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Originally Posted by PrairieGirl
What places in New Brunswick are a must see MonctonRad? Our initial idea of heading to the Maritimes was to see where some of our family originally settled when they arrived on Canada's shores but, of course, one just *has* to see the amazing sights to be seen whilst there.
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It would be nice to know what your interests are, if you are travelling with small children, and how much time you have available for your trip.
Dmajackson gave you a nice itinerary. I will give you an alternate one, assuming you include southern NB as part of your trip.
Day 1 - arrive at Halifax Stanfield International Airport. Drive downtown and stay at one of the downtown hotels. There is an excellent variety of good quality downtown accomodations in the city, representing all major brands. I would recommend the Marriott on the waterfront next to Historic Properties. Spend the evening strolling the waterfront boardwalk.
Day 2 - explore Halifax. Visit the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, the Citadel, the Public Gardens, stroll Spring Garden Road, think about a harbour cruise. There are many excellent restaurants in Halifax. If you want seafood, I would recommend Salty's or McKelvie's.
Day 3 - day trip to the south shore. Take route 333 to Peggy's Cove, explore the rocks and lighthouse, have a snack at the Sou'wester. Continue driving on the 333 along Saint Margarets Bay until you reach Route 3. Coninue on Route 3 to the west, and explore charming seaside towns like Hubbards, Chester, Mahone Bay and especially Lunenburg. If you get there in time, visit the Fishermans Museum. Have supper in Lunenburg, where there are many excellent choices. Return to Halifax on the 103 (limited access highway).
Hint - I would recommend taking local roads in the Maritimes almost all the time if you are a tourist. The limited access roads get you around quickly, but cut throught the wilderness and are
not scenic. If you really want to see the Maritimes, stay off the freeways!
Day 4 - day trip to the Annapolis Valley. Take the 101 expressway to the Wolfville exit and then continue on highway 1. Explore Wolfville, a delightful small university town. Visit the gardens at the Irving Centre at the university. Visit Grand Pre National Historic Site. There are nearby wineries where you can sample their wares. Think about driving to Canning, and then along route 358 to "the lookoff". It has an excellent view of the valley and of Minas Basin. You could continue on to Scott's Bay and the Bay of Fundy if you wish. Backtrack to Kentville along the country roads. This will give you an appreciation fot the orchards in the valley. Return to Halifax on the 101 expressway.
Day 5 - leave Halifax for Cape Breton. Take the 102 expressway north to Truro then the 104 expressway east towards Antigonish. Consider stopping for lunch in Antigonish. Explore Main Street and Saint FX University. Continue on the 104 to Baddeck, arriving mid afternoon. Visit the Alexander Graham Bell Museum. There are many excellent small hotels or B&B's to stay in Baddeck.
Day 6 - Cabot Trail. This will be a full day excursion on one of the most spectacular scenic drives in eastern North America. Mountains and ocean, it has it all. Don't forget to stop at the Gaelic College, and at the Keltic Lodge in Ingonish for a look see. Personally, I like driving the Cabot Trail clockwise. Some people prefer counter clockwise. The choice is yours. Baddeck is the terminus of the Cabot Trail either way. Overnight in Baddeck again.
Day 7 - day trip to Louisbourg. Continue to the northeast on the 104 to Sydney, then take the 22 to Louisbourg. Fortress Louisbourg is one of the largest historical recreations in North America and will take you a good part of the day to explore. Return to Baddeck again to overnight.
Day 8 - leave Baddeck, drive west on the 104 to New Glasgow, turn north on the 106, stop into Pictou and explore the historic downtown icluding the Hector Memorial Site. Have lunch and then continue on to the ferry terminal and catch the ferry to PEI. Don't forget to check the ferry schedule. The crossing takes about 90 minutes, and then it is a 45 minute drive into Charlottetown. There are lots of good hotels in Charlottetown, but I would consider the Delta on the waterfront. Take in a performance of Anne of Green Gables at the Confederation Centre.
Day 9 - explore Charlottetown, especially the waterfront and the Confederation Centre. Visit Province House and see where Canada was born. Take a drive to the north shore and visit Cavendish and Anne of Green Gables House. There is a craft shop near Brackley on the north shore that has to be seen to be believed. It is the Dunes Cafe and Sudio Gallery. It would actually be an amazing place to have supper. You will need reservations. Return to Charlottetown for the night.
Day 10 - leave Charlottetown for Moncton. Take highway 1 to the Confederation Bridge. When you reach the NB side, stop at the Cape Jourimain interpretive centre. There is an excellent view of the bridge from this vantage point. Then take the first exit to the right (route 955). The road is a little rough, but it parallels the Northumberland shore and is more scenic. It rejoins route 15 after about a half hour. Almost immediately after you get back on the 15, turn right onto the 950. This route will continue along the coastline via Cap Pele to Shediac. Shediac is one of the most popular resort communities in NB. It has an interesting downtown. Consider having lunch here. Continue on the 15 to Moncton, only a 20 minute drive away. Stay overnight in Moncton at one of the downtown hotels. I would recommend the Delta or the Marriott. There are a number of good restaurants in the immediate area including Catch 21, Pastalli's, Osaka Hibachi or the Tide & Bore Gastropub.
Day 11 - take route 114 down the Petitcodiac River valley to the Hopewell Rocks. All along the 114, especially from Hillsborough to Riverside-Albert there are small craft shops that you might find appealing. The Hopewell Rocks themselves are NB's signature tourist attraction with a well done interpretive centre, and a nice trail leading down to the rocks. Hopefully the tide will be out and you can take a walk on the seafloor. After Hopewell, carry on to Cape Enrage via route 915 at Riverside-Albert. Cape Enrage has been described by Conde Nast as having one of the top scenic views in Canada. There is an adventure tourisn attraction on site including rappelling and ziplining. You can search for fossils here. After this, continue on to Fundy Park. There are lots of nice hiking trails in Fundy, but my favourite is the Dickson Falls Trail. The service village of Alma at the park entrance is quite nice. . After driving through Fundy, continue on the 114 to highway 2, and then via highway 1 to Saint John. Overnight in Saint john at one of the downtown hotels, likely the Hilton or Delta. Explore the waterfront and eat at one of the excellent restaurants.
Day 12 - take highway 1 westbound to Saint George, then take the 172 and the ferry to Deer Island. From there, a second ferry will take you to Campobello Island. Visit the Roosevelt International Peace Park. You can either return via the US, or backtrack through Canada via the ferries. Either way, carry on to Saint Andrews by the Sea to overnight. There are many excellent inns and good restaurants. The downtown is a crafters delight. There are many gift shops to be had.
Day 13 - spend the morning exploring Kingsbrae Gardens, the van Horn Estate or consider a whalewatching expedition. Whalewatching on Passamaquoddy Bay is a wondrous experience! Later in the afternoon, return to Halifax. It will be a five hour drive via four lane divided highways.
Day 14 - leave Halifax for Stanfield International and back to Saskatchewan.
Please note that this will just give you a taste for the highlights of the Maritimes. There are many areas of the region that you will not have seen. This just means that you will have to come for a visit for a second time!