Newbies interested in PEI and Cape Breton this summer

[madonetwo]

We are NEW!! Have a 32' 5th wheel and 3500 diesel truck. We'd like to drive from South Carolina to Cape Breton and PEI this summer. Round trip looks like 4K miles. Wondering about time of year to go, we'd like to miss the snow and ice. Summers are hot in SC so we don't mind a chill in the air. Please direct me to any advisory forums or send personal advice. Thank you so much.

[kathystan]

We are heading to Cape Breton Highlands National Park this summer and cannot wait. Making the trip from Philadelphia area. We are planning on driving Cabot Trail. We are only planning Cape Breton area this trip and we love anything outdoors and are looking forward to some great lobster and mussels. Recommendations for eating and activities?

[Veebyes]

Never mind PEI. Head across to Newfoundland in June & see these.


Click For Full-Size Image.

[dcason]

You don't say how long your trip will be but September is nice. We went in October and lucked out with the weather one year when we did a ny to gaspe and down the coast to PEI...it was just 3 weeks long but it was quiet and peacefull...able to boondocks a lot at places that wouldn't fly in season.
Donna

[Veebyes]

We timed our trip to the Maritimes last year around prime iceberg season on the north coast of Newfoundland, which is June.

From Maine north you won't find much open till Memorial Day. We were in Lunenburg for May 24th holiday & the town was only just opening up for the season. 2nd of June we were on the ferry to Newfoundland & there was loads of extra space. Only 100 or so passengers.

CGs were busier in early July when we returned from Newfoundland but still not full. No reservations made.

[profdant139]

The fiddle music in Cape Breton is fantastic. We have not been there yet, but I created a Cape Breton station on my Pandora app. Check out some CB tunes on youtube!

I would bet that there are some great seafood restaurants that also have wonderful live music, kind of like Louisiana.

[NCWriter]

Oldcow wrote:
http://www.newglasgowhighlands.com/
Can't recommend this place enough.
Oldcow

Agree with Old Cow - very well-run campground on PEI. The owner gave us a suggestion of a fish market (Doiron) nearby in North Rustico that had wonderful cooked lobsters for sale (we wanted to eat a little lighter that evening than the famous PEI Lobster Suppers nearby.) We also stayed at Linkletter Provincial Park by the water on the southern coast to tour Charlottetown.

Cape Breton Island was really enjoyable for us. We drove clockwise on the Cabot Trail. Enjoyed lunch and a performance at the Celtic Music Center in Judique, and spent the night at Inverness Beach Village - beautiful sunsets facing west.

Cape Breton Highlands National Park has campgrounds, and numerous scenic overlooks. We stayed up at the top of the island one night (Dingwall - Hideaway Campground and Oyster Market.) We took an Oshan Whale Watching tour late afternoon - very reasonable price, and saw lots of whales.

Driving back down on the east side of the island, the road is fairly steep with some tight turns, so instead of towing, you may want to leave the 5th wheel somewhere like Baddeck and drive at least part of the trail in your truck as many people do. Several campgrounds in Baddeck.

Don't miss the Alexander Graham Bell Museum there in Baddeck - fascinating. Plan a day to tour the Fortress of Louisbourg (similar to Colonial Williamsburg in the US), and get there early. Again, there are several campgrounds in the town to choose from.

If you are going this summer, you'll save lots of money because Parks Canada is offering free admission to historic sites.

[lonnie4801]

Can't say enough about "Small Halls" in PEI. You can read about our 2012 trip to PEI in 2012 at the website in my signature.

[Oldcow]

http://www.newglasgowhighlands.com/

Can't recommend this place enough.

Oldcow

[Little_Kopit]

Out here in Atlantic Canada (ie. 3 provinces in Canada in 1800s called The Maritimes)plus Newfoundland and Labrador who joined Canada in 1949, seasons are as follows:

Spring is slow to come
Summer is pleasant in that temps seldom get to 90'F or 35'C
Fall is prolonged, cool at night often very lovely in daytime. Many a year serious frosty nights don't happen until late October. But some really great sites to visit lose their extra summer staff about September 1.

So, what do you like to do? Hike, swim, boat in coastal waters. Sweat not the small stuff. But if you need a lifesaver to patrol your beach, no go after Labour Day.

Hit the historic sites and convenient hours, come before September. Examples Louisbourg Fortress is a major reconstruction. Staff in period dress on Cape Breton. Or Orwell Corner a historic village in PEI with adjoining historical museum. Again before Sept 1. Neighboring Sir Andrew Macphail estate likewise

Get local delectable eats at .seasonal picking times. Easy as pie for Farmer's Markets at Saint John, NB, Charlottetown, PEI, Cardigan, PEI, Farmer's Daughter at Whycocomagh, Cape Breton.

Call, tourism guides: online search: name of province & tourism. Ask about your special interests

& There are things called Fall Flavours.

In June there is Festival of Small Halls for two weeks in June with some sites booked first ticket night, or Stan Fest June 30 - July 2. etc.....

Remember take the ferry to PEI and the Bridge off. You pay only for the leaving crossing and the bridge costs less than the ferry.

Does that help?

:B

Left out the winter season. More in some provinces (Newfoundland and Labrador) than others. There's a skiers trying for a Believe it or Not entry this weekend, besides other skiing. & Other provinces and Alaska have sled dog races. ie. http://www.yukonquest.com/ is on this week for 9 - 10+ days....