Driving to New Brunswick
 

I am planning a trip to Saint John. Well, actually it is a trip to see the Bay of Fundy and environs. I would like to get out of Toronto for a few days, and sight see with my family, and am leaving this Friday/Saturday.

My question to the TFP community, is what is the best route from Toronto to Saint John? My initial planning research ( google maps, CAA Triptik) has indicated that I should drive through New York, to Boston and then swing north. The faster route that I plotted was Toronto - Montreal - NB via eastern townships (its about 100km shorter).

I am planning to stop along the way in hotels so the stops would be; 1) Montreal, 2) ?? 3) Saint John.

On the return trip: via Moncton, Quebec City, Kingston back to Toronto.

I would really appreciate some advice...

Stick to Canadian route both ways. From Toronto to Montreal is about 8 hours, Montreal to St John is approx 9 hours. The Boston route will add several hours to travel time, not to mention border crossing times. As well as let your bank know, some people have problems with cards not working etc.
Trans canada route is best bet, (#2) passing through Edmunston, Grand Falls, Woodstock, Fredericton, then St John.
On the way back, Moncton, Shediac, Buctouche, Marimichi, Bathurst etc (basically coastline). The route back will add hours to your drive however, it is a beautifull drive with lots of sights to see. If your looking for any other suggestions, let me know... I live in Fredericton and used to live in St John. Hope this helps.

Prosequence speaks the truth... Don't go through the US.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would love to go there!

oh that's great! thanks Prosequence. I remember the drive from Mtl to QC as being deadly dull, so perhaps I'll try the north shore this time.

as for sights to see, I've been to Fredericton (contract with NB Power a while back) but I want the kids to see the Bay of Fundy. I imagine that I will book the Holiday Inn in Saint John, and see the sights around there. Any suggestions? where can I walk on the ocean floor (like in all the pictures).

As for Moncton area, I read about a few attractions (more Fundy, magnetic hill) is there anything else that could make kids interested? I would book at the comfort Inn in Moncton (or any good hotel with a pool).


Thanks!

Toronto to Montreal is about 5 hours.

If you want scenic I would drive to Quebec City,

Then follow Highway 40 out of Quebec City eastward till you catch the "Route De fleuve" which follows the St. Lawrence through some very steep grades (18%). Spectacular.

http://www.bonjourquebec.com/anglais...harlevoix.html

Take this all the way east to Baie Commeau and then catch the Ferry to Matane.

From Matane, you can drive Hwy 132 to Point a la Croix and cross into Cambellton New Brunswick.

If time is on your side, follow James T. Kirk's suggestion. If you've got yakky kids and you just want to get to Fundy ASAP, do what prosequence said.

I live 2 hours outside of Moncton, and as far as I know there isn't much. Near Magnetic Hill is a water park called Magic Mountain, where the kids could easily kill a day.
IF you're going to Fundy, I suggest you bring your tent and go camping in Fundy National Park. It's a great facility, close to the attractions. Be sure to call ahead and book your campsite though.
What did I miss?

Sea food!

what is available? crab? lobster? mussels?

Moncton has the Tidal Bore (big ol muddy trenches), Crystal Palace (indoor amusement), Museums (Mountain Road), magnetic hill (zoo and cool illusional thingy) and as Daoust said Magic Mountain (water park).
Funday National Park, lots of walking and driving trials, fun golf course, outdoor theater at headquarters (usually something going on there everyday in the summer). Tonnes of wildlife... devils half acre is a quick but fun walking trail. In Alma (small town just outside of the park) you have to go to "home of the sticky bun", amazing cinimon sticky buns, we make the trip several times in the summer just for the buns.
If you travel east along the coast while in Fundy, you'll reach Hopewell Cape... aka "Flower Pot Rocks", great place to walk the floors....
Hmm, there's plenty more suggestions... hard to know what you would be interested in.. how old are the kids?

www.radiopriceclub.com has discounts for some of the sights you'll see, if your coming through Fredericton, you may as well stop in and pick up some savings.

This is great stuff guys,, Thanks! for the radioprice club site, I like a lot of the discounts, But don't want to purchase anything now because I'm not sure if I'lleven make it to half of the places. Do you know if there is easy access to to internets in hotels, coffee shops?

My kids are all boys, 15, 12 and 7. I'm trying to stay away from amusement parks, or just things in general that I can find around here, by driving for only half an hour.

although the sticky buns will be high on the list for sure!

Hehe, if the others were a bit older I would invite you out to paintball, I own a field in Sussex. The deals at Radio Price Club you can pick up on your way through, you don't have to prepurchase them.
Covered bridges are plenty around as well, although they all start to look the same after a while....
http://www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca/NR...map_fun_en.pdf
This is a link to a map of the coastline you'll travel, Cape Enrage as well as Hilsborough are neat stops as well, there's a bank/museum, one of the firsts there.

nice map. Ijust sent that to the colour printer here at work. Thanks alot. I told the kids about the sticky cinnamon buns. Now they are clamouring to go.

My wife, however, says that they will have to be REALLY good to measure up to the Cinnabon in the Atlanta Airport!

The only reason they say go down to NY and Boston is all of montreals street sign are in french, so if you can't read french you will get lost!...but it will be a nicer drive.

(just stay on the highway:D)


P.S. if your going to stay in Kingston on the way back I can give you some good places to stay...

PainTrain - I don't know who "they" are, but the roads in Montreal are just like the roads in Tupelo or Tacoma or Wahoo Nebraska, or anywhere else. They're just words. For example Ste. Chrysostome, or Piux IX. I suppose the word "pont" as in Pont Jacques Cartier could fool some people. Pont is bridge, if anyone is stuck. Other than that, the street names are just a little unusual. No reason for avoiding a beautiful city like Montreal.

Now, a more realistic reason for avoiding driving through Montreal is the absolutely insane crazy ass drivers. No one in that city knows how to drive. They're nuts!

You do got a good point thre but I don't speak one word of french so me solo would be lost!

Oh ya we get a lot of Montreal driver here in Kingston and they are nuts....just gotta watch out for them.

Hey guys,

I'm back. had a great drive out to NB & PEI! some quick points, while here at work, but I'll post some more details, reflections and photos (if i can) later:

- drove the following route:

Leg 1) Toronto - Drummondville
Leg 2) Drummondville - Saint John. Stayed 2 nights
Leg 3) Saint John - Charlottetown (via confed bridge) stayed 2 nights
Leg 4) Charlottetown - Quebec City
Leg 5) Quebec City - Toronto

- These are long drives, the longest was leg 4 at 930 KM. I bought the $199 car DVD player from Canadian Tire, and I tell you it was worth every penny!

- Pain, I went to school in Kingston way back in the early '80's not sure if the old haunts are still there (Tap room? Sportsman's? Portsmouth? Top Dog?) I lived at 113 Earl st and then 252 Frontenac...

- Impression of the East Coast: overwhelming politeness, NO traffic, very picturesque, which I quess is it's selling point.

- Highlights; Hopewell Cape, Fundy Trail park, chowder everywhere, Alma's sticky buns too. Almost deserted beaches in PEI - Northumberland Park

- Hotels: Holiday Inn Express completely blows away any of the Delta Hotels I stayed at. Try them.


- once i figure out how to post a pic, I will add some that I took.

- by the way at the point of writing, I would gladly live in PEI.

- an editorial that I just remembered. While listening to the CBC radio in PEI, there was a item that the the Globe and Mail printed a story/map of new Brunswick incorrectly, identifying Moncton as the capital, and leaving Frederction off the map. The mayor of Fredericton went on comment stating that it was typical of the people of Ontario, and particularly Toronto to consider themselves the centre of the universe and that they were just stupid. This steamed us so much. i just don't get it. In one statement he brushed us all with the same stroke, and completely ignored that it could have been a mistake on the paper's part (granted it is published out of Toronto, but that doesn't mean that all Ontarians and particularly Torontonians are stupid).
I'm not sure what to feel about this, as we were out to explore, and give the kids a sense of country, and to be generalized like this was just, well, as I said, I am not sure what to think. For what that's worth.

He he, yeah that's Brad Woodside, he's been our mayor a couple times now. Lets just say he's not known for people relations. For what's it's worth, being from Fredericton, mistakes are made all the time, unfortunately it must have been a slow day for the paper/radio to make such a big deal. Apologies, on behalf of bimbo Brad.
Glad to hear you enjoyed the sticky buns.... and of course the rest of the trip as well.

coool trip

I hear you prosequeance. I guess we all get our own personal Mel Lastman or Ralph Klein to bear at least once in our lives!

I did work at NB Power in Fredn. for a while and so got very familiar with the Fred. Inn and the downtown area. It was nice to explore some more of the province (magnetic hill was freaky) and I really like Saint John enough to return.

Great to hear that you had an excellent time Leto. Being an X "Freddy Beacher", I do pine for "home".

Prosequence: Is the "Trap" (Hilltop) and "Scusmo" (Cosmo) still there? It's been ~15 years since I left to seek my fame and fortune. Still looking...LMFAO

Hilltop still going strong.... pretty good menu.... had to move the popcorn machine from it's former position..... you know health reasons.
The cause is gone... chnaged names several times..... never the same, now is owned by the same pople who own sweetwaters... except it's mostly country. The best was right after it changed... it was THE NEON ARMADILLO. (CRINGES)
Oh well.... y'all come back now y'hear!