2007Atlantic Canada:
Nova Scotia
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Cabot Trail

Pictou (Pop.4,000 )

• Pleasant and historic harborside town with an abundance of interesting architecture; Water St. is especially attractive.
• Grohmann Knives, 116 Water Street. 20 minute Factory tours

Side Trip - Northeast from Pictou, Hwy 245 to Ballantynes Cove (Sunshine Trail) - road was a bit rough in places in 1998 but the spectacular views were worth the odd road bump. A good ride off the beaten path between Charlottetown and Cape Breton.

Antigonish

• Lots of chain motels; better choice than Port Hastings or Port Hawksbury

Cape Breton

• Cape Breton communities link
• West & central part is the best.

Port Hood

Inverness (Pop 2,000)

Margaree Valley

• Cape Breton Clay, unique pottery; worth a stop
• Centre for French culture on Cape Breton
• Gas up here
• Noted worldwide for hooked rugs; Co-op Artisanale de Cheticamp - 774 Main St
• Best side trip is out to Cheticamp island connected by road; turn off is south of town, north of Flora's gift shop

• Laurie's Motel (stayed there 1998 and 2004)
• Parkview Motel $75, 902-224-3232
• Merry's Motel $65, 902-224-2456
• Acadian Motel $75, 902-224-2640
• Ocean View Motel, $85-95, (902) 224-2313
• Cheticamp Motel, 902-224-2711
• Plage Saint Pierre Camping, 144 sites, All expected amenities are available

Pleasant Bay

• 1/2 km off highway
• Attractive active fishing harbour

Cape North

• ... the 19 km road that connects Cape North and Capstick rises and dips, affording dizzying views..."
• ... much like Cape Breton used to be 30 years ago

Neil's Harbour

• Postcard perfect fishing village
• Chowder House, low key, pine paneled takeout restaurant

Ingonish (Pop 600)

• No central village
• Knotty Pine cottages $50 - 115,
• Rocky Bay Cottages $59-71,
•  Island Inn $62-69

St. Ann's

Baddeck (Pop 1,100)

• Main part of town is on Chebucto Street
• Centrally located; widest selection of motels and restaurants
• Alexander Graham Bell Museum
• Walking tour - about 20 minutes, available at visitors center

North Sydney

• Clansman Motel, (902) 794-7226, King at Peppett St. off Hwy 125, 44 units, 2 km's from ferry, $89 double, laundromat, pool, very nice
• 40 minutes to Louisbourg

Sydney Mines

• Mac Neil's Motel

Louisbourg

• Among Canada's most ambitious national historic parks; everyone coming to Cape Breton should visit; too easy to justify not going; A few hours ... will be one of the highlights of your trip to Atlantic Canada.
• Allow 4 hours to explore
• Motels in the village of Louisbourg just before arriving at the historic settlement

Possible alternate route

• Gabarus to Grand River - "For those who lean toward fast cornering, the road west of Gabarus all the way to Grand River is perhaps the best sporting bike route in Cape Breton. ..And newish smooth pavement adorns the entire route.  ...it's a road to be ridden, not to take for scenery. But do make allowances for deer and the single lane Bailey bridges."  Cycle Canada  Feb/01
• "Grand River is an idyllic village glued to the banks of a glass smooth river." Cycle Canada  Feb/01

The rest of Nova Scotia

The Marine Drive - follow the coast along the south shore from the Cape Breton causeway to Halifax. It's winding, slow, and beautiful. The last stretch through Dartmouth into Halifax isn't much fun but that's a small price to pay. Note - there's a toll required on the bridge between Dartmouth & Halifax.

Truro (Pop 12,000)

• Region's commercial hub; old fashioned downtown surrounded by sprawling strip malls. Profusion of motels. Intermediate stop; not a destination.
• Cobequid Bay - one of the region's best kept secrets
• Tidal bore is over rated; have a look, but don't rearrange travel plans to see it. Often 3 feet high; can reach 8 feet

Hwy 215 - Truro to Windsor

• Wonderful coastal detour from Maitland to Windsor. Winding, fast, narrow; passes through a number of quiet hamlets; lush green farmland. See the lighthouse at the town of Walton.
• Few tourist services.

Wolfville (Pop 3,500) side trip

• Trim and tidy Victorian village; distinctly New England feel; small commercial downtown surrounded by shady neighbourhoods of elegant homes.
• Popular weekend destination; strolling the town is the activity of choice

Halifax (Pop 115,000)

• Easy to explore on foot. Main landmark is the Citadel, 9 (steep) blocks from waterfront
• Rehabilitated waterfront best between Sackville Landing (foot of Sackville St) and Sheraton Casino. Park at foot of Sackville.
• NS Centre for Craft and Design - 1683 Barrington St.,
• Titanic cemetery - Chisholm Ave off Connaught Ave
• Free downtown bus (bright yellow) named "Fred" ??? Cruises a 20 minute loop; stops at Maritime Museum, Grand Parade, Barrington Place shops. Map & sch. at visitors center

Peggy's Cove

Mahone Bay (Pop. 1100)

• Remarkably well cared for Postcard perfect NS; architecture buffs will find a range of styles to keep them ogling.
• Visitor info center 165 Edgewater St.
• Amos Pewterers - 589 Main St. - watch pewter poured & molded

Lunenburg (Pop. 3,000)

• One of NS's most historic and most appealing villages (UNESCO world heritage site)
• 70% of downtown dates from 18th & 19th centuries; distinctive style and bright colors
• Excellent walking tour - visitors center on Blockhouse Hill Road
• Guided walking tour 634-3848 - architecture and legends, 1000, 1400, 2100 start at Bluenose Drive $8
• Lunenberg Soap Co. - owner will give tours
• Side trip  to Blue Rocks - picturesque as Lunenberg without the tour buses. Lve town on Pelham St. and watch for signs indicating "The Point or "The Lane". Also, "The Ovens" Natural Park - sea caves $6

Liverpool

• Liverpool to Annapolis Royal - 105 km's via Hwy 8;  265 km's via Yarmouth
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Shelburne (Pop 3,000)

Evangeline Trail - Yarmouth to Annapolis

Yarmouth (Pop.7,800)

• too big to be charming; more the flavor of a pit stop than a destination (Fromer)
• Self guided walking tour (2.5 miles)
• Sidetrip - Cape Forchu and Yarmouth Light - 2.2 km's from visitors center
• Great ride from Yarmouth to Annapolis

Bear River (near Annapolis Royal), a town built on stilts

Digby - (Pop 2300)

• Digby scallops
• Ferry to Saint John, New Brunswick

Annapolis Royal (Pop 663)

• One of N.S.'s don't miss destinations

• "...arguably N.S.'s most historic town; ...truly a treat to visit;

• Tidal generating station - free exhibit center

• At tidal generation station, ask for copy of "Footprints with footprints" free walking tour map

• Old Burying Ground Walking Tour - depart Fort Anne at 9:30pm Tues, Thurs, Sun. One hour, $4 cemetery tour

•  The town contains over 150 heritage buildings, including the oldest wooden house in Canada, the deGannes-Cosby House, built in 1708. Two other houses of great historic value in the town are the Adams-Ritchie House (1712), and the Runciman House (1817). Today, Annapolis Royal is a town of gracious large homes, colorful gardens and broad tree-lined streets. The town offers an array of unique shops, inns, artists' studios and galleries.

• At the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens visitors will enjoy 4 hectares (10 acres) of beautiful, tranquil gardens, including several theme gardens, collections, and displays spread along more than 1.5 km (1 mi.) of winding pathways, most of which are wheelchair-accessible.

• Fort Anne National Historic Site overlooks the mouths of the Annapolis and Allain rivers. The fort features well-preserved earthwork fortifications, a museum in the officers' quarters and a gunpowder magazine. Built in 1708, the magazine is the oldest building in any Canadian National Historic Site. Vibrant colours and lively vignettes in the Fort Anne Heritage Tapestry illustrate four centuries of the history of the site and area. The present fort is the fourth built on this location, and its park-like ambiance makes it a good place to stroll and contemplate what life was like for the young French and British soldiers who defended it.

• After visiting Fort Anne, take time for a walk along lower St. George Street, the oldest town street in Canada. Here you will find the O'Dell Inn Museum (c. 1869), open daily during the summer, and Bonnett House, a research centre for history and genealogy.

• Just outside town on Route 1, you'll find the Annapolis Royal Tidal Power Project, the first of its kind in North America. The facility generates hydroelectric power from the powerful force of the Fundy tides at the Annapolis River Causeway. A visitor information centre is also located at this site.

• Garrison House Inn, across from Fort Anne, $65-95; Hillsdale House $65-95

• Gazebo Bed & Breakfast, Annapolis Royal,  (902) 532-7378,  $70 to $80 Visa; short walk to the Historic gardens, Fort Anne, secure storage for  motorcycles

• Carriage House Bed & Breakfast 643 St. George Street Annapolis Royal,  (902) 532-5156, $65 single to $75 double, evening tea and a full breakfast. Indoor storage is available for motorcycles, queen size beds and spacious private baths. One room features a canopy bed and claw-foot tub with hand-held shower, the other a four-poster bed and a shower

• The Paradise Inn , 116 Paradise Lane, Paradise, N.S., (902) 584-3934, Toll Free Phone : (877) 584-3934, $65 to $70 (plus tax) Visa and AMEX, Originally the Paradise Hotel c. 1876. Complimentary full breakfast, minutes from Annapolis Royal & Bay of Fundy Tides. Hwy 101, Exit 19, just off Route 1

Northumberland Ferries: 

• Lvs Wood Islands  daily at 0530, 0830, 1000, 1130, 1330,1500, 1830 - no 0530 run on Sunday, motorcycle & rider $32, 1 1/4 hours