Planning Nova Scotia trip in June

[Billy]

My coworker and I are planning a ride around the island in June but neither one of us have done this before.

I know some of you guys on here have done it before because I've seen the posts. I was just curious to know if you guys have any advise for us (places to go, places to stay, places to avoid, etc).

[Not Sure]

Here is a good site:

http://http://novascotia.com/en/home...orcycling.aspx

Send away for the travel guide. It was very helpful. Cabot Trail is a must for anyone riding over there.

[DucDave]

I have been to the Maritimes every year for the last 6 years. Point yourself here Rides and Trip Reports for a couple trip reports.

How long do you have?

Here are a few great places to stay...

Bayside Inn - Digby http://www.baysideinn.travel/
If you take the FastCat from Portland it arrives around 8:00 into Yarmouth. You can make it to Digy in a couple hours and its a pretty nice B&B

Haus Treuburg - Port Hood Cape Breton Nova Scotia Bed Breakfast Country Inn,Nova Scotia cottages Port Hood Ceilidh Trail
I have stayed here 4 times. Its really nice, on the bay. Great dinner too. They have 3-4 really nice rooms and 3 cottages as well.

Oceanstones - Peggys Cove Nova Scotia Inn and Cottage Accommodations - Oceanstone Inn and Cottages, near Halifax and Peggy’s Cove
This is my favorite place. It's a complex with a variety of rooms and cottages. They are staffed by lovely women and are associated with a holistic health center. A massage at the end of the day was a perfect way to relax!

If you get to PEI I really like Shaws Hotel. Shaw's Hotel -- Canada's Oldest Continually Family-Operated Inn Great facility and its a 5 minute walk to a perfect sandy beach!

I love Nova Scotia...you will too!

[Billy]

Thanks for the info Dave!! We're going to Laconia Bike week first for a day to hang out with some of our friends who go up there. Then we're heading over to Nova Scotia for at least a couple of days (early stages of planning right now).

[Billy]

Hey Dave,

I got a question for you, on average how long does it take to ride around the island if you ride at a moderate pace for let's say 4-6 hours a day.

[DucDave]

Doh...Skip Laconia...waste of time! (Unless you are going to watch the races...)

If you can average 350/day the following should work...

Get to Nova Scotia. Take the Fast Cat from Portland. First night in Digby. Ride up west coast through Annapolis Valley, through Pictou if you have time, then on to Port Hood for the second night. Ride the Cabot Trail 'clockwise' (if the weather is nice don't miss 'Meat Cove' but be aware...its about 12 miles on dirt...but well worth it!), and head to North Sydney for the 3rd night. Take in Louisburg...(allow a good 1/2 day) then head to Peggys Cove for 4th night. You could head to Halifax the next day. There is a Casino there and an excellent Maritime Museum. Spend a second night at Peggys Cove. Then head back to Sydney and catch the Ferry home!

My 2 cents...! Again!

[LuvDog]

BTW... Halifax is a great little city to spend a night or two.

The casino isn't huge by any stretch, but it's a good place to end the evening.

[Hoss]

Dave has done it many times compaired to my one. So listent to him


We lugged 500+ mile days to get out there and left one day on the cabot trail. I wish we had more time one it. Always debating the "stop and enojoy the sites" or, I"'m having way too much fun going on this road to stop again!"

We stayed at the inverness cabins, nothing fancy but slept 4 of us for not much money.

[Billy]

Thanks for the awesome info Dave!

[catch2otwo]

a friend of mine drove up there with his family to visit during the holidays, said it was some of the nicest scenery and the roads were nice too. good luck on the planning

[Hoss]

a friend of mine drove up there with his family to visit during the holidays, said it was some of the nicest scenery and the roads were nice too. good luck on the planning

indeed it is!

[mycirus]

If you like nightlife Halifax is a good stop. Lots of hot woman around the clubs. Ocean Stones was really nice and I recomend it. Also before you get to the cabot trail make sure your sprocket is good. Dont ask me how I know.

Bruce

[brady]

more Cape Breton travel pics here; White Point and Bay St. Lawrence are also worthwhile side trips off the Cabot Trail.

Meat Cove below, there's a cliff-edge campsite out on that point in the middle

[CEO]

If you're riding, gotta make the cabot trail a part of it. Also, there is some pretty decent riding on the southwest shore if you stick to the coast.... lots of little 'fingers' of coastline, so the road goes in and out and winds all over:



Halifax is a great city, with decent nightlife. Make sure you check out the martitime museum. Also, go to Nova Scotian Crystal. Not only is their stuff gorgeous (I have a couple odds and ends from there.. I will eventually get a full set via a wedding registry or something... if I ever get married...), but the guys are extremely talented and you can watch them make stuff. Fascinating.

If you're into history, go through Annapolis Royal. Check out the historic gardens, as well as the citadel for some military history.

Since you'll have to get back to yarmouth for the ferry, make it though Shelburne. Eat at Charlotte's lane for lunch, check out a couple of the historic sites and neat shops.

[Billy]

Yea I'm def into the nightlife! I'll be staying in Halifax for a night.

[ChR1s]

We're planning a visit as well this season. Thanks for the notes!

[Jayspeed]

Recently I have given a trip like this some thought. Glad I searched instead of asking in a new thread. That cabot trail looks awsome. Just west of Pleasant Bay on the Cabot Trail looking at a map, check out those twisties.

[CMG241]

+100 on skipping Laconia.

[bbhzx10]

I believe the cat is $450 round trip this season, I'll be riding up.

[DucDave]

more like 365. for one person and one motorcycle...round trip. Maybe when you add the fuel surcharge and taxes it get to 450.00....none the less, I almost always take the ferry one way...unless I am including the Gaspe....

[vintage ex race]

you could ck out the 2.5km road coarse in Shubenacadie, very close to Halifax while you are there. according to info I've found round 2 of canadian superbke is going on 6-13 to 6-15-08 It is a nice track .I haven't been up for a few yrs but was good when I last went. Ck it out Atlantic Motorsport Park:wink

[Hoss]

We rode up, and checked out the Bay of Fundy. Largest Title movement in the world.




Came back into NH after crossing northern Maine which was fun.


With that said, my biggest regret was not having enough time on and around the Cabot Trail. Not sure if the ferry can get you there faster, but that may be worth it IMO.

[DucDave]

you could ck out the 2.5km road coarse in Shubenacadie, very close to Halifax while you are there. according to info I've found round 2 of canadian superbke is going on 6-13 to 6-15-08 It is a nice track .I haven't been up for a few yrs but was good when I last went. Ck it out Atlantic Motorsport Park:wink

Its about an hour from Halifax....middle of nowhere!

Skip and I rode the track last year...



For more see http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...ip-report.html

[markbvt]

Timely thread. I'm planning a Nova Scotia/Cape Breton/Gaspé Peninsula trip in July. Thanks for all the pics -- this is going to be awesome.

--mark

[Nix]

Awesome! Great reading Dave's and Greg's trip links. Thanks for posting them!