Planning Part 14 - Days Fifteen & Sixteen PEI and Nova Scotia

I'm going to go out on a limb, and admit to a Canadian sacrilege... I have no desire to go to Green Gables. I loved Anne growing up and Green Gables is true Canadiana, but the whole thing seems overblown to me. The fact that a work of fiction, no matter how iconic, can overtake everything else a place has to offer is just too much for me. So even though we'll be close by, there is no intent to stop.

Day 15

Now that's out of the way... what are we going to do? We'll be situated close to PEI National Park, and with several beaches  and 50 km of hiking trails (including the famous red sand beach at Cavendish and the Greenwich Dunes), it seems like a clear winner for day fifteen. While I wouldn't classify Jay or myself as enthusiastic beach dwellers, I am pretty sure that after driving 5,000 km to the Atlantic coast, there would be a full-scale backseat mutiny if we didn't dedicate at least a solid portion of a day to some sun and sand. Fingers-crossed that Mother Nature agrees to this plan and cooperates!

The late afternoon and evening hold a number of possibilities, including a trip into Charolettetown, exploration of the north shore in search of good eats, and/or a visit to the Brackley Drive In. As authentic drive-ins are rare in this day and age, I must admit the last option holds some appeal.

Whether as a rainy day contingency, an evening visit or the first stop of day sixteen, our cross Canada adventure won't be complete without stopping in the birthplace of Confederation. Our must-sees for Charlottetown include the key national historic sites in the Great George Historic District, including:

• Province House (location of the Charlottetown conference of 1864 and home to the provincial government)
• Confederation Centre of the Arts (city block of Brutalist buildings that house Charlottetown's art scene, as well as the Story of Confederation exhibit while the interior of Province House is closed until 2020)
• Government House (official residence of the Lieutenant Governor)
• St. Dunstan's Roman Catholic Basilica

Day 16

Day sixteen will also see us leave PEI, and head to Antigonish (where we'll start our tour around the Cabot Trail on day seventeen.) Along the way, I'd like to stop at Joggins Fossil Cliffs. The cliffs of this UNESCO World Heritage Site reveal a complete fossilized ecosystem from the Carboniferous era (300 million years ago). I am science geek enough to not want to miss this.

From there we'll have the option of the scenic route (along the Northumberland Strait) or the direct route (along Highway 104) to Antigonish. If all of that hasn't worn us out, we can also take an evening jaunt up to Cape George Lighthouse, where there are stunning views from which both PEI and Cape Breton can be seen.




Planning Part 13 - Day Fourteen Bay of Fundy

The Bay of Fundy has been a finalist on the Seven Wonders of Canada and the Seven Wonders of North America (along with the Grand Canyon, Everglades and Yellowstone). Known for having the highest tides in the world, it also houses a National Park as well as several significant geological and ecological sites. And day fourteen will be spend exploring this wondrous place.

First stop of the day will be the Hopewell Rocks. This site both allows visitors to experience the highest tides in world and walk along unique rock formations at low tide. To truly experience it then, you need to be there at both low and high tide - this can be tricky at certain times a year, but fortunately for us, on July 14 the timing is almost perfect. Low tide is at 10:43 am, meaning we can walk the sea floor anytime between roughly 7 am and 2 pm. That means that the perfect time to visit will be just as we're heading out for the day. Conversely, high tide is at 4:30 pm - just as we're heading back through.

From there, we'll continue down the coast to Fundy National Park (with perhaps a quick stop at Cape Enrage for the view and Kelly's Bakery in Alma for Sticky Buns). The park offers more exploration of sea as well as a number of hikes that feature rare plant species and waterfalls.

If this is not enough to fill a day (or atleast to 4:30 when we are due back at Hopewell Cape), we can head further down the road to Fundy Trail Parkway for more views and coastal exploration.

The final attraction of the day will be Confederation Bridge, which we'll cross on the way to PEI - our resting place for the evening.

Planning Part 12 - Day Thirteen Quebec City to Moncton

After six days respite in Ottawa and Quebec, Day 13 sees us take to road once more. This time making the trek from Quebec City to Moncton. I was initially thinking we could visit Montmorency Falls and Ile d'Orleans on our way out of Quebec City. Rookie mistake as these site are located on the opposite side of the river from where we need to be, and will unfortunately add too much time to an already long day. So, we'll either have to incorporate them into one of our days in Quebec (which is likely for Montmorency Falls) or forgo visiting them (likely for Ile d'Orleans).


Fortunately, there are plenty of other potential stops along the way. Just before we exit Quebec, there's Lac Temiscouata Park that highlights the environment and landscape of the Monts Notre-Dame natural region. And, once we cross into New Brunswick, we can follow the River Valley Scenic Drive as laid out by the Tourism New Brunswick website. This drive will take us from Edmunston to Fredericton along Highway 2, with many potential stops along the way. The ones topping my list include the following:


Grand Falls Gorge: Walking trails and look outs provide stunning views of the waterfalls located in the centre of town.



Hartland Covered Bridge: Located in Hartland, NB, it is the worlds largest covered bridge, and a National Historic Site.


World's largest Axe: Located in Nackawic, NB... its a seven tonne axe, what more can I say...


Historic Garrison District of Fredericton: I am hopeful we will have a little time to explore Fredericton, but even if we can't fit in anything else, I would like to check out the Historic Site within the city's downtown.







Day 13

Excursion 2 - April 28-30 Edmonton

We spent last weekend in Edmonton. It wasn't an excursion per se as we were there for a youth basketball tournament, but we did take some time between games to check out parts of the city.

Rogers Place, Edmonton, April 2017

Fourth Street Promenade, Edmonton, April 2017

We didn't have time visit some of the more common sites such as West Edmonton Mall, the Legislature buildings or the Muttart Conservatory. I specifically mention the Muttart Conservatory, because there was significant publicity around the in-bloom Corpse Flowers. The 10-foot tall flowers look like something from another planet, and smell like a combination of rotting flesh, dead fish and sweaty socks. Due to its size and pungency, the flower is a rare bloomer, so it really would have been something to see.

Westmount Jr High School, Edmonton April 2017

We did have a lovely walk through downtown Edmonton. It was nice to see the energy and revitalization going on here. In particular, the area around Rogers Place, the new home of the Oilers, is now bustling with restaurants and pubs while retaining its historic charm. Rogers Place is worth checking out for its architectural beauty, though I suppose it could be argued that it would be better to do so while taking in a play off game (which we didn't).

The sports venues we played at also deserve  mention. The Saville Centre, which features 12 gymnasiums, 6 tennis courts, a fitness centre, and 10 curling sheets, is an amazing facility, and something every Calgarian should be envious of. We also played at Westmount Jr. High, which was a beautiful brick and sandstone heritage school.

While it wasn't our typical Edmonton trip, we did cap it off with a traditional stop at Peter's Drive-In in Red Deer for burgers and shakes.

 

Planning Part 11 - Days Ten through Twelve Quebec City

The boys and I have been watching Canada: The Story of Us religiously every Sunday night. For those, unfamiliar with the show, it was made in honour of Canada's 150th, and through re-enactment, storytelling and guest commentary shares the tales of the people, places and events that shaped Canada. While the show has faced some criticism regarding its selection and depiction of historic events, I highly recommend it, especially for children.

Since the show is chronological, Quebec City (Canada's first permanent settlement) has factored prominently in the first few episodes. For the boys, this has created a curiosity and enthusiasm for visiting the place that no history lesson from Mom or Dad ever could have. I can only imagine that this will translate into a richer experience once we are there. For example, the boys aren't likely to grasp the nuances of the Seven Years war and the battles in the French and English colonies, but when they stand on the Plains of Abraham, they will be able to visualize the battle that took place there and understand it was significant to our country's history.

Map of Old Quebec City

For myself, I don't really need a television show to pique my interest in Quebec City. It's been on my bucket list since I was a child, and as such, easily wins as the location I am most excited to visit on this journey. Because of this, I am also not overly eager to over plan our stay here either. I would be very content leisurely discovering it at our own pace.

That said, there are a few things I don't want us to miss. The first being the changing of the guard at La Citadelle de Quebec.The Citadelle and it's museum are interesting sites unto themselves - being the largest British fortress in North America, home to the Governor General and an active regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces. But the changing of the guard, based on the ceremony at Buckingham Palace and involving Batisse the Goat, seems to bring the experience to another level.

Of course, the Fortifications of Quebec National Historic Site would be almost impossible to miss. I am sure the boys will be quite keen to see the musket firing demonstrations that they offer. Aside from that, I expect the bulk of our time will be spent wandering the Old City - something for which I am going to have bribe the boys with multiple servings of poutine.