Atlantic Canada 2015

[Midwest Michael]

I'm starting to make plans for our summer roadtrip, and a combination of a low gas prices and a relatively favorable exchange rate makes it seem like this is a good year to load up the Forester and head to an area I've never been before: The Canadian Maritimes.

The trip will take place starting over 2 weeks in August, mostly camping, mostly exploring natural areas, although really anything unique to an area or culture is fair game.

Here's what I'm looking at for an itinerary.
Friday - Leave in the early afternoon drive to Eastern Michigan. Spend the night in a motel.
Saturday - Head to the Montreal area. Possibly another hotel, maybe explore the city a bit in the evening.
Sun/Mon- Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick. (Voyageur Canoe Experience)
Tuesday - Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Camp at Laurie or Porters Lake Prov. Park)
Wed/Thurs - Cape Breton Highlands National Park, NS (Cabot Trail)
Fri/Sat/Sun - Prince Edward Island via Ferry (PEI National Park, Green Gables, Charlottetown, Lobster Supper)
Mon/Tues - Fundy National Park, NB via Confederation Bridge (Hopewell Rocks)
Wed/Thurs - Millinocket, Maine (Whitewater Rafting)
Friday - Burlington, Vermont (evening Lake Monsters game)
Saturday - Syracuse, NY (family)
Sunday - Rochester Redwings afternoon game, drive west, overnight TBD
Monday - Back Home

I'm still trying to figure out which places, if any, to make camping reservations. Beyond that, I don't have much in the way of specific questions at this point, but if anyone has any ideas or suggestions, I'd like to hear them. Any Canada-specific money saving tips would also be appreciated - for example, I've discovered there is a Canadian National Parks Pass that I'm probably going to purchase - but anything that can save a couple bucks is a good idea to me!

[Mark Sedenquist]

Wow, this sounds like a fun trip.

Mark

[DonnaR57]

My mom and dad fell in love with the Canadian Maritimes a number of years ago. (Our truck has been there, but alas, we have not.) My dad had loved the islands when he passed through them on a Navy ship back in the 50s, so he wanted to tour there. Mom's favorite place was Halifax. Their pictures were gorgeous. It sounds like fun.

If this were me, I'd be looking for an app that converts liters to gallons so I'd know what I'm paying for. But that's just me. It was my biggest confusion when we toured Canada on our way to/from Alaska, years ago.


Donna

[glc]

3.785 liters = 1 gallon
Today - $1 USD = $1.20 CAD

[AZBuck]

I don't know if you planned it that way, but it bears noting for others who may not be aware. Getting onto and off of Prince Edward Island is a bit unique. Tolls on the Confederation Bridge (referred to locally as the "fixed link") are fairly pricey and both the bridge and the ferry charge their toll based on an assumed round trip. BUT you only pay as you leave the island. So by taking the more expensive route (ferry) onto the island and the less expensive route (bridge) off the island, you are experiencing both but you're saving yourself almost half. The ferry would cost C$88 for a standard sedan and a single passenger, the bridge is C$45.50

AZBuck

[Midwest Michael]

3.785 liters = 1 gallon
Today - $1 USD = $1.20 CAD

Thanks for the reminder that the Dollar has been going the wrong way! The USD was closer to C$1.30 when starting thinking about this trip! Of course, gas prices are also up about 40 cents/gallon too.

The converting litres to gallons is never much of a problem for me - multiplying by 4 and then a little rounding can give me a close enough estimate. It's the double conversion from litres to miles and dollars where I have to break out the calculator. Similar is true when I'm driving a car overseas with a km based odometer, to figure out my mpg.

[Midwest Michael]

I don't know if you planned it that way, but it bears noting for others who may not be aware... ...So by taking the more expensive route (ferry) onto the island and the less expensive route (bridge) off the island, you are experiencing both but you're saving yourself almost half.

I actually did plan it that way! That's a big reason why we're doing PEI after Nova Scotia, instead of before it.

Although the cost difference is only about $30. My understanding is that passengers are included with the vehicle rate, so it's $70 + $5 fuel surcharge for the Ferry vs. $45.50 for the Bridge. Still, $30 is enough to buy a nice lobster supper while on the Island!