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Suggestions for a trip to Nova Scotia from AZ

Yahoo Message Number: 63476
We are leaving this Thursday/Friday Sept. 16th or 17th from Phoenix, AZ to travel to the Nova Scotia area. We have been unable to plan our trip due to unusual circumstances but still have the fevor to go East and fulfill our dream of seeing the Fall colors after some medical stuff in Minnesota/Michigan. We have a general idea, but would like suggestions on the best route for this time of year, good places to stay, and any other tips you could give us. We have a 42 foot Intrigue 530 Ovation II.
Our original idea was to travel North to Salt Lake City (to visit family) and then take the Northern route through Minnesota into Canada and over to the Eastern Atlantic Island Providences. We thought we should go North to begin our trip because the weather will be gettting colder into October. Then we thought we would come home down through the mid or somewhat Southern states. We are new at all this and need the wisdom and advice from any of you seasoned travelers that have done something similar. Is anyone going that way to see the Fall colors? We would greatly appreciate it it someone has a past itinery that they could send us so we have a basic plan.
What have been your favorite routes where you can for sure get diesel and see the beauty of America and some of Canada? Where are your favorite RV parks to stay or things to see that shouldn't be missed? Even favorite places to eat. How long should this trip take? Should we park the RV on one island and then travel by car to the others, even staying overnight. We even wondered if we should fly from somewhere on the route to Maine and rent a car and find motel lodging? Perhaps lodging would already be booked or even RV parks. We don't want to be gone much more than 6 or so weeks. Can all this be done? If the weather gets bad or we find it's too much, we realize we can always turn around and come home, but hope that doesn't happen. Any suggestions or itineries would be greatly appreicated.

Re: Suggestions for a trip to Nova Scotia from AZ

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63491
bigharv47:

That trip is about 3300 miles one way just to Moncton. And that's using a fairly straight line through Minnesota. You could easily spend 2 weeks in the maritimes of Canada and the US.
First thing you need to figure out is what is an acceptable travel pattern for you. We try to plan for travelling every 2nd day and the average mileage is 300 per day.
The trip would be 22 days one way at that rate. Then turn around and come home if you only have 6 weeks.
Of course if the objective is to "get there" then this can be ramped up pretty easily but you see a lot less of the country just driving the freeways to put on the miles.
In my opinion this is too long a trip for a 6 wk. time frame.
And .. when you get into October in the maritimes (and probably anywhere else in Canada), most of the provincial parks will be shut down.
We drove through there in the fall of '08 and found it very quiet through New Brunswick and P.E.I. Some parks closed mid-Sept., some closed Oct.1 Private campgrounds were OK but some of the best stops are provincial parks.
Newfoundland, of course brings up a whole new set of issues.
Our trip was from Florida and then we went back west on Hwy. 2 the next spring - parked the moho in Ottawa for the winter.
If I were in your shoes, that's what I would do - drive one way, park it there for the winter, fly home, then go back and drive home in the spring.
Of course if you are full-timers, that doesn't work.
I will say that the fall colours are quite wonderful.

Richard Owen '05 Inspire 51442

Re: Suggestions for a trip to Nova Scotia from AZ

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63492
You should get a copy of Big Rigs. Here is the web site. www.big-rig-rv.com Excellent location suggestions for places to stay when you drive a big rig. It's the first book I pick up when we are on the move. With there details you can ask for a site as the book tells you which one will handle the big rig. If you use a couple of the coupons you have been paid back for the guide.
I have no connection with the book, none.
AL

00 affinity

Re: Suggestions for a trip to Nova Scotia from AZ

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63495
Richard If you are taking 22 days to get there from now , the colour change will be over, and the leaves gone. I suggest you call to a few of the places you want to visit , to see when the best colours are.

Ron Baran 09 Magna 7025

Re: Suggestions for a trip to Nova Scotia from AZ

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63504
I've replied by my Blackberry to your inquiry but just in case you don't get that, I agree with others that you are going to be there too late. The peak of color in MA is Oct. 3-10 or so...earlier in the north...and pretty much will be over by the time you get there.
We did this trip last year and took 9 weeks to "do it" from TX and that wasn't lingering much.
"islands" by car? Not sure which islands you mean...Prince Edward Island?
Nova Scotia is lovely if you get there...Halifax area is wonderful, and the obvious Peggy's Cove is gorgeous. Bay of Fundy with Reversing Falls is very interesting, but you need to hang out there a few days to see things that are related to the awesome tides.
Campgrounds can be a problem with big rigs and many will close down by Labor Day due to lack of tourists and staff, so you will need to check ahead. Roads were fine throughout NS.
Quebec can be a problem if you can't understand signs in French...they don't always have dual language on them. Just an FYI.
Niagara Falls of course, but Niagara on the Lake is a lovely little village nearby , but it too will not have its flowers, etc. blooming and the vineyards will be dormant.
All in all, if you really want to do this trip sometime, I'd bail on what you have planned and instead hang out in lovely northern Michigan and that area and "do" the other at another time when you can be there when it's lovely.

My website for our blog of our last year's trip is http://www.mcneillsonthemove.com and photos from it at http://www.quiltingjan.smugmug.com
Safe travels...
Jan McNeill
2001 Intrigue
11320

Re: Suggestions for a trip to Nova Scotia from AZ

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63505
Thanks Jan - I knew you could help him out. It sounded like he was trying to "cram" a lot into his travels.

Are you glad to be back home? Glad you missed the hurricane.

When is your motor home trip or has it sold?
Still at my dad's but plan to leave about Oct 1. He is doing well but just getting more frail and slower moving all the time. But he LOVES to eat. Have had more meat loafs, roasts, spaghetti, stews, etc than I am used to fixing!!!

Hugs,

Kathy

Re: Suggestions for a trip to Nova Scotia from AZ

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63507
It was great reading this response. I agree with the hanging out in northern MI. The colors of the trees are absolutely spectacular, and Traverse City has a couple of great campgrounds as does Petoskey, MI. My brother and his family live in Springfield, VT., and their "peeping" season doesn't really start for another 2 weeks, so you'd probably find beautiful leaves in VT and I assume NH too. Campgrounds are a problem, however, as written below. If you'd like, please call my brother's shop, Von Bargen's Fine Jewelry in Springfield, VT at 802-885-2887 to ask about the leaves and their colors, and timing.

If you do end up in northern MI, there's a wonderful state campground in Cadillac, MI, southeast of Traverse City by about 40 miles on highways 131 and 115. Mitchell State Park has many big rig sites with 50 amp service (no water or sewer but dump stations are nearby in the park), and some sites are right on the canal between 2 lakes and on Lake Cadillac. We go there a few times every year. Wishing you the best in your travels! We all are so lucky to be able to wander around like we do!

Mary Frederick
06 Inspire 51784

Re: Suggestions for a trip to Nova Scotia from AZ

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63515
Richard If you are taking 22 days to get there from now , the colour change will be over, and the leaves gone. I suggest you call to a few of the places you want to visit , to see when the best colours are.

Ron Baran 09 Magna 7025