I'm planning a ride to Prince Edward Island late July.

[Twinrivers]

We'll be taking the Airline road out of Bangor to Saint Stephen, stop here for the night then on into PEI for a two night stay. From there we'll go into NS and take the ferry from Digby to Saint John. Then to Lubec - West Quoddy Head for the night. Then back to Bangor and the interstate home.

What places and roads are a must do? and any recommendations for food and lodging would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,

Joel

 

[Canadian FJR]

PEI is not all that big so grab a map and start marking all those little sid roads. Beaches are great but most are pay to use. Be sure to book a place to stay well in advance since it is a huge tourist province. Try to spend an evening in Charlottetown. Find a nice outside cafe and listen to the live music near the confederation center. I'll find the names of a few good restaurants there. One that I remember is the https://www.gahan.ca/

When you take the ferry from PEI to N.S. stop into Pictou for a bite and a picture of the Hector ship. https://www.townofpictou.ca/hector_heritage_quay.html

From there hop on the TCH to Truro. Old Barns to Windsor via the shore route 215. Near Kentville take a run up to Blominton look-off.

Once you get back on the highway towards Digby you should try and allow enough time to head out to Brier Island. https://brierisland.org/ . Very neat location.

There are many great spots to visit but this follows the route/timline that you suggested.

If I'm around I'd be more than happy to meet you at the Pictou ferry and play tour guide for the day. Feel free to PM me for specifics.

Canadian FJR

 

[maddad]

Not much of anything in St. Stephen. You may want to consider making your way to Saint John or St. Andrews on the 1st day.

- Air Line is nice on a bike.

- From St. Stephen to Saint John, it's primarily highway. A couple of good roads if you have the time (1) Take a run into St. Andrews. You may even want to have this as your stop for the night rather then St. Stephen. St. Andrews is a nice little tourist town. Lots of B&Bs to choose from but need to book ahead. (2) Route 795/790 into Maces bay is one of the nicest roads in that area.

- From Saint John, send me a PM and I'll join you. A lot of different routes to take. (1) You can bypass Saint John all together, go through Grandbay, Browns Flats, Evendale Ferry and up along the river roads to Sussex. (2) Go through Saint John, head towards the AIrport, Garnet Settlement, St. Andrews and then back roads to Sussex. Note that both of these routes are nice roads, we run them all the time at a good clip but they are New Brunswick back roads and watch for pot holes. Running the hiway from Saint John to Sussex is just boring.

- From Sussex, best ride is through Fundy National Park. Goes through Alma and comes out at Moncton. Only other option is the high way.

- From Moncton we normally hop on the 105 up to Sackville and then the 16 across to the PEI Ferry.

- You can loop around the island easily in one day. A common route is to cross the bridge, head North to Summerside then cross along the North side of the island. I haven't spent much time on the island so someone may have better suggestions. There is also a Ferry that goes from PEI to NS. I think you miss some good riding if you take it though, so I'd go back the bridge.

- From Amherst, you have two great options. (1) My preference is the South run through Advocate Harbour, then Parsboro and Truro. (2) North Route through 366 and up to Tatamagoosh, then Truro.

Then your into parts of Nova Scotia I am less familiar with.

 

[Twinrivers]

Thanks for all the tips! Lot's to investigate.

Saint Stephen will more than likely be our first stop as it will be 5-1/2 hours of ridding from home. No biggie if I was solo but that'll be about the limit for my GF. I found a B&B, MCBRIDE HOUSE BED & BREAKFAST, which advertised themselves as motorcycle friendly.

It's sounding like I may need to add a night in NS.

 

[maddad]

I don't think you'll find a place in Eastern Canada that wouldn't be motorcycle friendly.

 

[Twinrivers]

This will be (sadly to say as I'm almost 50 for Christ sake) my first time in Canada. Do I need to convert US dollar for Canadian before crossing the border or will US dollars be acceptable.

 

[yamafitter]

Unless you have a specific reason (Anne of Green Gables) to go to PEI you should reconsider your destination and go run the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton instead. As a motorcycling destination there is no comparison between the two. The Cabot Trail is hands down one of the premiere motorcycling areas whereas PEI is tourist traps and golf courses.

Your best bet for funds is to use a VISA or Mastercard for most purchases. You can get Canadian cash from any number of ATM's that are readily available and the exchange rate is usually decent but check with your own financial institution as to exchange fees. Most vendors in Canada will charge you a rather severe exchange rate for using US cash.

 

[maddad]

+1 on doing the Cabot Trail instead. PEI has nice country roads and beaches but no where near the twisty roads of Cabot Trail and I don't think near the same scenery. A group of us headed there again the end of June.

 

[MEM]

Hi twin. All good info here

My 2 cents: maddad's right about St Andrews but it might be pretty spendy for accommodations in late July. You SHOULD swing in there on your way to Saint John. Quaint little seaside resort town with a big, historic hotel and lots of B&Bs. But not much sea when the tide's out

Alternatively, you could come up 3 to Fredericton where I could meet you and take you on (beautiful) back roads - with maybe a ferry tossed in - to Saint John to hook up with maddad.

If your time is limited, Cape Breton Island really is superior to PEI for riding AND scenery. Word.

On your return, if you decided to ride through Freddy Beach Fredericton on your way to NS, you could always hit St Andrews if you're going to backtrack through St. Stephen and Calais and take 1 or 1A to Lubec. If it were ME, I'd be getting to Lubec via Campobello Island. That's IF the weather forecast is favorable as there's lots of open-to-air ferry (ie, no cabin) time on that route . If you do the Campbello ride, you'll not make it to St Andrews.

Oh, re: accommodations in St Stephen....you may want to take a peek at The Winsome Inn on King

Street. It's on your route to either Freddy or Saint John/St Andrews; McBride's is a little bit out of the way IF you cross at the old border crossing at Calais which is my fav (vs the new, big one on the new 4(?)-lane or the old little one at Milltown). Sufficiently confused now ?! :lol:

Take a look at a map and PM me (us?) for info.

 

[majicmaker]

Damn, I wish I was closer to that neck of the woods. It all sounds like something I'd want to try. :-(

 

[fjrob1300]

Damn, I wish I was closer to that neck of the woods. It all sounds like something I'd want to try. :-(

Hop on I95 N. 2000 miles. 30hrs of riding. It's worth the ride.

 

[El Toro Joe]

Damn, I wish I was closer to that neck of the woods. It all sounds like something I'd want to try. :-(

Hop on I95 N. 2000 miles. 30hrs of riding. It's worth the ride.

yeah...maybe you should do it now...or is it to cold for ya?

 

[Bluebullet]

Didn't Ann of Green Gables burn down?

 

[Twinrivers]

Damn, I wish I was closer to that neck of the woods. It all sounds like something I'd want to try. :-(

I rode from NH to Titusville in two days so one more hard days ride would put you there.

 

[Twinrivers]

I checked out Cape Breton and the Cabot Trail and you've all convinced me that is a much better choice.

I'll only have time to ride the Cabot trail once so which do you recommend CW or CCW?

 

[yamafitter]

I checked out Cape Breton and the Cabot Trail and you've all convinced me that is a much better choice.
I'll only have time to ride the Cabot trail once so which do you recommend CW or CCW?

CCW puts you on the outside with the best views of the water. If heights bother you then you are better off going CW.

 

[MEM]

I checked out Cape Breton and the Cabot Trail and you've all convinced me that is a much better choice.
I'll only have time to ride the Cabot trail once so which do you recommend CW or CCW?

OK if you're going to do that, ride the Sunrise Trail either going or back. I don't know the route number. Hang a left at Amherst and go east through Pugwash (Anne Murray has a 'cottage' there)
And for an Upper Canadian, 'fitter knows whereof he speaks ! (re: the CW and CCW)

 

[kamal]

Didn't Ann of Green Gables burn down?

No, she was a storybook character.

I think the author's home caught fire back in the 90's though?

Al

 

[maddad]

Sunrise Trail is the 366 I mentioned above. If you are going through NB on the way there and back then do the Sunrise Trail going one direction and Advocate Habour the other. Both are very nice.

For Cabbot Trail, a good place to stay is in Baddeck and do the Trail both directions. We left Baddeck and went CCW ending up at Margaree Habour and then turned around and went back through again. Just under 500 km total, Otherwise, it makes little difference CW or CCW both are great.

MEM's got some good suggestions too on going through Fredericton but that does add a fair bit of travelling. Ferry runs are very nice and I'd be glad to meet up with you as well and travel some of NB with you.