Maine, Maritimes - Itinerary

Traveling through Maine and the Maritimes (New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia) is quite a different road trip from many others. While many places like Hawaii or Florida or California celebrate their beaches, the Maritimes is all about the ocean itself. Everything from the food (lobsters, clams, oysters, mussels) to the activities (whale watching, tidal bore rafting, clam digging) to the attractions (maritime museums, fishing towns, lobster boats and shipyards) is focused on the ocean itself.

This unique area of beautiful, rocky cliff shorelines and the highest tides in the world, allow you to see sights and do things in this area that can be done nowhere else on earth. And each state and province has its own particular identity –

Maine – lush green wooded areas with rocky, cliff shorelines and boat harbors, as well as the #1 July 4th celebration in the U.S.
New Brunswick – a must stop for national park fans who love the outdoors and being active in nature combined with quaint seaside resort towns and funky, eclectic main streets filled with music, food and art.
Prince Edward Island (PEI) – pastoral, rolling hills surrounded by red sand beaches and grassland dunes.
Nova Scotia – The hub of city life along with its own wine region, parks, tidal bore rafting, waterfront and historical sites.

This road trip includes over 1,500 miles of Maritimes traveling through three states, three Canadian provinces, several national parks and activities found only in this area like a biplane ride over Acadia National Park; whale watching in New Brunswick on a zodiac boat; clam digging in Prince Edward Island; and tidal bore rafting muddy waters in the Bay of Fundy.

Travel Tip #1 – For this trip, we chose to fly in/out of Boston as it was more direct for us. However, you could also fly into Portland and do this trip in just one direction (giving you more time in each area) and then back home out of Halifax. We had to return our rental car to the U.S., so we planned it as a round trip but others could do this in one direction.

Travel Tip #2 – As one local told us, “we pretty much live for the summers around here.” And this is clearly evidenced by the number of festivals you will encounter as you travel this area in the summer. We encourage you to look at cities for festivals during your trip. On our trip alone, we encountered the Cavendish Beach Music Festival in PEI, the Festival Inspire in Moncton, the Harbor Arts and Books Fair in Camden, the Halifax Jazz Festival, the Rev3 Triatholon in Saint Andrews, the North Atlantic Blues Festival in Rockland and of course, the July 4th Celebration in Bar Harbor. You WILL run into festivals is our point.

Whichever fits your travels best, we hope these notes, links and maps will help to plan an amazing trip through Maine and the Maritimes.

DAY 1 – TRAVEL TO bar harbor

Fly into Boston and drive to Bar Harbor (about four and a half hours)

Eat: Open
Stay: West Street Hotel ($$)

DAY 2 – bar harbor – biplane or glider ride, swimming

Acadia Air Tours – Biplane or Glider Ride ($$) – Acadia National Park
Swimming and relaxing at the Bar Harbor Club waterfront pool

Eat: Travelin Lobster – Lunch ($) – Lobster Rolls, Grilled Cheese, Blueberry Pie and Whoopie Pies
Eat: Havana – Dinner ($$) – Empanadas, Lobster Cakes, Seafood Paella
Stay: West Street Hotel ($$)

DAY 3 – bar harbor – july 4th celebration, fireworks

Blueberry Pancake Breakfast ($)
Independence Day Parade (-)
Seafood Festival – Lobster, Corn ($)
Lobster Races (-)
Visit Bar Harbor – Snacks, Shopping
Cool as a Moose – Shopping
Agamont Park – Music Festival
Fireworks – Room, Pool Deck or a Blanket in Agamont Park

Eat: Bar Harbor Athletic Field – Blueberry Pancake Breakfast ($)
Eat: Seafood Festival – Lobster, Corn ($$)
Eat: Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium – Ice Cream ($) – Lobster or Moose Droppings Ice Cream
Stay: West Street Hotel ($$)

DAY 4 – bar harbor – BIKING, jordan pond

Bar Harbor Bicycle – Biking Acadia National Park ($)
Jordan Pond House – Lunch

Eat: Sunrise Cafe – Breakfast ($) – Blueberry, Chocolate or Nutella Crepes
Eat: Jordan Pond House – Lunch ($) – Popovers and Tea
Eat: Rosalie’s Pizza – Dinner ($) – Pizza
Stay: West Street Hotel ($$)

DAY 5 – bar harbor – hiking, swimming

Ocean Path Trail – Hiking – Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Otter Cliff
Park Loop Road – Drive
Cadillac Mountain – Drive
Swimming and relaxing at the Bar Harbor Club waterfront pool

Eat: Open
Drinks: The Thirsty Whale ($)
Movie: Reel Pizza Cinerama ($)
Stay: West Street Hotel ($$)

DAY 6 – st andrews, nb – ministers island

Drive into Canada to St Andrews, NB
Drive or bike over land bridge to Minister’s Island
Picnic on Minister’s Island
Relax by the pool

Eat: Lumberjack’s Cafe – Lunch ($) – Sandwiches
Eat: Braxton’s Restaurant & Bar – Dinner ($$) – Maple Creme Bacon Fat Cookies, Millionaire’s Coffee
Stay: The Algonquin Resort, St. Andrews by-the-Sea ($)

DAY 7 – st andrews, nb – zodiac speed boat whale watching

Jolly Breeze Whale Adventures – VIP Zodiac Speed Boat
St. Andrews – Water Street – Shopping
Kingsbrae Gardens

Eat: Lumberjack’s Cafe – Lunch ($) – Sandwiches
Eat: The Clam Digger – Dinner ($)
Stay: The Algonquin Resort, St. Andrews by-the-Sea ($)

DAY 8 – moncton – fundy trail, bay of fundy

Fundy Trail Parkway
Flower Pot Rock
St. Martin’s Sea Caves
Big Salmon River Bridge
Cape Enrage
Hopewell Rocks
Magnetic Hill
Festival Inspire
Downtown Moncton or Riverfront Park

Eat: Kelly’s Bakery – Alma – Giant Sticky Buns – Brunch ($)
Eat: Capehouse Restaurant – Lunch ($)
Eat: Tide & Boar – Fish and Chips, Boar Poutine, Polenta Fries – Dinner ($$)
Drinks: St. James Gate or The Old Triangle Irish Alehouse – Guinness, Music
Stay: Delta Hotels by Marriott Beausejour ($$)

DAY 9 – prince edward island – beaches, downtown

World’s Largest Lobster – Shediac, NB
Confederation Bridge
Argyle Shore Provincial Park
Option 1 – Twin Shores Camping Area
Option 1 – Green Gables Heritage Site
Option 1 – Prince Edward Island Preserve Company
Option 2 – Charlottetown
Option 2 – Victoria Row
Cows Creamery
Inn at Bay Fortune – Oyster Hour
Inn at Bay Fortune – Fireworks Feast

Eat: Prince Edward Island Preserve Company – Lunch ($)
Eat: John Brown Richmond Street Grille – BBQ Braised Pulled Pork Tacos (2016 PEI Porktoberfest Champion!) – Lunch ($)
Eat: Cows Creamery – Cowie Wowie or Gooey Mooey – Ice Cream ($)
Eat: Inn at Bay Fortune – Fireworks Feast – Dinner ($$$)
Stay: Inn at Bay Fortune – North Tower 3 ($$)

DAY 10 – prince edward island – greenwich dunes, giant bar clam dig

Greenwich Dunes – Hike
Tranquility Cove Adventures – Giant Bar Clam Dig
Clam Digging, Sea Glass Hunting

Eat: Open
Stay: Inn at Bay Fortune – North Tower 3 ($$)

DAY 11 – halifax – waterfront, maritime museum, halifax citadel

Halifax Waterfront
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
Halifax Citadel

Eat: Beavertails – Lunch ($) – Triple Dip Beaver Tail
Eat: Bicycle Thief ($$) – Calamari, Beef Short Rib and Butterscotch Caramel Cake
Stay: Hollis Halifax ($$)

DAY 12 – halifax – tidal bore rafting, peggy’s cove

Shubenacadie River Runners – Tidal Bore Rafting (Check Tide Charts)
Peggy’s Cove
Crystal Crescent Beach (Optional)

Eat: Frieze and Roy General Store – Lunch ($) – Grilled Cheese and BLT’s
Eat: Tony’s Donair – Dinner ($) – Donairs and Pizza
Stay: Hollis Halifax ($$)

DAY 13 – lunenburg, moncton – VISIT TOWN, EXPLORING

Visit Lunenburg – Shopping, Sights
Ironworks Distillery – Tasting
Blue Rocks – Photo Op (optional)
The Ovens – Hiking, Photo Op (optional)
Festival Inspire
Swimming, Waterslide

Eat: Salt Shaker Deli – Lunch ($) – Dip Trio with Pita, Fish Sandwich, Hummus Sandwich
Eat: Windjammer (AAA Four-Diamond Award) – Dinner ($$$) – Steak
Stay: Delta Hotels by Marriott Beausejour ($$)

DAY 14 – camden, rockland – drive, penobscot bridge, swimming

Half-Day Drive Back to U.S.
Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory
Visit Camden
Samoset Resort
Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse – Hike

Eat: Samoset Resort – Pool – Dinner ($)
Stay: Samoset Resort ($$)

DAY 15 – ogunquit – ll bean flagship, cliff house

Lobstermobile – Maine Maritime Museum (photo op)
LL Bean Store – Freeport
Visit Kennebunkport (optional)
Swimming
Watch ocean from the cliffs

Eat: Home Kitchen Café – Rockland, ME – Breakfast ($)
Eat: Isabella’s Café & Bakery – Breakfast ($) – Coffee, Sticky Buns
Eat: Red’s Eats – Wiscasset, ME – Lobster Rolls ($)
Stay: Cliff House Maine – Ledges ($$$)

DAY 16 – ogunquit – relax, stroll, beach

Ogunquit Beach – Beach Caddie
Swimming, Games, Movie Night
Stroll cliffs and paths

Eat: Nubb’s Lobster Shack – Lunch ($) – Whoopie Pies, Hot Dogs, Lobster Rolls
Eat: The Tiller – Dinner ($$) – Lobster, Gnocchi
Stay: Cliff House Maine – Ledges ($$$)