In Nova Scotia, I would recommend the Provincial and National Parks for the most part. If hook-ups are not a necessity, I believe that you'll be more apt to find what you're looking for with these parks.
I also recommend a PEI stop-over. The Confederation Trail which stretches from practically one end of the island to the other will be reason enough to bring the bicycles. Again the Provincial and National Parks are probably more of what you'll be looking for... I also recommend Twin Shores Campground which has a great beach, although it's a fairly busy campground and reservations are probably necessary. New Glasgow Highlands Campground is also very nice. It's fairly small, which makes it all the nicer for me, but it can also be difficult to get a spot without a reservation.
Something to think about with regards to PEI... you pay to get off the island (not on) and the ferry is more expensive than the Confederation Bridge, so you might want to consider doing Nova Scotia first then hopping on the ferry to PEI on your way back and then leave the island via the bridge... just a thought.
Oh, I know that I read that you didn't have to pay to get on PEI, for some reason I didn't realize that it included the ferry! Hmm, definitely food for thought. We will be visiting family in Montreal then staying for a couple days in Quebec before heading out to NS. It looks like we'll have about 13 to 14 days for NS/PEI. We totally can't wait to hit the road!
This will be our first extended trip in the van and I was thinking of all the great places we'll see and of places that I'll definitely want to shop! Shopping for Christmas is a great idea, but, traveling in a "B" van with 4 people leaves very little room for extra stuff!
Are there other side of the road type farmers markets or supermarkets along the way? We often visit a cousin in upstate NY and we have to hit a supermarket 30 minutes before we get to her cabin otherwise, there is nothing locally. Just wondering if I need to plan the same way.
BTW Charlottetown Farmer's Market is just a little refinement on that concept.
While yes, there is knitting as option for purchases, there is also small stuff. My boss orders different types of teas from many places. Some of the plants of make special teas grow in PEI. I got him a selection. A small parcel to be sure.
& in Whycogomagh, NS, Farmer's daughter has local produce (not to mention interesting sandwiches for your lunch)
With a Class B you'll be able to do lots of 2 laners. Think of this part of North America as having European influences from the 1600s on. Drive slowly and look for signs of business structures and dwellings of historical import. Also, there are many little museums. These will probably be staffed by students from the community, who will be telling you about their place.
We spent 6 wks in NB and NS last summer, mostly at Provincial and National Parks, and mostly w/o any reservations. This summer there may be even fewer visitors. When I did make reservations it was only one or two days in advance. Caribou was the only PP that I didn't get a site (on a Saturday) since it is so close to the PEI ferry. Mira River, TH Raddall and Battery PP were excellent parks, but the absolute best was Blomidon PP. Five Islands PP was not a good stop, bad roads, park constructions and closed trails. The entrance to Battery is a tight turn adjacent to the single lane bridge over the sea locks. Don't miss the Fortress of Louisbourg or the Hopewell Rocks (NB) or Fundy NP (NB). The west side of the Cabot Trail is much more impressive than the east side. The link in my sig. includes a few pics from NB and NS including the Provincial Parks.
Larry Day
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I don't need to have hookups as long as I can refill our propane and water and dump our tanks every few days. I have an onboard generator that we haven't used since we usually have electric hookups when we camp - would there be a problem if I run it in the provincial park? (not during quiet hours) Generally, I'll only need to run the generator if the batteries are getting too low (but they'll recharge as we drive) or if I want to run the A/C - as I said - we actually have never used it although I start it now and again to make sure it works - so I don't really know what "generator protocol" is when camping.
Curious about what was better about Blomidon than the others. Mira River and Battery are on our itinerary.
wishaB wrote: Dayle1 - Thanks for sharing those pics.
Curious about what was better about Blomidon than the others. Mira River and Battery are on our itinerary.
- Ceril
Blomidon had both wide open and secluded sites and at 600ft above the Minas Basin (highest tidal change) part of the Bay of Fundy, the views were great. Yet there is still access to the tidal flats. Nice hiking trails that were better marked than any other park. One warning, the short park road from the boundary to the entrance gate is narrow, steep with a few hairpin turns that is a challenge if another RV is encountered.
I wouldn't hesitate to do the Cabot trail in a class B, I took a big pop up around a couple of times, you can pull right over to the overlooks BUT don't go around if its cloudy, you will be in them and see "0", we camped at Ingonish beach, got the last site (? res.) the beach is salt water on one side, and fresh on the other side of the bar. I use swimming shoes (rockery bar) There is a nice CG on Cheticamp Island (ST Peter in French) Don't miss the Fort in Louisburg (all day) It is 20 deg cooler there, you might take a sweet shirt. A stop in Baddeck, on the Bras d'Or lake and see the G. Bell museum. The trip to PEI is worth the toll, bridge one way and ferry to NS, or the other way back, I camp at Red point on the Ochen, a short ride to Basin Head beach its #1 in my book, Kids and me have a ball jumping of the piers into the river between the basin and the water (you can see it on the Int) If you have time go through Fundy Park and see the tides. Its a great trip if you take your time, have fun.
Also If you see a Jayco Eagle with a Red Sox plate on the back say HI its me.
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