Planning trip to Cape Cod, Maine, Nova Scotia

[bignateyk]

Right now its very roughly like (updated with your suggestions):

Leave Saturday Morning -

Day 1: Drive State College, PA to bar Harbor (acadia), Maine - 12 hours - modest hotel (bar harbor regency?)
Day 2: ACADIA - modest hotel (bar harbor regency?)
Day 3: ACADIA - modest hotel (bar harbor regency?)
Day 4: Drive Bar Harbor, Maine to ?, Nova Scotia - ~8 hours - camp

Day 5: ?, NOVA SCOTIA - camp
Day 6: ?, NOVA SCOTIA - camp
Day 7: ?, NOVA SCOTIA - camp
Day 8: ?, NOVA SCOTIA - camp
Day 9: Drive ?, Nova Scotia to Freeport, Maine - ~9 Hours - modest hotel (harraseeket inn?) - shopping, portland headlight lighthouse
Day 10: Drive Freeport, Maine to Cape Cod - 3 hours - camp (nauset light beach)

Day 11: CAPE COD - camp (head of the meadow beaches)
Day 12: CAPE COD - camp (herring cove beach)
Day 13: CAPE COD - camp (nauset light beach)
Day 14: CAPE COD - fancy hotel (marthas vineyard - harbor view) - leave for marthas vineyard morning, go to spa, fancy dinner
Day 15: CAPE COD - fancy hotel (marthas vineyard - harbor view)
Day 16: Drive Cape Cod to State College - 8 hours - HOME

Get back sunday--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Right now I was planning on using maine as a stopover between cape cod and nova scotia to limit driving time in a day, but I guess we could do it all in one day.

It is going to be ~2 week driving trip with a mix of camping and hotels. Any natives or people who have traveled to any of those places? Can you recommend any great things to see, things that are overrated, places to stay, places to eat?

 

[TheInternet1980]

Just catch lobsters. Eat them for the duration of the trip.

 

[bignateyk]

Originally posted by: TheInternet1980
Just catch lobsters. Eat them for the duration of the trip.

That's my backup plan.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

I'm from Massachusetts, so here's what I've got:

Cape Cod has some really nice beaches. Off the top of my head, I'd say to visit the Head of the Meadow beach (beautiful, but rocky for swimming) and the Nauset Light/Coast Guard beach (excellent for swimming)
There are a lot of really nice nature trails in the area, too - I'd put the salt marshes and the area around the red cedar swamp at the top of that list
P-Town is always there if you enjoy the "alternative" lifestyle (yes, it's as flamboyant as it sounds)
The Sundae School has some pretty good ice cream

Take a look at the Big Dig in Boston to see an example of overrated usage of taxpayer money!

That's all I got for now - enjoy your trip.

 

[Bootprint]

As an alternative you might take a look at the ferry between Yarmouth, NS and Bar Harbor, ME but that might be over your budget.
Also where do you plan on crossing between ME and NS ?

 

[TheInternet1980]

Originally posted by: bignateyk

Originally posted by: TheInternet1980
Just catch lobsters. Eat them for the duration of the trip.

That's my backup plan.

You've got it backwards. That is your primary objective. You will now sell bulk lobster on the internet. If you can make a cube of lobster meat from your catch, about the size of an alternator, you're about to be a rich man.

 

[bignateyk]

Originally posted by: TheInternet1980

Originally posted by: bignateyk

Originally posted by: TheInternet1980
Just catch lobsters. Eat them for the duration of the trip.

That's my backup plan.

You've got it backwards. That is your primary objective. You will now sell bulk lobster on the internet. If you can make a cube of lobster meat from your catch, about the size of an alternator, you're about to be a rich man.

Well, the problem is that i'm allergic to lobster :frown:

I'm sure my SO will be eating lobster the entire trip though just to spite me since I used to be able to eat it and I loved it.

 

[bignateyk]

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
I'm from Massachusetts, so here's what I've got:

Cape Cod has some really nice beaches. Off the top of my head, I'd say to visit the Head of the Meadow beach (beautiful, but rocky for swimming) and the Nauset Light/Coast Guard beach (excellent for swimming)
There are a lot of really nice nature trails in the area, too - I'd put the salt marshes and the area around the red cedar swamp at the top of that list
P-Town is always there if you enjoy the "alternative" lifestyle (yes, it's as flamboyant as it sounds)
The Sundae School has some pretty good ice cream

Take a look at the Big Dig in Boston to see an example of overrated usage of taxpayer money!

That's all I got for now - enjoy your trip.

Thanks.. i'll look into that stuff.

Originally posted by: Bootprint
As an alternative you might take a look at the ferry between Yarmouth, NS and Bar Harbor, ME but that might be over your budget.
Also where do you plan on crossing between ME and NS ?

havent thought about any of that yet, but will definitely look into.

 

[sash1]

whereabouts in Maine? lived the first 18 years of my life there so i know a lot about it :heart:

check out freeport if you're going to be around that area. good shopping (LL bean ), good restaraunts. harraseeket inn has a very good restaraunt inside.

everyone seems to like to visit lighthouses when they come to maine. i don't understand what the big obsession is, but you might want to check it out

 

[NoShangriLa]

It wouldn't be comfortable camping in a camper this time of the year, and down right crazy in a tent. There are a few things to do in Nova Scotia beside the bars in halifax.

 

[bignateyk]

Originally posted by: sash1
whereabouts in Maine? lived the first 18 years of my life there so i know a lot about it :heart:

check out freeport if you're going to be around that area. good shopping (LL bean ), good restaraunts. harraseeket inn has a very good restaraunt inside.

everyone seems to like to visit lighthouses when they come to maine. i don't understand what the big obsession is, but you might want to check it out

I'm open to just about anywhere in maine. I'm just using it as a stopover so I don't have to drive cape cod to nova scotia in one day. Where do you think a nice place to stay would be? You mentioned freeport.. i'll look into that.

Originally posted by: NoShangriLa

It wouldn't be comfortable camping in a camper this time of the year, and down right crazy in a tent. There are a few things to do in Nova Scotia beside the bars in halifax.

This trip would probably happen next june, so the weather would be much better I would imagine.

 

[theblackbox]

if you are going to maine, and like hiking and such, acadia is awesome. well worth spending a few days in maine.

 

[FeuerFrei]

You could try the Glooscap Trail along the Bay of Fundy. Looks interesting.


There was this nice bed & breakfast near Bras d'Or Lake I stayed at once. Place like this, though can't remember the name.

I'd like to vacate up that way again sometime. Last time I was merely driving through one May on my way to Newfoundland.

 

[bignateyk]

Updated plan:

[deleted]

put into OP

 

[sash1]

if you're in portland: Fore Street is very nice place to eat. there's also this sweet place in p-town where you eat on a boat. i can't remember the name right now though been a while

in freeport: harraseeket inn and order lobster jameson tavern is nice too, also in freeport.

as far as where to stay, harraseeket inn is the best, but probably more expensive. the hilton garden inn is a nice place, though.

and: Portland Head light is the most popular lighthouse to visit when people come to Maine.

edit: you gotta shop at ll bean, you can't NOT go there if you're in freeport
oh, and cool as a moose, sweet goofy maine-ish store

 

[BHeemsoth]

I'm from Cape Cod. Where on the Cape were you planning on staying?

B.

 

[bignateyk]

Originally posted by: BHeemsoth
I'm from Cape Cod. Where on the Cape were you planning on staying?

B.

Gonna camp a few days (see my post a few up where i updated with specific locations), then stay at the harbor view hotel at marthas vineyard for a few days. Any recommendations?

 

[imported_Imp]

I hear they have their own brand of chips, and they're mmm-licious.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: bignateyk

Originally posted by: NoShangriLa

It wouldn't be comfortable camping in a camper this time of the year, and down right crazy in a tent. There are a few things to do in Nova Scotia beside the bars in halifax.

This trip would probably happen next june, so the weather would be much better I would imagine.

I was going to post that you'd be crazy to go camping in the N.E. this time of year.
June would be a perfect time.

 

[Elderly Newt]

Originally posted by: sash1
if you're in portland: Fore Street is very nice place to eat. there's also this sweet place in p-town where you eat on a boat. i can't remember the name right now though been a while

in freeport: harraseeket inn and order lobster jameson tavern is nice too, also in freeport.

as far as where to stay, harraseeket inn is the best, but probably more expensive. the hilton garden inn is a nice place, though.

and: Portland Head light is the most popular lighthouse to visit when people come to Maine.

edit: you gotta shop at ll bean, you can't NOT go there if you're in freeport
oh, and cool as a moose, sweet goofy maine-ish store

DiMillo's Floating Restaurant

Also definitely agree with the LL Bean part -- about 20 mins north or so from Portland, well worth it if you're into the outdoors.

 

[BHeemsoth]

Originally posted by: bignateyk

Originally posted by: BHeemsoth
I'm from Cape Cod. Where on the Cape were you planning on staying?

B.

Gonna camp a few days (see my post a few up where i updated with specific locations), then stay at the harbor view hotel at marthas vineyard for a few days. Any recommendations?

I'd check out Sweetwater Forest campground in Brewster. I've stayed there several times...the sites are quite large, and the facilities are nice.