The eastern provinces of Canada are big, yet intimate. You can be a long way between major destinations only to find yourself suddenly overwhelmed with joy when you happen upon a small wooden church, fish stand, a rock outcropping -- and you end up staying longer there than you intended. I've seen it happen time and again.
So I have two pieces of advice. First, leave a bit of flexibility in your itinerary, because the provinces are full of these little unexpected surprises. You'd hate to leave Lunenburg without jumping onto a whale-watching boat, or right on the eve of the fisherman's festival, right? Second, allow yourself time for the long drives -- better yet, bring a companion who can share the load. Except when in Prince Edward Island, you'll log a lot of hours on the road to complete these tours. The provinces are big, and superspeedways are rare.
The range of possible itineraries in eastern Canada is practically endless (you could do a kayaking itinerary, or a French-towns itinerary, for example), but I've focused on a few of my favorite places in this chapter. Even a month is not enough to see all of the Maritime Provinces, but the four itineraries in this guide touching on the "greatest hits" of each province should get you started.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
