Suggestions/Advice for Nova Scotia and PEI

Your list of sites looks good. I would consider staying at Acadia National park in Maine if you can fit it in. Take the ferry from Portland to Yarmouth for the shortcut (but not cheap) to NS. Take Hwy 103 along the coast, to Lunenburg, Peggy's Cove, and Halifax. There is a KOA outside Halifax (never been) but we preferred to stay at Shubie park on the Dartmouth side. Then take the Cabot Trail to Cape Breton. Checkout the Fortress Louisborg national site as well.

You then have to backtrack a bit to get onto PEI. The ferry from Caribou is a shorter route and an experience. If you drive all the way to the Confederation bridge it is free to cross onto the island, you only have to pay when leaving.

Our favorite area in PEI for the family is Cavendish. Nice national park, although we haven't been in a few years, and lots for the kids in the area (Sandspit amusement park, Anne of Green Gables etc).

Take the Confederation bridge on the return and go through NB to see the Bay of Fundy. Plan a stay in Fundy National Park to see Hopewell Rocks and the tides.

Don't know about Houlton but we volunteered this pass summer at Moosehorn NWR based in Calais. Of the three border crossings in Calais I would recommend the commerical crossing on the north end of town. Much more RV friendly than going into downtown Calais crossing into downtown Saint Steven.

camp-n-family wrote:
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You then have to backtrack a bit to get onto PEI. The ferry from Caribou is a shorter route and an experience but not cheap. If you drive all the way to the Confederation bridge it is free to cross onto the island, you only have to pay when leaving.
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Unless things have changed in the last couple of years, The ferry from Caribou to Woods Island is free. As with the bridge, one pays when leaving on the Ferry.

We have always taken the Ferry to PEI and left on the bridge.

Adding to things to do in NS, the Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Baddeck is worth a visit.

On Cape Breton, we like to stay a the Broad Cove campground on the east side. I believe they take reservations, now.

Our favorite hike is the Middle Head Trail.

Tom

Recommend crossing at Houlton. Every time I use Calais, I get searched which is typically a 45 minute delay.

A day trip around the Cabot Trail is always a very pleasant trip with great sightseeing.

I am sure things have changed a little in eight years but you may want to check out our 2010 blog when we visited Atlantic Canada. BTW, if you have the time, Newfoundland was the highlight of that trip and we would suggest you go and enjoy it if you can.

I've lived down in this area since 1978 and used to own land near Lubec, Maine. You see more if you don't take the ferry.

----I have been to Campobello Island many times.
--I've also been to Grand Manan Island. Both very special. There is a ferry connection which takes in those two and Deer Island. You wind up in south shore NB if you take that connection. Check it.

{{{re. bridge from Lubec to Campobello Is, CA border guard told my father of note he'd made in the record for the day: "Admitted one skunk, no questions asked"}}}

Generality. Take some of the older roads. Lots of interesting land and buildings given that this area was settled from 1600s on.

I tend to prefer crossing near Calais. Houlton is all major roads, seeing less.

Sights
******* Fortress of Louisbourg. It is a reconstruction staffed with people in period clothes talking their 18th century jobs.
Fundy Tides
Tidal Bore
Agree on Citadel. Today, Dec. 6, 2017 is the 100th anniversary of the Halifax Explosion when a munitions WWI ship blew up in that harbour killing 2000 and injuring 9,000 more, and flattening much of that city. NS sends Boston a huge Xmas tree every year to say "thank you" for your help in 1917. Much is shown at the Citadel.

Re. Cabot Trail, pretty scenery, but they took out the communities, thus loosing much character. Gros Morne National Park kept the people side of that park, thus IMH0 a much much better national park.

Meat Cove at top of Cape Breton adds more to scenery with people.

Yes, you pay when leaving PEI. ie. take ferry to and Bridge from. Bridge costs less.
Charlottetown is quite historic, used to kids. re. farmer's markets. Charlottetown Farmer's Market, especially on Saturday - take empty tummy and empty freezer to, carry away full happy tummy and full freezer and crafts.
Last time I did PEI beaches I was 15. Thus, great for kids.
& before you go read Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. Take all of you to the site re. said book, Green Gables House. I think that might well be a doggie site too.
Kids and parents - Orwell Cove Historic Village and neighbouring Sir Andrew MacPhail homestead. Orwell Cove has baby livestock in season. Operational places such as a Blacksmith. Lots of places to walk at both. Meals at MacPhail.

Campling. All gov. sponsored cgs on PEI are good. I prefer the wooded, but kids might like more open with swimming places.

NS cgs. Whycocomagh, 5 Islands and one near Louisbourg Fortress, I've done. Liked. Many like one nearer to start of Cabot Trail.

More, if wanted.

:B

You then have to backtrack a bit to get onto PEI. The ferry from Caribou is a shorter route and an experience but not cheap. If you drive all the way to the Confederation bridge it is free to cross onto the island, you only have to pay when leaving

Both the ferry and bridge are free to use when going to PEI. Both charge to leave PEI and yes the ferry is more. Depending on your destination when leaving, the ferry could work out to be no more cost when consider savings on fuel and highway toll.

Hank snow was born in Brooklyn Nova Scotia. If you take your time and look around there is much to see. Don't be in a hurry. Take a walk and see Kejimkujik Seaside.

You might check out The Ovens near Lunenburg. They have a campground right on the water's edge and you can visit the sea caves.

Ann Murray is from Springhill, Nova Scotia, and a building dedicated to her career is located there. Would be a good stop if your route can take you there. Not sure if there is something about their coal mining there, they had three major disasters near Springhill. Ann was a great thing for the town, in largely cancelling the problem of those disasters. Her Order of Canada medal was on display when we saw the museum in 2014.