Atlantic Canada honeymoon - what must we see?

[GreenLantern]

Man I ask a lot of favours on this board.

Summary:
-Future wife left me in charge of organizing the honeymoon
-We have our eyes set on Altantic Canada
-Wife won a trip for two anywhere in Canada through her work, we plan to use this for the honeymoon
-They want us to book flights sooner than later
-Dates we are looking at are Sept 15th departure, Sept 27th return
-Gives us 11 full days of holiday time not including the two big travel days
-Flying out of Saskatoon

Question is, how much can we fit in those 11 days? I'd like to hit at least two islands, she really wants PEI and I really want Newfoundland.. the best flights in seem to be to Halifax though, quite a few 6-8 hour flights compared to the 15 hour ones into PEI.

We plan to bring our hiking gear/back packs to do some day trips or over night bed and breakfast trips. I am an avid fisherman and must fish at least once while out here. I would also like to see some whales if it is in season? Preferably from a boat and not a kayak I also have a huge passion for craft beer and live music.

I did some research and there are so many different outfitters, I am more or less looking for recommendations on outfitters to use, areas of the islands that I must visit and if possible an order in which you would travel around.

Right now I was thinking, fly into Halifax, spend a day in town, spend a day driving around Cape Breton, get up into PEI with a few days in that area, fly into St. Johns for the last 5 or so days and explore that area. To me this seems like a lot... and pretty ambitious.

I know we have more than a few resident maritime posters, so please school a newbfie.

[undercoverbrother]

Port-Royal

One of the oldest settlements (excluding Natives/Vikings) in Canada.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitation_at_Port-Royal

Pretty cool, unless you don't like history stuff, then it would suck bone.

[Puppet Guy]

things will be shutting down in PEI about then, but I found just driving around PEI was fun and you'd soak up the scenery. The boardwalk around Victoria Park in Charlottetown is a good stroll, and while you're in Charlottetown you'd need to spend a Friday or Saturday night at the Olde Dublin Pub.

...and a cool/cheap souvenir from PEI: bring a white t-shirt and stain it up with red mud.

[squiggs96]

Go to Phaneuf's house.

[surferguy]

Skip PEI altogether, spend that time on cape Breton, then go to NFLD Via flight from Sydney or ferry from Sydney.

I was there this summer and wish I had more time on cape breton

[MarchHare]

Definitely fly into Halifax, and plan to spend a few days there. It's a great city with lots to see and do. Rent a car for the duration of your stay in Atlantic Canada.

The Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia will be beautiful at that time of year. I suggest spending a few days in Digby. From there, you can travel by car to Port-Royal, mentioned above by undercoverbrother, and other nearby areas of interest.

After that, drive north to Cape Breton for a few days, and then take the ferry to Newfoundland. Of particular importance: do not call anyone in Newfoundland a Maritimer. The locals are very particular about this point. The Maritimes consist only of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and PEI. When you also include Newfoundland, the correct term is "Atlantic Canada" or "the Atlantic provinces".

At some point, make sure you have a traditional Maritime lobster dinner. Pretty much every tourist town in the region will offer this amenity.

I'd skip New Brunswick completely, but I'm probably biased because I grew up there and take it for granted. It's definitely less interesting than NS and PEI, though.

[GreenLantern]

Wow thanks for the tip about Maritime vs. Atlantic Canada, I had no idea. I have edited my post/thread tittle to make it more accurate, sorry if I offended any Newfoundlanders. I am guessing newfie is an offensive term too? Damn. I am going to get my ass kicked.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far, so much to do and see... plus I want to fish this Bras d'Or Lake for Salmon.. I think the best way to do this might just be to split it down the middle. 6 days in NS, 6 days in NFLD. There just isn't enough time for it all.

[Locke]

Definitely hit up the Alexander Keith's brewery tour.

[GreenLantern]

Is the Keiths out there better than the Keiths we get here?

[MJK]

Hey man let's chat on gtalk, I can give you advice on a Newfoundland trip being a Newfoundlander!

A perfect hunnymoon destination is western newfoundland, go to Humber Valley Resort resort to relax, sleep, golf, with immediate access to river boat tours, rafting, ziplining, hiking and only a hop, skip, jump from Grose Morne National Park
http://humbervalley.com/

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Wow thanks for the tip about Maritime vs. Atlantic Canada, I had no idea. I have edited my post/thread tittle to make it more accurate, sorry if I offended any Newfoundlanders. I am guessing newfie is an offensive term too? Damn. I am going to get my ass kicked.

Newfie is a perfectly acceptable term if and only if you're talking about somebody from Newfoundland. Do not call anyone from NB, NS, PEI, or Labrador a Newfie.

Here's a short guide on acceptable terms for the locals:

"Newfie" = person from Newfoundland
"Maritimer" = person from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, or PEI
"Acadian" = person of French-Canadian heritage from the Maritimes (New Brunswick in particular)
"Caper" = person from Cape Breton ("Honourary Newfie" is also sometimes acceptable, especially if you're in mixed company of Capers and Newfies)
"Atlantic Canadian" = person from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, or Newfoundland & Labrador

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Is the Keiths out there better than the Keiths we get here?

Probably not. Keith's is such a huge sham. A very large percentage of Nova Scotians think they're supporting the locally-owned little guy when they buy Keith's, but in reality it's owned by AB-InBev, the multinational brewer conglomerate that produces Budweiser, Corona, Labatt, and many others. While this isn't exactly a secret, Keith's marketers don't advertise this fact, for obvious reasons.

[GreenLantern]

Yes I was aware of that and why I asked.. it tastes like water, but calls itself an IPA. As a lover of IPA's I find this offensive.

Propeller on the other hand is a brewery I could see myself touring..

[Plett25]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Of particular importance: do not call anyone in Newfoundland a Maritimer. The locals are very particular about this point. The Maritimes consist only of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and PEI. When you also include Newfoundland, the correct term is "Atlantic Canada" or "the Atlantic provinces".

This is absolutely horrible advice

He'll be on his honeymoon and will be looking to have some fun and make some memories. I can assure you that nothing is funnier than watching the reactions of Newfoundlanders when you explain to them that they are indeed Martitimers due to the fact that the Maritimes is a province, of which there are 4 regions just like Vancouver Island and the lower mainland are regions of BC.

One of the memories made may include a visit to an emergency room, but hey... gotta live on the wild side every now and then.

[Plett25]

Seriously though... IMO you're trying to fit 3 vacations into 1 honeymoon. It sounds like a pretty hectic honeymoon you're planning.

You can easily spend a wonderful week or week and a half just on the on the Rock. Cape Breton and PEI... another 10 days. Halifax, the South Shore and the Annapolis Valley... another week or two.

If Mrs. Green Lantern wants to go to PEI, just do PEI and Cape Breton. Good fishing and hiking in Cape Breton, PEI is beautiful (and quiet) in September. Take it easy, take your time and take another vacation out there to hit the Rock next year.

And I am duty bound to mention that Cape Bretoners are the best and that Cape Breton is the best part of the Maritimes.

[Murph]

I'd dedicate a week to the West Coast of Newfoundland:

- Rent a car
- Stay a couple nights at the Humber Valley Resort. It'll be salmon season. Ask the resort people to recommend a guide.
- Stay a couple nights in Gros Morne - Rent a cabin, hike the trails.
- Drive up to L'Anse aux Meadows and stay overnight.

FYI you'll miss peak whale/ice berg seasons.

[jaymac106]

If you are thinking fishing, think big or stay home! http://www.tonystunafishing.com/index.html. Also the Shellfish festival is in Charlottetown around the time of you vacation great food and good music http://peishellfish.com/

[Murph]

Couple more things:

- Contact the Tourism NL people for help booking and advice on things to see. Very helpful. You've seen the ads, the NL tourism ones where they say call Jane or Steve or whatever, and then give the phone number. Those people actually exist.

- Most of us are pretty easy going. We're probably not gonna bite your head off if you call us Newfs, Newfies, Maritimers, Atlantic Canadians, etc.

[simmonjam1]

I'd recommend McNabs island in Halifax harbour. http://www.mcnabsisland.ca/
We spent a afternoon on it exploring. Wish we spent more time out there.

[CofR]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Propeller on the other hand is a brewery I could see myself touring..

Garrison Brewery in Halifax is also another one I would put on your list, really good brewery.