The East Coast Jul 9-20, 2006

The East Coast Jul 9-20, 2006

Once again my family had set out on another Canadian summer vacation. This time we were heading out to the east coast to discover Nova Scotia and P.E.I.

July 9, 2006 - Halifax

We have woken very early and were very excited for our trip to Nova Scotia. We tried not to forget anything. We called a taxi ready to the airport to catch an Air Canada flight.

As usual, Dad talked to the Indian driver. We checked in and boarded on our way to Halifax. After an easy flight we grabbed our luggage, rented a Buick and drove to the Westin Nova Scotian Hotel.

Along the way there were many beautiful harbor views of boats but it was raining. Once we arrived at Westin we checked into a small room. We didn’t have much to do except wait for The FIFA World Cup Finals. Mom, Alex and I went down and ate some Fish n’ Chips. We finished in time for the game but we slept through half the game and Italy won.

We then explored since it stopped raining around downtown Halifax. No surprise everyone was cheering about Italy’s winning. We saw the harbor and plenty of boats. We ate at a sushi bar filled with delicious sushi and it was great. We drove back and walked the Board Walk. It was empty with no entertainment. We ended the day here to get ready for tomorrow.

July 10, 2006 - Lunenburg

The next morning we slept in and ended up getting out the room late. We ate at the hotel at Les Elements. We had pancakes and the waffle machine was broken.

Once we cleaned up we set out to Peggy’s Cove a little cove far away. We stopped at the Citadel which is a fort. There were many exhibits on the fort like the weapons, the uniforms and the history. It was very nice and was exactly like the real thing. We saw a spectacular shooting of the canon. There was music played on the bagpipes and it was loud.

When we left, we drove for a while to Peggy’s Cove. When we got there it was very windy and cool because of the coast but the view was beautiful. There was a lighthouse but was also a post office.

We then drove to Lunenburg to look at a marine museum. It wasn’t that good and small. It had fish and some models but a nice gift ship. Alex and I bought some fruit smoothies. We were going to ride on a horse tour but it cost too much. We had a seafood dinner at The Old Fish Factory. Dad and mom had a lobster feast and the children had a deep fried seafood plate. It was very good end to our day and tomorrow is going to be something to look forward to.

July 11, 2006 - Halifax

The next morning we ate a small breakfast at the hotel’s café pronto. It was a breakfast of bagels and croissants. We cleaned up and headed out on the road.

We stopped at the harbor thinking that a boat museum was free. We looked around and saw Tommy Tugboat. After buying a nice lobster bobble head we kept on driving to the Fishermen’s Cove. It was pretty nice with lots of gift shops and a picture head of a mermaid and fishermen.

We looked for someplace to eat and ended up eating at a bad Chinese restaurant in which we took a lot of leftovers for dad. Next we headed out for a beach that was kind of cool and dunked our feet in the ocean and it was freezing cold but it was the first time I dunked my feet in the Atlantic Ocean.

We quickly went away from the cold beach and went to a park called Taylor Head Park for a trail. Once we got there dad stayed behind since he was sleepy. We wanted to walk a beach trail but we just wanted to sit and relax. There were many jellyfish in the shore and washed up on the beach and crab shells. Dad later joined us and Alex and I played around with the jellyfish with a stick.

After a bathroom stop we started driving back to the hotel. We stopped at a Vietnamese restaurant and dad ate another lobster and this is our last stop and we ended the day here.

July 12, 2006 - Grand Pre, and Brier Island

The next morning we woke up very early to drive our way to Brier Island. After about an hour of driving we stopped at a Tim Horton to eat breakfast. We ate bagels and muffin while Alex ate a coffee cake.

Once again we continued on but stopped to learn the history on the Acadian people in Grand Pre and it was pretty interesting. We then saw a church near the center but it smelled really bad with a farm very close. After another long drive of my Nintendo DS we stopped at a fort at Port Royal. In the front there was a dressed up local in wooden shoes. There were many houses with all the essentials to the people living inside like a blacksmith, or a trading room.

Later on after the Port Royal we drove to find a trail. First we got lost and only got a view but as we drove out we saw the trail entrance to the Bowalker’s Trail. It was a nice 45 minute walk but it was muddy. During it there were coves, a river and a water fall. At the waterfall I almost got us lost but we ended up getting out with a bit of sweat.

That was our last stop, now were heading directly to Brier Island. We had to go on two small ferries to go one island to another. Once the ride was done we drove to our hotel the Brier Island Lodge the only hotel on the small, foggy and freaky island. This is when we ended the day.

July 13, 2006 - Brier Island

The next morning it was raining very hard and it was hot in the room. We changed and walked to the hotel’s breakfast restaurant and had an ordinary breakfast of eggs and bacon. This was the beginning of the new fans following dad starting at the lodge breakfast. Later in the lobby we figured out that the couple was working with Dad at the same company.

We freshened up and drove to cove trail to seal cove. Dad didn’t come so we went ahead through the wet and muddy trail. We met the fans again on the way telling us there’s only a bit of seals. There were only seals sticking their heads out of the water and ducks because it was high tide. We saw dad on our way back and joined each other to the car.

Our shoes were wet so we had to drive back to our room and had to hurry since were going whale watching. We changed our socks and rushed to buy tickets and then to the dock. We made it in time and we set out on the small boat to look for whales. It was cold and a little foggy but still nice. After a bit of sailing we saw a Finback Whale and its baby but they didn’t breach our show their tail. A bit more time later we saw more of the same whale and Alex and I got our feet wet again because of a hole on the boat to let water fall out. We didn’t much more and started heading back. Dad was really seasick and he was huddled in a blanket. Mom was too and she vomited over the side of the boat.

When we got on shore we rushed to the warmth of the car and took of all our wet clothes. We showered and warmed up in the bed. Most of the rest of the day we relaxed and watched T.V. The parents took our clothes to the Laundromat. We ate dinner at the lodge again of seafood at it was delicious and that ended our day.

July 14, 2006 - Digby, Antigonish

The next morning we tried to catch the early ferry. We almost missed it but ended up catching it and then caught the other one. Now we were on our way but stopped at Tim Horton to eat again. Dad went to Sobey’s and bought chips and nuts.

As we continued on I played my DS and Alex did too. We stopped by an information center in Digby to look and see what a scallop looked like and all it is that it’s in a shell. We again stopped at a Mikmaq center and learned about the people. We also saw a craft store with nice art like a fish that moves on its own.

Finally we started driving to the go karts in a little park. It was very fun and it was my first time driving and I was good. While there we played mini golf and it didn’t have any atmosphere. From there it was non stop until dinner at an Italian restaurant. We had pizza and mom had pasta and it was delicious but dark.

Once we arrived at Antigonish we checked into our cottage at the Whidden's Trailer Court and it was really nice like our own little house. We were going to go swimming but it was too crowded. We showered and rested, mom and dad left to shop and I got in trouble because dad left the kettle on and I didn’t turn it off. Also I forgot to but the shower curtains at the bottom the tub and the bathroom was a bit wet. After mom settled down we watched T.V. and went to sleep.

July 15, 2006 - Antigonish

The next morning we woke up early to go to the Highland Games. Once we got ready we walked to the street to watch the parade. There were a lot of cars and bagpipes people were handing out candy and we had so much later. We walked back to the cottage and ate oatmeal.

We started going but dad didn’t want to but eventually came along and we walked to the Games. Once we paid for admission we tried to catch the tug-a-war but missed it. From there we just walked around the little shops there waiting for the Junior Heavyweight Competition. Once it was beginning we sat at a good spot. There were five events: Stone putting, Caber Toss, A Chain Ball Toss, A Stick Throw and The Chain ball over a height. It was very fun to watch and halfway mom took us to a puppet show and it was boring so we left and went back and bought some popsicles. Dad left early to go to sleep. We watched the tug-of-war next and it was short, the other team was hopeless. After that we ate hot dogs and went back.

We rested for a long while but later drove around and looked at a beach where I skipped rocks on the beautiful beach. Next we went to a lighthouse AGAIN!!!!! It was same old boring but after it we went to a go karts place. The track was small but I still drove expertly. At the same place we went mini golfing.

On our way back we stopped by Sobey’s to buy a LIVE LOBSTER. It was sad to see it. We dropped the girls off so they can buy pizza and Chinese takeout while the men boiled the lobster alive. Dad was a bit sad but it was pretty good and worth it. After our long day we packed it in and went to sleep.

July 16, 2006 - Sydney, Louisbourg and Cape Breton Island

We started the day eating a simple oatmeal breakfast. After our meal we packed all our things and stole a spoon for dad to eat his Chinese food. We checked out of our cottage and started the road trip to Cape Breton.

After a while of driving we stopped at the harbour of Sydney to look at the view and the giant fiddle. As we stopped there we bought souvenirs and Alex went to check her work schedule at a free internet spot.

We drove again but now to Louisbourg Fort. From the entrance we saw a bit of exhibits on the fort and then we took a bus to the fort itself. At the fort bus stop there was a fishing hut there and it was interesting. At the fort entrance there was a humourous guard in the front that a bit too much trouble by not letting us into the fort. Once we got we walked around see many different reenactments such as gardens, actors in soldier costume, soldier quarters exhibits, cellars and king’s chapel and chamber. It was very nice and realistic. There were also canons at the walls and farms with animals. After that sighting we ate in the car the leftover pizza for lunch and dad had his rice.

We now continued to Cape Breton where we had to cross a bay in a little ferry to get to the famous Cabot Trail. Once we reached the hotel Gleghorn Beach Resort, we checked in and drove to our room. It wasn’t the best or worst hotel but it had a good view of the beach. We walked along the rocky beach and went back out at a different part of the hotel. There were swings there so we swung a bit.

Later we walked to the hotel restaurant and ate more seafood like curried mussels and fish n’ chips. We emailed Erik and had to walk back to our room on the road. We freshened up and went to sleep.

July 17, 2006 - Port Hastings

The next morning we checked out without breakfast and headed out to the Cabot Trail. We drove a little and stopped at a trail to see the sea view.

We drove a bit more at a harbour and dad asked if there was any lobster to eat but it wasn’t lobster season anymore, it was crab season. We drove for another half an hour to a store to buy food. Mom bought a disgusting burger while Alex and I ate delicious chicken wings. We grabbed snacks for the road and set off again.

We stopped at the Cabot landing where John Cabot first discovered Nova Scotia. Next was a whale museum that didn’t have too much exhibits. We ate a sausage dog at a little stand and continued on the trail. We stopped many times to look at the gorgeous view. We surprisingly met the fans again at one lookout and we talked and they gave us drinks. During more driving dad spilled his mixed nuts in the car so we stopped to clean it up.

Next stop was a beach with flat stones so we skipped rocks for a bit. We were going to a trail but dad didn’t want to so we had to go to a small trail to see swamp. Next we went to the real trail that was uphill and the parents almost gave up. We saw views of the coast and saw some poop (maybe from a bear).

After the hike we were tired so we went straight on to our hotel Cove Motel. We only stopped to eat at a diner where we ate seafood: seafood plate, fish n’ chips and two fish burgers. That was our last stop for the day and we now checked into to the Cove Motel where we got a little private cabin. We watched T.V, showered and went to sleep.

July 18, 2006 - Charlottetown

The next morning we woke in our hotel room in Cove Motel. We went to the lobby to eat breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant. After that we set off to P.E.I. but stopped many times.

First was a knife company with a knife through the building. Next was a lobster shop were we bought a cooked lobster to eat at the beach. We drove to the beach but ate the lobster at an abandoned cottage.

We drove on but stopped at the Confederation Bridge, the bridge connecting P.E.I. and New Brunswick. It is a suspension bridge and an engineering wonder. Once we crossed we went to a little city that had nothing to eat and we only bought chocolate.
We now drove to Charlottetown and ate at an Italian restaurant with delicious mussels and flies where dad killed four of them. We looked around the harbour and listened to some music and bought souvenirs like Gilbert a stuffed lobster. We then checked into our hotel Holiday Inn and went to sleep.


July 19, 2006 - Charlottetown


The next morning we went down to the Holiday Inn’s breakfast buffet. After that we headed our way to the deep sea fishing trip. Once we got to the fishing office we signed up at Aiden’s Deep Sea Fishing, but got there too early. We drove around and stopped at a dock and played checkers.

After that we went to the dock to set sail in a small boat. It was a little while until we stopped to start fishing. At first we caught nothing and the fish kept on taking our bait that the crew put on for us. After a while I caught the first fish but it was small. Later Alex caught a big fish and so did I. Mom and dad only caught one each. On the way back the crew was filleting the fish we caught and the seagulls were following us for the fish. Once we got back onto the shore from our wonderful fishing trip the crew gave us some fish to cook on our own.

We ate lunch and went back to the hotel to get ready for the Anne of Green Gables Musical. Dad stored the fish in the ice case. Dad stayed behind and didn’t watch the musical while we went to the theatre. The musical was really nice and the music was really nice. It was a beautiful performance that we enjoyed. After the show Dad picked us up and we went to the hotel and we slept.

July 20, 2006 - Charlottetown

The next morning we went again for breakfast at the hotel’s breakfast buffet. We checked out and took the ice box for the fish.

We drove to an “Anne of Green Gables” site were there was a house like Anne’s and Green Gables. Next we saw the author’s house that wasn’t even there. It only had a hole and a bookstore and was very boring.

After that we went to an amusement park that is too kiddy and didn’t ride any rides. So instead we went to a beach called Cavendish Beach. The water was full of jellyfish and the beach was covered of rocks, this beach truly stinks.

We headed back to go to the airport but stopped to eat McDonalds where we ate McLobster (it sucked). We also ate delicious mussels and clams at a seafood restaurant. We then drove to the airport, returned the car and rushed to the plane where we went back to Toronto.

Conclusion

This vacation was great and very fun. I got to do very fun new experiences like fishing and seeing beautiful harbour sights. Although the most fun part was that I was able to spend time with my family and I hope next trip is going to be just as fun.