Wendinger Band & Travel, Inc.
Nova Scotia & the Maritime Provinces
Day By Day Itinerary
September 1 - 13, 2011
Thursday, September 1 Marquette, MI This morning we will depart Minnesota crossing the Mississippi River on our way through central Wisconsin. On the motor coach we will give an explanation of our exciting 13-day trip which lies ahead of us. Our evening stay is at the Ramada in Marquette, Michigan.
Friday, September 2 North Bay, OT After breakfast, we will pass through Sault Ste. Marie, where the Soo Locks connect Lakes Huron and Superior. We will cross over into Canada on our way to North Bay in Ontario for our overnight stay at the Travel Lodge.
Saturday, September 3 Montreal, QB Today we will travel to Ottawa, the capital of Canada and see the beautiful Parliament Buildings. These three Gothic buildings with green copper roofs dominate the city from Parliament Hill. Here we will spend time shopping and have lunch at the Market. After lunch we will have a step-on-guide join us for a city tour. We’ll spend our afternoon traveling to Montreal for our evening stay at the Comfort Inn.
Sunday, September 4 Quebec City, QB A local guide introduces us to Montreal, a sprawling and cosmopolitan city. Visit the Notre Dame Church and St. Joseph’s Oratory. See the McGill College, Olympic Park and the City Center. The “First City of the 21st Century”, Montreal’s underground city has three department stores and 1,400 boutiques enticing us as we have lunch. This afternoon we will travel to the French city of Quebec City for our two-night stay at the Comfort Inn.
Monday, September 5 Quebec City, QB The romantically medieval town of Quebec City attracts us to its magnificent sights. You will see the walled fortifications of Upper Town which overlook the narrow, steep cobblestone streets of Lower Town, bordering the St. Lawrence River. The guide will escort us on a walking tour of the lower town – where we will have lunch. This afternoon we will travel a short distance along the shore of the St. Lawrence River to Ste. Anne de Beaupre. It attracts millions of Pilgrims annually to its beautiful Basilica and the Memorial Shrine. On the return trip we will view the 90 meter-high Montmorency Falls and stop to see an old-fashioned outdoor bread oven.
Tuesday, September 6 Fredericton, NB Beautiful scenery awaits us at every turn as we continue our drive along the St. Lawrence River. St. Jean-Port-Joli is known as the Woodcarving Capital of Quebec. We will browse the woodcarving shops before traveling into New Brunswick, Canada’s largest Maritime province. Follow the St. John River to Hartland and see one of the worlds longest covered “kissing bridges”. Our hotel is at the Ramada Inn, Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Wednesday, September 7 Charlottetown, PEI After a full buffet breakfast, we travel to Moncton to visit the mysterious Magnetic Hill, where people come from all over the world to see motor coaches “coast” uphill. Take time to learn about tidal bore before crossing the Northumberland Strait to Prince Edward Island, the smallest Canadian province. This afternoon we will enjoy a scenic delight while visiting Prince Edward Island and Charlottetown with fabulous beaches and coastline, lush forests, green farmlands and reddish soil. Our step on guide will take us to the famous Anne of Green Gables House, immortalized in the classic novel. This evening we will stay on the island at the Comfort Inn, situated in the lap of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and home to the farmer and fisherman. We have a succulent lobster dinner included at New Glasgow tonight.
Thursday, September 8 Baddeck, NS After breakfast we will embark the Wood Island Ferry taking us to Nova Scotia. You will have an opportunity to eat aboard the ferry while enjoying our three-hour crossing over to the island at Cape Breton Causeway at Port Hastings. After disembarking we will travel onward to Baddeck, Nova Scotia for our two-night stay. The picturesque little village of Baddeck, situated on the shores of the beautiful Bras d'Or Lake in the heart of Cape Breton lsland, is one of the world's scenic gems.
Friday, September 9 Baddeck, NS Today is devoted to seeing the splendor of Cape Breton Island and Cabot Trail as we drive along the Canso Strait which separates the mainland of Nova Scotia from Cape Breton Island. From here along with a step on guide we follow the beautiful north shore of Cape Breton through numerous small towns, hamlets and fishing villages. For the past two centuries these villages have attracted a pre-dominance of Scottish Highlanders, due to the close similarity between this country and their native land. Along the trail you will be treated to a light lunch. Cabot Trail was explored by John Cabot in 1497. After lunch the countryside becomes more rugged as the Cabot Trail winds through the Cape Breton Highland National Park and passes majestic rock bluffs, over summits of lofty peaks and through deep stream-lined valleys. We will make a stop at the fascinating Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Baddeck, his summer home. The museum portrays fascinating exhibits about this remarkable man, his inventions and experiments. After leaving the museum, we will return to our motel for the evening.
Saturday, September 10 Dartmouth, NS Today we will travel to Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia. Driving along we will see some of the most beautiful scenery in North America. After lunch, with the assistance of a step-on guide, we’ll tour the city of Halifax, including the harbor, the Old Citadel and the cemetery tour where many of the victims of the Titanic are buried. After the city tour we’ll move onward to Peggy’s Cove. This quaint fishing village stands on solid rock and reflects a character unique to North America. An old lighthouse and fishing boats moored along the weather-worn wharfs are part of the atmosphere that makes this cove well-known among artists and photographers. Today will delight all who love the ocean as it affords exquisite panoramas of countless islands and coves. Tonight our evening stay will be at the Country Inn & Suites in Dartmouth.
Sunday, September 11 St. John, NB After breakfast we will then travel to Grand Pre, the area immortalized by Longfellow’s poem “Evangeline”. Here the French settlers, called Arcadians, made their homes until being expelled in 1775 for refusing to swear allegiance to England. This Canadian National Park contains a church, museum, bust of Longfellow and a statue of Evangeline. We will then have an hour drive to Digby to cross the Bay of Fundy on the afternoon ferry. The 3-hour ferry ride to St. John’s will take us across the bay, which is famous for one of the highest tides on earth. Our evening stay is at the luxurious Chateau Saint John in St. John, New Brunswick.
Monday, September 12 Manchester, NH If you’re looking for a fresh discovery, a day in St. John, NB will add dimension to your travels. With water front cafes and flower baskets festooning downtown street lamps, St. John is a comfortable port of call for Americans. Today we will witness the phenomenon known as the Reversing Falls. At the overlook center we will view a film presentation that will help explain this unusual scene of a 28 and a half feet rise in which the tide actually causes the Bay of Fundy to flow into the St. John River during the high tide. Late this morning we will depart New Brunswick as we enter back into the United States to the beautiful state of Maine. We will make a short stop this afternoon at Kennebunkport to drive past the summer home of George Bush, Sr. with a picture stop at Cape Neddick “Nubble” Light House in York, Maine. Then we’ll travel onward to New Hampshire for our last evening stay just outside of Manchester at the Country Inn & Suites.
Tuesday, September 13 Home Transportation is provided to the Manchester Airport for our connecting flight back to Minneapolis; where once again a Riley Motor Coach will be awaiting our arrival. Our travelers will share memories of the scenic beauty, rich heritage and vibrant culture of some of the friendliest places on earth.