Does your dream summer RV trip include charming coastal towns, lighthouses, and seafood?
Eastern Canada’s Maritime provinces — New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island — are brimming with beauty and culture. Read on to learn about everything a Canadian Maritimes RV trip with Fantasy RV Tours can offer.
RVing the Canadian Maritimes
With a name meaning “of the sea,” the Maritimes symbolize just that: a coastal region notched with coves, bays, and picturesque fishing villages.
In fact, many describe the Maritimes as feeling like a country within a country. You’ll discover plenty to do in each of its three provinces, no matter your interests. Explore unique regional culture, music, seafood, scenic drives, natural wonders, and historic sites.
The region touches the Continental US’s most northern point in Maine, and its coast follows the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of St. Lawrence. Northeast of the Maritimes is a region known as “Atlantic Canada” that comprises Newfoundland and Labrador.
Mid-summer and early fall are the ideal times to visit the Maritimes. During the height of the season in July and August, the coast is stunning yet remains tranquil despite the influx of vacationers.
The best part? When you travel with Fantasy RV Tours, all the planning and preparation is done for you! This is especially valuable when traveling across international borders. Fantasy’s expert tour guides find the best attractions and hidden gems for you to visit, as well as determine the best scenic route so you don’t miss a moment of adventure. Forget the headache of itinerary planning, booking campsites, and figuring out Canadian customs at the border! When you travel with Fantasy RV Tours, all you’ll have to do is relax and take in the sights from the comfort of your home on wheels.
Canadian Maritimes RV Trip Itinerary
Fantasy offers six Maritime tours, ranging from 27 to 61 days. Each tour has a unique itinerary, but below are some of the key experiences of Fantasy RV’s Canadian Maritimes RV trips:
Cabot Trail
At 185 miles long, the Cabot Trail is Nova Scotia’s iconic coastal drive. This stunning roadway takes you from ocean vistas to quaint fishing villages. It’s known as one of the most beautiful drives in the world! You’ll wind through the northwest side of Cape Breton Island, passing through Cape Breton Highlands National Park (more on this later). Enjoy dramatic coastal views that have been compared to the Scottish Highlands, and dive into Celtic culture.
Additionally, there are multiple scenic lookouts and sightseeing opportunities along Fantasy’s Cabot Trail RV route and, with Fantasy, you’ll have the freedom to explore at your leisure. You’ll journey in your own rig at your own pace but never feel alone with your built-in tour community nearby.
Peggy’s Cove & Lunenberg
The Canadian Maritimes are known for charming fishing villages, including Peggy’s Cove and Lunenberg. Both located in Nova Scotia, you’ll feel like a local as you explore these towns.
Peggy’s Cove, which is near Halifax, features a historic lighthouse that claims to be the most photographed lighthouse in North America! Sitting at the entrance of St. Margaret’s Bay atop massive boulders, this beacon has been guiding sailors and fishermen since 1868. Visitors can roam the massive, black granite rocks or climb the lighthouse’s viewing platform to admire the crashing waves. Then spend the afternoon exploring the village on foot, taking in the harbor and colorful fishing boats. Discover local art and crafts at the Neil Depew Watercolour Gallery or Hags on the Hill.
About an hour drive south is the town of Lunenberg, the second oldest British settlement in Canada and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a surviving example of a British Colonial Era town, Lunenberg is known for its rich history in the ship and fishing industries. Take a walk along the working waterfront, where you will step back in time as you admire beautifully restored buildings. Enjoy a guided tour of the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, which is housed in a former fish processing plant. Not to be missed is Ovens Natural Park near Lunenberg Bay. Hike spectacular trails along the cliffs to view the famous sea caves, nicknamed “ovens.”
Bay of Fundy at Fundy National Park
Hands-down, the Bay of Fundy is a must-see when RVing the Canadian Maritimes in summer. This famous bay stretches between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and is recognized for its record high tides. Fundy National Park’s Tidal Bore is a rare phenomenon where a standing wave of water travels upstream against an incoming tide, producing rapids more than 12 feet high.
Explore the bay by paddling through the rising waters, walk the ocean floor at low tide, or venture inland on trails that lead to waterfalls. All of Fantasy RV’s tours take a guided tour of the ocean floor. As you explore, keep an eye out for fossils. Over thousands of years, the massive tides have created a rich fossil record along the shoreline’s cliffs and beaches.
On the New Brunswick side of the bay, visit the freestanding rocks — known as “sea stacks” or “flower pots” — at Hopewell Cape. More than 20 sea stacks can be spotted in astonishing shapes. Fantasy RV’s guests have access to a special activity here: kayaking around the sea stacks! This is the ultimate way to gaze upon these unique creations. Can you spot Elephant, Bear, Dinosaur, or ET?!
Besides natural wonders, this area also is rich in cultural history and you’ll easily spot historical markers as you travel. Communities in the Bay of Fundy survived many wars, naval battles, and coastal raids in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
Prince Edward Island
The Maritimes’ Prince Edward Island is known for Green Gables, golf, gorgeous red-sand beaches, and world-class seafood.
First, explore Charlottetown, the province capital, which is lush in history. The city was the site of the famous Charlottetown Conference, which led to the beginning of the Canadian Confederation to unify the British North American colonies in 1867. Besides its historical charm, Charlottetown is a vibrant seaside city filled with culture and artisan shops. Catch a musical at the Confederation Centre of the Arts.
Next on your journey of Prince Edward Island, take a tour of the Anne of Green Gables home in Cavendish to see the inspiration for Lucy Maud Montgomery’s children’s classic.
Then hop aboard a guided bus tour to visit Prince Edward Island National Park and North Rustico, a small town where you can watch a lobster fishing demonstration and enjoy a fresh, all-you-can-eat lobster supper at Fisherman’s Wharf. No visit is complete without trying the wharf’s famous lobster dinner, complete with a 60-foot salad bar, steamed Island Blue Mussels, and seafood chowder. Yum!
Halifax
Halifax is the capital of Nova Scotia and a prime tourist destination due to its many attractions. The city is home to one of the world’s longest downtown boardwalks, the oldest functioning lighthouse in North America, and the 100 Wild Islands, one of the last remaining island groups of its size.
Dive into history when you explore the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, where you’ll learn about Canada’s boating history and see artifacts from the Titanic expedition. The Titanic sunk just 700 nautical miles east of Halifax, making the city the base for ships searching for victims. Visit Fairview Cemetery, the largest of three cemeteries where Titanic victims were buried. Pay your respects to the 121 graves arranged in the pattern of a ship hull.
Cape Breton Highlands National Park
A third of the world-famous Cabot Trail winds through Cape Breton Highlands National Park, renowned for breathtaking views that have been compared to the Scottish Highlands. Feeling adventurous? Chase waterfalls and choose from the park’s 26 spectacular hiking trails. Numerous look-off points throughout the park will keep you busy.
For instance, Lone Shieling is a point in one of the most protected areas of the park. It features a Scottish hut nestled in old-growth forest. Venture out on the 20-minute walking trail to learn about the hut’s Celtic background, and find yourself surrounded by 350-year-old sugar maple trees, which are home to rare animals like the Rock Vole and Gaspé Shrew.
Another interesting point within the park is Aspy Fault, a crack in the Earth’s crust that runs inland for 24 miles. By studying this fault line, scientists believe Cape Breton may have been joined to Africa at one time.
RVing the Canadian East Coast Worry Free
As you can tell, there is truly something in the Canadian Maritimes for every traveler, and Fantasy RV Tours can lead you there. Our expert-led tours take the guesswork out of planning your own Canadian Maritimes RV trip.
Plus, Fantasy takes the worry out of traveling to a “foreign” country and crossing international borders. From helping you navigate the currency to understanding travel restrictions, Fantasy RV Tours can make your vision of a Canadian Maritimes RV Trip happen worry free.
Explore your dream Canadian Maritimes RV vacation today!