O Canada! > Canadian > Canadian Chat > Change of plans. Forget Washington, how about the EastCoast

Change of plans. Forget Washington, how about the EastCoast

Step 1: see if you can get a cheap flight to Halifax (Porter, AC, WestJet), or some other destination on the east coast
Step 2: if you can, ensure you can get an unlimited mileage rental car
Step 3: consult the rest of this thread for suggestions on what to see.

I've only ever been to Halifax for a music conference I was working at, so I'm no help at suggesting what to see.
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A colleague at work is going out east in July. The car rental was obscenely expensive: something like $1500 for two weeks. WTF?!
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"It's all coming down!!" - Mike Holmes

reply to Devanchya
Depends what you want to see. If you are driving, it takes two days. If you drive a long day you can make Woodstock, NB in one day. We used to do that when going to NS (mom is from Shelbourne cty - a Thomas from Thomasville). She does not drive so day did the Port Hope to Woodstock run in one day. Gas up at Lancaster in ON and you do not have to stop at all in Quebec if you get decent mileage.

If you are going to NS, then you must go around the Cabot Trail.

If you are flying, I believe Porter flies to Halifax now from the Island Airport. You can take GO train to union then catch the shuttle to the airport. No driving at all.
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reply to Devanchya
You could try a trip to the South Shore of Quebec, which is like the Martimes but they speak french and are closer. Quebec city is always a good time.

reply to Devanchya
I drive to PEI and back every summer - one day there, one day back, from Kingston it's 13 hours each way - add 2 hours from Toronto area -- we stop for lunch in Quebec City, and supper in Fredericton. We usually arrive on PEI at whichever town we're staying at around 10pm. If you actually want to explore PEI, Nova Scotia, and NB, you could easily drive from Toronto to St. John NB in one day, spend a night there (plenty of nice hotels - we stay at the Delta there and the prices are reasonable for a Delta).

Spend a day exploring St John and what it has to offer, and then head over the Confederation Bridge to PEI, stay at a motel in the Charlottetown area - spend 2 days there - one seeing stuff in Charlottetown, one checking out Cavendish and the beach areas, then take the ferry off PEI to Nova Scotia, and spend 2 nights there - explore Cape Breton staying in Sydney one night, then the Halifax area staying there the next night. Head back, spend your last night in Montreal.

So to recap - a fun filled itinerary:
Day 1: Toronto to St John NB - $150 in gas
Night 1: St John - $125
Day 2: St John, then to Charlottetown.
Night 2: Charlottetown - $90
Day 3: Explore Charlottetown.
Night 3: Charlottetown - $90
Day 4: Explore Cavendish, red sand beaches, etc. Afternoon Ferry to Nova Scotia - $50
Night 4: Sydney - $125
Day 5: Cape Breton, then on to Halifax
Night 5: Halifax - $125
Day 6: Halifax to Montreal - $120 in gas
Night 6: Montreal - $100
Day 7: Montreal to Toronto - $50 in gas.

Total price (not including food and tax): $1025

reply to Devanchya
This has slid down the page a bit...

Anyone else have any suggestions...

Porter is ofering $150 each flights to Halifax for the week we want to go. Now it's just a case of getting the Car and deciding what to do.

If we flew down for a week, and decided day-by-day where we were heading, would that work?

I'm not sure about how much energy we will have. This vacation is as much about recharging after a year of hell on earth (At times) than anything else.
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»www.codecipher.com - Marking the way to tomorrow's solutions -- Did you know that Perl is not Dead? »perlisalive.org/

Do you have CAA, if so you might get decent rates for hotel and car rentals. We did PEI in 5 days. We saw a lot, we did not see enough. My wife has family there (Dundas area) so we saved on accommodations. Anne of Green Gables is a must, as is Cavendish. There's also a tour/drive that you can do which encompasses visiting the lighthouses. We started at the east end past Souris, to the west end and that was it for the first day. We did not finish the drive due to prior commitments. PEI alone may take up your week there's so much to see and do.

Drive the bridge by the way (Conferderation). You also have to pay to get off the island so bring some extra cash.

reply to Devanchya
One thing that the wife and I have done is get an apartment for a week. It is not expensive and I/she found it more relaxing. Now that the students have moved out for the summer. Bargains are to be found. Check in Nova Scotia # 1-800-565-0000 Also SMU 1-888-347-5555.
If you decide to spend more money You Can drive to Montreal and put your car on a ferry to »www.ctma.ca/traversier-madeleine···ates.cfm then take the next ferry to PEI drive to the next ferry to nova scotia. To get home you can take the cat ferry »www.catferry.com/ It is not much driving.

reply to Devanchya
Rent a RV. Stop when you want, eat when you want, get up when you want. You've always wanted a trailer trash vacation, go for it this year!
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All those who believe in psychokinesis raise my hand.

reply to Devanchya
I got a 50% off West Jet coupon at work today... amazing what's in peoples (desk) drawers...

So I have flights to Halifax for 2, direct for $440.

Car rental is done for 1 week at $331.

Now to figure out where to stay, and when

I know a day or so will be in PEI. Rest is up in the air. Thanks for the help so far.
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»www.codecipher.com - Marking the way to tomorrow's solutions -- Did you know that Perl is not Dead? »perlisalive.org/

reply to Devanchya
Okay so I'm planning my trip using Yahoo's Travel site.
»travel.yahoo.com/trip-map-202379···VBabItAF

It's neat so far... but I have a few questions:

We land in Halifax on the 12 at 9am. Figure we will spend 2 days near Halifax to see the local sights.

I want to head up and do the famous "Walk the Ocean Floor" tourist trap thing...

I can't read the tide tables though:
»www.thehopewellrocks.ca/English/···les2.htm

For July 14th where would the Low Tide marker be so that we can be around to do the walk and watch it come in abit.

So far:

Arrive July 12 in Halifax
Put around Halifax on the 12 and 13th
Go to Monton for the 14th
Head to PEI for 15th and 16th
Head to Sydney for the 17 and 18
Fly out of Halifax at Noon on the 19th.
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»www.codecipher.com - Marking the way to tomorrow's solutions -- Did you know that Perl is not Dead? »perlisalive.org/

If you are into classic cars & hot rods then visit Moncton for the Atlantic Nationals July 10 to 12th...

»www.atlanticnationals.com/

Sir Paul McCartney is in Halifax on July 11th...

July 16th to 20th - Tall ships are in Halifax...
»novascotiavacations.ca/TallShips···odmy9rBA