| Hi there,
The Gaspe' Peninsula is an interesting part of Canada with dramatic
sea scapes and beautiful scenery. The town of Gaspe' itself is rather
quiet, lackluster, and overshadowed by a costal town south east of
the city of Gaspe' called Perce'. This is where you want to visit.
Perce' is a scenic town with great restautants, entertainment and
character. In the town lies the famous Ille Perce' Rock and Ille
Bonaventure bird sanctuary. Its worth staying in Perce' for a few
days just to sample the character and scenery of the area. There
are many artisan shops which display and sell local crafts and unique
area treasures. There are restaurants galore with every imaginable
type of food. But beware, the eateries are not cheap!
About the city of Gaspe'! North of the city along the coast, there is
not really much to see. The coastal drive is nice but gets boring because
the roads are not the greatest(narrow, twisting and many steep hills).
There is a large provincial park north of the Gaspe'(can't remember
the name) but it is out in the middle of nowhere and lacking in
conveniences.
I suggest the following for your trip. Drive up from Mass through
St. Steven/Calais Maine and cross over into New Brunswick. Follow
the Trans Canada Highway to Moncton and then go north from there
to Gulf of St Lawrence Coast to Perce' and follow the costal highway
to Perce'. Stay in Perce' a two or three days.
Take some time to drive into the city of Gaspe' to say you have been
there. Then head south along the north shore of
New Brunswick and catch the ferry to Prince Edward Island.
Once you are in P.E.I., it is much more scenic and tourist oriented.
If you write to the PEI Touris Bureau, they will send you lots of
info about where to stay, what to see and places to visit. PEI is
a wonderful place with something for everyone. You might even try
"jigging for cod" at Stanhope.
Once your are "on the island", try to get to Cavendish Beach(beware
- expensive!!!), Stanhope, and try to take in at least one church
lobster feed. Charlottetown is a pretty city with lots to do and
see. If time permits, try to visit St. Peter's Bay, Murray River,
East Point etc. Theses very scenic villages are off the beaten path
and make for enjoyable days' outing.
Should you have a few days to spare, take the Wood Island Ferry
to Nova Scotia and do some touring there. Places like Halifax,
Peggy's Cove, Lunenberg and Annapolis Valley are very scenic and
interesting to visit. You may even find it interesting for a return
trip.
Thats the good stuff.
Now for the down side!
Gas Prices in eastern Canada are outrageous! Here in Ottawa we are
paying $2.70(CDN) for an imperial gallon(1.20Gals U.S.). When I
was in PEI 3-4 years ago, gas was .30 - .50 a gallon more expensive
than here, so be prepared for expensive fill-ups.
If you go in the summer, you will pay top dollar for accomodations.
Best time to visit the area is in early September after the kids
are back in school and the traffic is measurably diminished. As well,
most motels and camp grounds consider September the off season and
reduce their prices by 50-75%.
Another pain in the neck is all the taxes you have to pay on
everything. Right now, there is a 7% goods and service tax on
everything, plus provincial sales tax(ranging from 5-8%). Though
some of these taxes are refundable to tourists, it is a pain in
the neck to fill in the forms and wait for your refund. So beware.
If you are smokers, bring your own. A pack of smokes in central
Canada costs about $6.50 CDN. So you better think twice about your
needs.
Also liquor is outrageously expensive here. A fifth of gin will
cost you $17-20.00 CDN. A beer in a bar will cost you $3-4.50.
A dinner for two in a decent restaurant with drinks and wine
will cost you $50.00+++. So bring lots of cash.
Though Canada is a beautiful country, we Canadians are being taxed
to death. Everyone including the tourists feel it as much as we
do, so if you decide to visit the "Great White North" realize that it
is very, very expensive here.
If you have any further questions, please drop me a note.
I hope the above info proves informative.
Regards
Bruce Davy
EIC/CSS Kanata
BRADOR::DAVY
|
| Four years later a group four families with 8 adults and 8 children
finally made the trip. All of us consider this was one of the best
vacation. The brief activities are,
8/12 Saturday
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Since we started late and left MASS around noon time, today was a
drive day along the I-95. Road condition was OK but lots of road in
Maine were under repairing. North of Bangor are miles of woods, it is
good idea to keep fuel tank full since the distance to next gas
station could be very far. Watch out the police they may appear from
nowhere and give you a ticket. Totally we drove around 370 miles.
We filled the gas (Cheaper than the other side of border) and had
dinner at Houlton ME before entering Canada.
We stayed in the Motel at Woodstock NB, the pool is not open
due to leaking, kids were kind of disappointed.
8/13 Sunday
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First stop was Hartland - the world longest covered bridge. It's
fun to walk along the whole 1280 feet(?).
We then followed the senic St. John River along the winding rt. 105.
In the middle we stopped at the dam, enjoyed a educational tour to the
power generating plant and Salmon elevator.
Had lunch at Grand Falls. Thought there were not much water in the
falls at this time of the year, it was still a good place to visit with
a short hike.
Many houses in NB don't have a staircase in the front door for tax
reason, not a very beautiful and safety design but it is the way of
living by local people. Potatos and Christmas tree farms are aboundant
along the road.
Rt. 17 is a road cut through forest, logging is the main business,
but kind of boring to drive the whole length.
Stayed at cambellton tonight. A walk along the bay saw the
beautiful salmon sculpture in the park. Also took some pictures at
sunfall near the dock.
8/14 Monday
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First stop was The Miguasha Park. The fossil museum is very nice
and educational. We really enjoy the tour to the fossil site on the
beach, everyone was searching for the rocks that may bring some suprise
from the fossle of what they found.
Rt 299 across the Gaspe Peninsula in the middle. The river along
the road is crystal clear, very few people and no industry in this area.
The Gaspe Prov. park is a area of wilderness with sub-artic vegetation.
There are many trails in the park, a real paradise to the hikers. Watch
out the black flies, they bite you badly even during the day time.
Rte 132 on north side of the peninsula is very senic with great views.
It is winding with steep hills, thanks to the rented Pathfinder. it
handled the road easily. It was fun to visit the fishing village and
wondering around towns. At Cloridorme racks for drying cod still in
using.
Tonight we camped at the Forillon nat'l park. Campground is nice
with good and clean ficility. The weather is colder than average today,
extra blanket may needed for this time of the year.
8/15 Tuesday
------------
A morning 8 km hike along the south shore was fun, saw people doing
scuba diving. There are many mackerels, it was easy to catch them from
the dock with spoons. Many wild flowers and birds are along the trail.
At the end of trail we saw whales and visited the lighthouse.
A boat excursion from the interpretation center gave us a chance to
watch the whales closely, sometimes 3 or more of them play together. Seals
were swiming in a group or lying on the rocks. Group of gannet in
formation flying follow the whales or hunting for fish. There are also
many other seabirds standing on the cliffs just like icons in the church
wall, it was very beautiful.
We enjoyed seafood platter or salmon steaks etc. in the local area
restaurant. Cigarett smokers are still enjoying there habit here in
public which was prohibited in US, luckly there are some tables outside
on the deck we can use.
The temperature is moderate tonight, everyone enjoyed a sweet sleep.
8/16 Wednesday
--------------
Around 10 AM the parking lot at Ile Perce' Rock were alreay full, we
walked during low tide to the rock. Saw seagulls dropping seaurchin from
the air in order to break the shell then eat the meat. Some visitors are
doing snorkeling nearby. Kids enjoy walking along the edge of the rock
to the pierce.
After the lunch of Chou-Chou, at L'Anse-a-Beaufils - a beach next to
a small sea port. All of us spent some time collect our favorate agates
At dawn we enjoyed seafood dinner at a beach restaurant near Charo,
It was in a tent, dinner of magician and karaok sing-along nite, it was
fun.
Bathurst was the place where we stayed.
8/17 Thu
________
Visited the Marine Center at Shippagan and understood how the fishing
industry relate to the life of this bay area. The "hands on" Aquarium was
fun to everyone, kids were excited when they can direct touch the sea
stars, sea urchins, sea peaches, sea cucumbers ...
One tire bursted near the Kouchibouguac Nat'l park that we missed the
time to visit Shediac - the lobster capital and Parlee beach for sand
sculpture contest.
Had buffet dinner at Moncton, 100 items are the norm of the
all-you-can-eat Chinese restaurant in this area.
8/18 Fri
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A short drive at Magnet Hill, Moncton was fun though we know it
is optical illusion than the nature science.
Missing the the Tidal Bore 3 AM last nite, so we went to Bore park
this morning, though it was not the time for high tide but the 25 feet
high wet mud told us the story of what happened.
Seeing the Flower Pot rocks at Hopewell Cape you can feel the power
of the world largest tide of Fundy bay. We did go to the Mary's Point
through a local dirt road, but no birds to watch at that time,
probably not the right reason.
Along rt 915, we made a pleasant side trip to the Cape Enrage, we walk
down the cliff and listened closely to the sound of waves pounding the rocks
A local fish chower with bread was a good treat and a good substitude for
the lunch.
The best sticky bun at Alma was just like it claimed, each family
bought dozen.
At a small seaport near the entrance of Fundy Nat'l Park, the boat
seat on the mud thirty feel below the dock, a post card view. This is
also a good place to dig clams. After 10-15 minites people can get
hands full.
At Herring Cove of Fundy Nat'l park I walk down to the beach, gee, the
tide comes in quick, within minitues the tide came to my toe, then I
retreated several step back, it chased me fast.
It was in time to catch the Reverse falls when we arrived St. John,
many people were watch the water come from the bay push the down
flowing river water into falls. Smell in this area very fishy probably
something brough in by the tide from the bay .
8/19 Sat
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The city market complex in St. John was interesting, we did not
miss the taste of "dulse" - a salty sea weed, in old city market.
Saw the salmon ladders under a bridge in the Aquarium near St.
Andrew.
After entering US thru Calais, ME, just like people said, it is true
rt. 1 above Acadia Park is dull and boring. Luckly there was a festival
going on in Machias. Touring the local shops and watching the local
autions for antiques were fun.
8/20 Sun
--------
Probably the time is right, the pounding sound did like a thunder at
the Thunder Hole of Acadia nat'l park. The view at Cadilac mountain
was fantastic.
Visiting the souvenier shops at Bar Harbor is fun. There were many
art works from local artist, but a little bit pricy.
We did not forget the famous Maine lobster, all of us taste it
near the entrance of the nat'l park. Seeing the chef cooking real-time
outside in the wood stove, we know the meat will be tasted more tender
than the cold dish from a restaurant's refrigirator.
The travel concluded with a shopping visit at L.L Beans outlet.
After we arrive the sweet home at MASS, we know the day off of
tomorrow was a right decision since a long sleep and rest will help
from this long journey.
Steve
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