Conference kaosws::canada

    If your are near Boston, call the Canadian Embassy (Consulate?) and 
    ask for the Tourist Office. Tell them where you want to go and when
    and they will courier you loads of info.
    
    Bernie

    
    I can't tell you too much about Fundy National Park even though
    I lived near there for many years and camped there as a child.
    On the other hand, I spent a week on Grand Manan Island a couple
    of years ago and I enjoyed it greatly. I had always heard that
    Grand Manan was much cooler and foggier than the mainland but when
    I was there it was very warm (high 80's) but that's an exception.
    Having been brought up on dulse, Grand Manan's most famous "crop",
    I always wanted to go there.
    The terrain is very rugged, especially on the west coast, with steep
    cliffs, some of which are 300'. The island is interesting geologically;
    the east side is made up of volcanic rock and the west side
    sedimentary.There is one point where you can see the meeting point
    of the two on the cliff. If you're an ornithologist, it's a great place to
    go. Supposedly, over 250 species have been identied and James Audobon
    did many sketches there. 
    The provincial campground is very nice and one of my favourites..right
    on the ocean. Next time I'll make sure I take a bicycle even though
    there is really only one major road. Don't look for any nightlife
    if you go. It's quiet and dark at night. There's plenty more to
    tell. Give me a call if you want more info. I think I may even have
    some brochures in my office.
    
    rob
    
    

RE: -.1

I'm surprised no one has asked what dulse is, yet!

I had my first (and last) taste of it about 30 years ago in Lubec, Maine,
if that tells you anything.  I must admit I admire anyone who's acquired
a taste for that most famous of coastal crops!

Kip

We just got back a short while ago, and though time constraints kept
us from going to Grand Manan (maybe next year), we loved Fundy National
Park.  Beautiful scenery, courteous and helpful staff, and activities to
accomodate everyone from kids to avid hikers to coach potatoes (hiking, golf,
tennis, lawn bowling, a great playground).  If you want a great ocean view try
campsite #41 at the headquarters campground.  Don't go here if you want a fire
at your campsite; to get your own fireplace try Chignecto (sp?) campground.  At
Hopewell Cape, nearby, there are 'flowerpots', caves, and other results of the
tidal action on the soft sandstone cliffs.  For birds, Mary's Point is the
place to go.  Nightly talks on birds, the tides, and natural history are given
at an outdoor amphitheatre.  And in Alma, the small town at the entrance to the
park, there is a bake shop which makes excellent sticky buns... 

Thanks for the responses,

Andy 

    How well can you get around on Grand Manaan without a car or bike? 
    Does it cost a lot to take a car on the ferry?  If you don't want to
    camp, are there any guest houses, places to eat?
    

    
    My sister recently spent a week on Grand Manan, so I will try to
    get information about getting around from her.  I am pretty sure
    they walked a lot.
    
    There are apparently some very nice guest houses which include feeding.
    In fact some of them will exchange guests for supper, if you don't
    care for what's being served at your house you can arrange ahead
    of time to eat somewhere else.
    
    I'll get some more data and post it.
    
    Roger

    
    Little late but better...etc.
    
    If you want to see all the island it is easier to do it by car.
    My sister saw quite a few people bicycling and apparently you can
    rent bicycles there. There are also quite a few walking trails.
    
    The first town, where the ferry lands, has quite a few lodges,and bed
    & breakfasts. There are also some in the other villages. However,
    you should have reservations especially if you are going at peak
    time, which is now.
    
    There are few restaurants, but as I previously said the lodges usually
    include meals in the price. Apparently the local church also hosts
    a barbecue chicken dinner every Wednesday night for a real cheap
    price, but you have to get there early.
    
    There is no charge to take the ferry to Grand Manan. But those crafty
    maritimers have a catch. It cost approx $30 per car and $6 per person
    to get off the island. If you don't want to take your car there
    is free parking on the mainland, which my sister suggests is probably
    a good idea if you are only going for a day or two. She also says
    to get to the ferry early.
    
    If you are interested in birds, she recommends a trip to....arrgh
    memory failure...everyone knows about it there. It's a day trip
    by boat and costs approx $45. Apparently it goes on the whim of
    the fisherman who runs it; if he feels like going you go, if he
    doesn't you don't. 
    
    My sister loved the place and will be going back. She even intends
    to take my mother and her husband.
    
    If you want more information, send email with specific questions
    and I will ask her.
    
    Roger

    We spent three nights camping in the provincial park on Grand Manaan
    over Labor Day weekend and enjoyed it very much.  The park used to be a
    resort before it was turned into a park in '74.  The guests used to
    sleep in little cottages scattered around the grounds and came toeat in
    the main building which now serves as the ranger's house and office.
    
    The campsites are all on a gently sloping lawn going down to the sea. 
    Some are in wooded areas on the periphery.  There is a screened-in
    cookhouse with water, electricity, woodstoves and picnic tables.
    
    There are many nice hiking trails on the island and the little museum
    in Grand Harbour sells a guide to the footpaths.  We had driven out to
    look at the Swallowtail Lighthouse, near where the ferry comes in at
    North Head, and met someone who suggested a 1 1/2 mile  hike along the
    clifftops to see the Hole in the Wall, a natural arch in the rock near
    Whale Cove.  It was the longets mile and a half I've ever hiked.  The
    only thing that kept us going was all the ripe raspberries growing
    alongside the trail.  It was worth it, but it was easier to continue
    the additional half mile to Whale Cove and walk back by road.
    
    Another nice walk is along the cliffs from the Southwest Head light. 
    This trail is much more travelled and consequently easier.  Ross Island
    is accessible at low tide, or you can get across to it by way of the
    lobster pounds in the tidal Thouroughfare that goes through the back of
    Captain Look's Lobster takeout.  This place, by the way, sells the
    biggest lobster roll I've ever seen anywhere.  It's $6.50 and it's
    served on a big, fresh homemade roll.  Must have close to a pound of
    lobster meat in it.
    
    The ferry cost us $18 for the car, $6 per adult, and $3 for my son. 
    There are actually two ferries making the trip.  One is leaving Grand
    Manaan at the same time the other is leaving the mainland.  One's an
    older ferry and the other's quite new.  The latter, Grand Manaan V, I
    think, has a larger capacity and the food service is much better.  We
    caught it as the 7:30 a.m. ferry coming off the island and we had the
    breakfast special of scrambled eggs, a big helping of bacon, toast,
    juice and tea for $4.50.  I also noticed that the newer, larger ferry
    was a significantly smoother passage, despite the rougher seas coming
    home.  I think if you were planning a trip, it would be worth inquiring
    which ferry was on which schedule.
    
    There's also a free car ferry over to White Head Island.  You can go
    over there and find some lovely colored smooth stones on the beaches. 
    Be sure to look at the geological exhibit at the museum in Grand
    Harbour.  They also have an exhibit of birds which helps to identify
    some of the unfamiliar ones that we saw.  
    
    Newton's store in Grand Harbour has a very good butcher shop.  There
    was also a bakery in North Head that had fresh bread, croissants,
    rolls, cookies, muffins and cakes.  Ingall's Seafood is a place where
    they put up smoked fish.  You can see smoke houses all over, but you
    can also get some fresh fish if you walk in at the right time.  We got
    some fresh cod that had just been brought in.  Three men were cleaning
    and gutting the fish and putting it in the fish boxes to be shipped
    out, but they willingly picked out a fish and filleted out 2 pounds for
    me for $1.75.  I felt like a thief at that price.  There are also place
    on the island where you can buy smoked salmon.
    
    There's quite a few guest houses on the island, also cottages for rent,
    though it's best to make reservations if you go in the Summer.  If you
    are interested, send me MAIL and I can make a copy of the listing on
    the back of the island map that we got as a handout.
    

    Thanks for the recap, it was enjoyable reading!

    My wife and I are considering a trip to Grand Manon Island this summer.
    Having read the previous replies, we have some basic questions about
    the island:
    
    - Could anyone suggest a guest house/inn?
    - Is the water too cold in August to swim in?
    - Anybody gone whale/puffin watching off the island?
    - Could someone estimate the driving time from NYC? It looks like
      about 10 hours on our map.
    
    Thanks for the help...jd