Great Drives
New two-wheeled tours of Canada’s Gentle Island Maritime Motorcycle Tours has launched a new one-day tour of Prince Edward Island for the summer of 2013, giving leather-clad bikers the freedom to explore an area promoted as ‘The Gentle Island’.
Take in the picturesque landscape island, which inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery’s feted Anne of Green Gables, and tuck into lobster in quaint fishing villages. This all-inclusive tour includes the capital Charlottetown, a drive along the famous red sand coasts, and artists’ galleries and studios. Charlottetown is a popular cruise destination and the tour is guaranteed to return passengers to the port before the ship sets sail.
The one-day tour starts from $220 (approx. £141) per person, excluding tax. Participants must be 25 years and older and hold a valid motorcycle licence. For more information visit www.maritimemotorcycletours.com
Wine, whales and more along Nova Scotia’s shores
Nova Scotia is perfect for exploring by car. Visit Canada’s up-and-coming wine country and travel through the Annapolis Valley with 11 established wineries, stopping to sample each winery’s distinctive take on Tidal Bay, Nova Scotia’s first appellation wine that contains 100% grown Nova Scotia grapes.
Drive the scenic coastline of the Ceilidh Trail on Cape Breton Island for a taste of Canada’s first single malt whiskey at Glenora Inn & Distillery (daily tours run May to October; www.glenoradistillery.com). Take a detour to the working fishing village of Pleasant Bay which bills itself as the ‘Whale Watching Capital of Cape Breton’ for up close encounters with the giants of the ocean (tours from $35/£22 per adult; www.whaleandsealcruise.com). An easy hike along the Skyline Trail to the top of French Mountain in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, the first national park in the Maritime provinces, and enjoy an eagle’s view of the world-famous Cabot Trail as it winds its way down the mountain. Scan for whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence from the viewing decks and be on the lookout for moose, bald eagles, and numerous boreal birds that live in this habitat.
For more inspiration visit http://www.novascotia.com/en/home/discovernovascotia/roadtrips/default.aspx
Hit the road for a great Canadian Escape in New Brunswick
Get off the beaten path with an RV adventure in New Brunswick for the quintessential great Canadian escape. Taste the Madawaska ‘ploye’ made with locally harvested buckwheat flour at Edmunston Farmers’ Market and work off the calories at The Petit Témis Interprovincial Linear Park, Canada’s first interprovincial cycling network linking New Brunswick and Quebec.
Nearby Sugarloaf Provincial Park offers Atlantic Canada’s only lift-service mountain bike park with a challenging mix of trails from beginner through to rocky black diamond.
To end your break, look out for moose around the Miramichi River, which is home to more moose per square mile than any other area of New Brunswick. Dawn and sunset at the edges of the lakes and ponds offer the best opportunities. For more inspiration visithttp://rvodysseynb.com/
Take to the seas of Newfoundland and Labrador
Take advantage of the province’s interprovincial ferry system and take in some of the sights that make Newfoundland and Labrador truly unique.
Go whale watching from St. John’s, where the old seaport’s George Street boasts wall-to-wall pubs and eateries. Or head to the northeast coast town of Twillingate, the self-proclaimed ‘iceberg capital of the world,’ where the inlets catch dozens of icebergs as they float down from the Arctic. Iceberg-watching tours are available from mid-May to mid-September (from $50/£32 per adult; http://icebergquest.com). Nearby Long Point Lighthouse offers commanding views over the ocean with a good chance of spotting an iceberg ideal for those who want to keep their feet dry.
Explore the coast of northern Labrador, the region’s most remote, onboard the summer-only Northern Ranger. This foot-passenger only ship sails through Lake Melville, a large brackish body of water bordered on the south by the Mealy Mountains, site of a future national park.