stop just in front, at Kouchibouguac National Park (lunch in the surrounding areas). In Bouctouche, the visit of the dunes at Irving Eco-centre is a must, just like Le Pays de la Sagouine, which revives the Acadia of yesteryear. Dinner and overnight in Shediac.
Day 4: Sea fishing and passage on Prince Edward Island
Steps: Cape Jourimain
Breakfast and boarding early in the morning for a sea-fishing excursion. Those who prefer swimming will visit the Parlee beach. Drive to Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island via the Confederation Bridge (paid-for). Arrival in the capital of the island and visit of its historic centre and its beautiful waterfront. Several good places to eat and drink in the block bounded by Grafton, Queen, Water and Prince streets. Overnight on site.
PONT DE LA CONFÉDÉRATION
Day 5: Green Gables and National Park of the island
Breakfast and departure early in the morning to Cavendish and its Green Gables National Historic Site dedicated to the heroin of Anne's novels ... The House with green gables. Lunch on site and visit of the Prince Edward Island National Park, part of which is accessible from Cavendish. Lobster dinner at one of the renowned restaurants in North Rustico or New Glasgow. Overnight in Charlottetown.
Day 6: The charms of Summerside
Breakfast and road to Summerside, charming coastal town. Its tourist site, Spinnaker's Landing, is particularly lively in summer with shows, street arts, shops of all kinds and restaurants for all hungers. The Evangeline region inhabited by the Acadians of the island begins a little west, for those who are interested. Dinner and overnight in Charlottetown.
Day 7: Towards Nova Scotia and the Fishing Museum
Steps: Antigonish, Pictou
Breakfast and road to Wood Islands for the ferry crossing towards Caribou in Nova Scotia (fee required, reservation recommended). Stop in Pictou for lunch and visit its lobster nursery and its fishing museum. Road to Antigonish, dinner and overnight on site.
Day 8: Chéticamp and the Scottish heritage
Breakfast and road to Chéticamp on Cape Breton Island via the Ceilidh Trail. To fully experience the Scottish heritage of this part of the country, make a stop at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre in Judique and at the Glenora distillery. Depending on the time you arrive in Chéticamp, know that sea excursions are offered at the end of the day for whale watching. Dinner and overnight on site.
CELTIC MUSIC INTERPRETIVE CENTRE
Day 9: Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Steps: Cheticamp
A beautiful day spent outdoors in one of the most beautiful parks in the country! You can either indulge in your favourite activities independently or take a package from one of the many adventure-tourism companies that work on site. It is possible to sleep in the park, in a campsite, ready-to-camp, youth hostel, etc. However, plan your meals accordingly.
PARC NATIONAL DES HAUTES-TERRES-DU-CAP-BRETON
Day 10: On the Cabot Trail road
Steps: Cheticamp, Ingonish Beach
Enjoy the morning to go for a short contemplative hike before taking the Cabot Trail road (plan a lunch break). The portion between Neils Harbour and Ingonish Beach is remarkably beautiful, considered one of the most beautiful roads in Canada. Dinner and overnight at one of Ingonish Beach resorts or hostels.
CABOT TRAIL
Day 11: Baddeck and Aberdeen
Steps: Cheticamp, Baddeck, Aberdeen
Take your breakfast and if it's sunny, enjoy a bit of the beach of this village. Take the Cabot Trail towards south to the Trans-Canada Highway and drive to Baddeck (lunch on site). Among other things, you can visit the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site dedicated to the inventor of telephone. Two options are then available: either spending the evening and night in Baddeck, or go some 40 km to Aberdeen to experience one of the friendliest youth hostels in the Maritimes.
Day 12: Visit of Halifax
Steps: Halifax
Breakfast and road to Halifax (lunch on the way or in Halifax). Visit the city and its attractions like the Citadel, the maritime museum or the Immigration Museum at Pier 21. If you like beer, you are strongly advised to take a guided tour (quite unusual) of the Alexander Keith brewery. For an evening drink, several artisanal breweries, live entertainment bars (including Celtic music) and more are in the city centre. Dinner and overnight in Halifax.
MARITIME MUSEUM OF THE ATLANTIC / MUSÉE CANADIEN DE L'IMMIGRATION DU QUAI 21 / ALEXANDER KEITH'S BREWERY TOUR
Day 13: Peegy's Cove & Lunenburg
Steps: Halifax, Lunenburg, Peggy'S Cove
Breakfast and road to Peggy's Cove and its lighthouse, the most photographed in the world. Then head for Lunenberg, a colourful fishermen's village listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (lunch on site). Do not miss a visit or excursion aboard its famous schooner Bluenose II. You should also visit: fishing museum, distillery, farmer's market, etc. Dinner on site in one of the excellent restaurants in Lunenburg (seafood in abundance). Overnight in Halifax.
Day 14: Cruise or hike from Halifax
Steps: Halifax
Breakfast and rest of the visits in Halifax. Several cruise lines are located in the harbour of Halifax. Some interesting addresses also on the side of Dartmouth that can be joined by ferry or by car. Sportspeople and contemplatives can opt for a game of the Rum Runners Trail (starting point in Halifax) for a beautiful hike. Dinner and overnight in Halifax
Day 15: Moncton
Steps: Moncton
Breakfast and road to Moncton, a city with a heavily francophone population (plan a stop for lunch). Visit of Moncton, dinner and overnight on site.
Day 16: Bay of Fundy and kayaking
Breakfast and road to the Bay of Fundy which records the highest tides in the world. Excursionists organise popular sea kayaking packages in this part of the country. Accomodation possible in a package or in the park (campsite, ready-to-camp, yurt, rustic chalet). Plan your meals accordingly.
Day 17: Saint John
Steps: Saint John
Take your breakfast and enjoy the beautiful landscape of Bay of Fundy. Road to Saint John (plan a stop for lunch). Visit the city, its reversible rapids (zip-line over the rapids possible), the New Brunswick museum, the farmer's market, etc.
MUSÉE DU NOUVEAU-BRUNSWICK
Day 18: On the border of Maine
Steps: Saint Andrews
Breakfast and road towards St. Andrews, on the border of the State of Maine (plan a stop for lunch and do not hesitate to leave Route 1 to discover the small coastal villages in the south). Top-of-the-range hostels, excellent restaurants and superb golf courses await you there. Dinner and overnight in St. Andrews.
Day 19: A watching cruise in St Andrews
Steps: Saint Andrews
Breakfast and according to your interests, take a whale-watching cruise, a game of sea fishing, play golf, visit art galleries, etc. Dinner and overnight in St. Andrews.
Day 20: Fredericton, its historic district and its art gallery
Steps: Fredericton, Prince William
Breakfast and departure to Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick (plan a stop for lunch). Visit the Garrison historic district, the Beaverbrook art gallery or the Historic Village of King's Landing in Prince William. Dinner and overnight in Fredericton.
QUARTIER HISTORIQUE DE GARNISON / VILLAGE HISTORIQUE DE KINGS LANDING / MUSÉE DES BEAUX-ARTS BEAVERBROOK
Day 21: Returning to Quebec
Breakfast and road to Quebec via Trans-Canada Highway.
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