Gray C

This summer we are going to have to accompany our elderly parents to Brantford Ontario, to get them safely ensconced at their daughter's house. After about a week or so we would then like to visit Halifax Nova Scotia for a week on a fact finding trip.

Your advice is sought on several point:

Should we fly, and if so, is the cost of taking an internal flight expensive in Canada?

Should we drive? If so, has anyone done this jouney before?
How far is it?
Is it scenic, and worth considering as an option?

If the answer is yes to driving, what is the best way to do this? Drive by car and stopping at B&B's, or hire a Motorhome RV? If the latter, is it a no no to stay the night in a layby or do we have to stay in designated campsites?

No firm decisions made yet, but would appreciate the experiences of anyone who has undertaken this, or a similar journey.

Lots of questions posed to you good folks in order to help us make up our mind.

Personally, I think flying is the better option, but I would like to hear some alternative views.

iaink

I havent done it, but from what I hear it would be a better use of your time (if not your money) to fly. Driving would take a few days at least, and although parts of it are scenic, a lot of it is highway slog.

If driving i would rent a car and accomodation, an RV would save you on accomodation, but cost more to rent, a lot more in gas, and they generally have very limited km available before you start to pay through the nose for extra km. You cant generally camp by the side of the road, but check from province to province. Provincial park sites are well regarded, but often booking well in advance is required to avoid disappointment

An additional complication is the quickest route is via the US, which could be a non starter with most rental car and RV agencies.

Personally if it was me, I would fly out from TO, its much quicker, but not particularly cheap. try westjet and the like?

Gray C

Thanks. It is probably my favoured way of getting there, but someone had suggested by road as an option. I think flying will probably win the vote.

twiddle

Hi,

We are flying internally from Toronto to Halifax at the beginning of June.

A 2 hour flight, it has cost us $800 canadian for 4 people. Kids do not have a cheaper rate I'm afraid. We are flying with AirCanada (Tango) as they had a lot more options for departure times etc. www.aircanada.com

For a few extra dollars we reserved our seats & we had to pay in full when we booked it.

I hope this helps,
Darren

Gray C

Thanks. I assume that is a one way ticket?

twiddle

Yes it is , we are flying back to the UK from Halifax.

Darren

hot wasabi peas

Personally, I love road trips and between Brantford and Nova Scotia there is a lot to see. I'd rent a camper van, stock it with food, beer, bedding and music and just go! On the way there, I'd visit Ottawa, Quebec City, then drive around the Gaspé Peninsula (spectacular!) then on the Nova Scoia (and I'd go to PEI too). On the way back, I'd go down through Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. Camping all the way, in provincial campgrounds preferably or where ever.

Ok - that's probably not do-able in a week, let alone giving you anytime to fact find in Nova Scotia. But, IMO as a Canadian with a Canadian sense of it being no huge deal to drive a a day or two to get to a destination (especially in the summer when there would so many lakes to dip in, fresh fruit stands on the side of the road, cold beers in the cooler to drink while watching the sun set over Rocher Percé after a day of driving...) that's what I would do. I've done many similar trips - always had a great time. I'd also plan the trip for last summer/autumn to travel during the fall colours. Man, it would be a great trip! Now, I'm starting to get itchy feet! Sorry - I've gone completely off track.

Enjoy the rubbery chicken and cramped seating on your flight

Gray C

Hi Hot wasabi peas (Where does that name originate from ?)

Thanks for your thoughts. You make it sound like an ideal way to get to Nova Scotia from Ontario. If we had a full three weeks to make the full round trip I definitely think that we would do as you have suggested. I read somewhere that Brantford to Halifax is approximately 2000 kilometers, so to do the round trip in a week I think I will have to drive like Nigel Mansell, which defeats the whole object really. On the other hand, there is no reason why we cannot fly back to the UK from Halifax, which makes the one way trip do-ble. Thinking about that one!!

If it was not for the fact that we have to "escort" Pauline's parents to her sister's house I think we would be booking the motorhome right now, as I think it is really the only way to see Canada in a limited time period. At the end of the day, it is important that we select the right area to live, in order to meet our own particular needs.

We would also like to check out New Brunswick, but again time does not permit. Then of course there is Alberta and BC, but that is probably for 2006.

Thanks everyone for your input it has been most helpful.

hot wasabi peas

It's my addiction. They're a tasty little treat - dried green peas covered in wasabi powder (a hot Japanese horseradish, usually served with sushi but in a paste form). They'll curl your eye lashes, they're so hot. Wonderful little buggers -- they look like this http://www.haikudojo.com/article/32

Yes, I know - priorities! (Damned adulthood sucks, eh?)

Enjoy your trip anyway!

MikeUK

I hadn't bother to look at this one until now.. we have driven form Ontario to Nova Scotia (well New Brunswick and then onto Nova Scotia later).. It can be done in a couple of days.. we left Gananoqueway and crossed on the bridge just north of there.. we had overnighted in ‘Gan’ as we have relatives there.. but it has plenty of accommodation, we then overnighted in Vermont in a motel and made St Steven in new Brunswick as our next overnight stop.. very scenic but you do need to keep going

fitchmeister

I drove from Peterborough to Halifax NS last year - it's about 2000km. We went via Montreal, then Fredericton and then to NS after taking in hopewell rocks. I thought the scenery picked up heading into New Brunswick - the ST John river was nice and we loved Fredericton. We did it in 3 days and it still seemd a bit of a hike. What is that big hill just outside Montreal that looks totally out of place??? We ended up at Murphy's cove campsite just east of Halifax which was pretty cool - fresh mussels and guitar under a NS sunset - lovely, sniff.

hot wasabi peas

Do you mean just outside of downtown Montreal? If so that's Mount Royal (Mont Réal).

flashman

I am planning a similar vacation trip myself this summer from Eastern Ontario. I am going to drive as I have done it before and it takes about 2 days. You might want to try mapquest.com to get more detailed directions and times.

I plan to go along the north shore of the St. Lawrence through the Charlevoix region and then take a ferry to the south shore. Then on to P.E.I. via the Confederation Bride. Then back to Nova Scotia via a ferry at the south of the island. Then Cabot Trail, Mahone Bay, Pegys Cove, Halifax. Back to Ontario via the south shore through the Eastern Townships of Quebec.

I plan to take my portable barbeque and picnic stuff in the car too and stay a B&B's or motels.