Compare Exploring Maritime Canada, from Southern Nova Scotia to Campobello Island by Road Scholar vs Family Canadian Adventure by Explore!

Day 1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Halifax, Nova Scotia D Atlantica Hotel Halifax
Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Arrive to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Program Registration 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. After you have your room assignment, come to the Road Scholar table in the lobby to meet the Group Leader and register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing your name-tag, up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm when and where the Orientation session will take place. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a welcome dinner.

Evening: Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Day 2
Intro to Nova Scotia, City Exploration, Maritime Museum
Halifax, Nova Scotia B,L Atlantica Hotel Halifax
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Driving 20 miles, about 2 hours.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: We’ll be joined by a local historian for a presentation on the history of Nova Scotia and the city of Halifax. We’ll then depart by motorcoach for an expert-led exploration of the city of Halifax including the Citadel and “Titanic” cemetery.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: We’ll visit the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic for a field trip with local experts including a presentation on the maritime history of Atlantic Canada. The museum is Canada’s oldest and largest maritime museum, first created by a group of Royal Canadian Navy officers who envisioned a place where the nation’s naval past could be preserved. We’ll learn about the age of steamships, local small craft, the Royal Canadian and Merchant Navies, and World War II convoys. The museum also tells the story of famous historical events such as "The Battle of the Atlantic," the Halifax explosion of 1917, Nova Scotia's role in the aftermath of the “Titanic” disaster, various shipwrecks and more.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 3
Pier 21, Farmer's Market, Free Time
Halifax, Nova Scotia B,L,D Atlantica Hotel Halifax
Activity note: Walking 1.5 miles, about 2 hours, on pavement, boardwalks, some uneven terrain.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we will enjoy a buffet breakfast.

Morning: Step into the past and experience what it was like to immigrate to Canada through Pier 21. This was the entry point for one in five Canadians between 1928 and 1971. At the Museum of Immigration, discover how different waves of immigration have impacted our global tastes and pastimes. You may also want to take some time to visit the history centre, a free reference service to help you trace your own family's immigration story.

Lunch: At The Halifax Seaport Farmer Market.

Afternoon: After lunch at the seaport there will be some free time to explore independently at the waterfront. Then, we will depart to Chester, NS for dinner and check-in.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
Peggy's Cove, Lunenburg Walk, Museum
Chester, Nova Scotia B,L,D Oak Island Resort and Conference Centre
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Driving 130 miles, about 3 hours. Walking 2 miles, about 3 hours, on pavement, boardwalk, some uneven terrain. Use caution near the shoreline at Peggy’s Cove.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We leave Halifax and head for Peggy's Cove. The town is named after the sole survivor of a schooner shipwrecked on Halibut Rock off Lighthouse Point: Peggy (Margaret) of the Cove. The most well-known lighthouse in Canada, and one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world, was built here in 1914. Positioned on a granite ledge, it served as the local post office until November 2009.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: We’ll explore Lunenburg's narrow streets on foot with a local expert, visiting its historic churches and examining the Victorian architecture of the Old Town, the first British colonial settlement in Nova Scotia outside Halifax. Next, we’ll visit the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic. While at the museum, we’ll experience life in a fishing community and discover, up close, life at sea with a local expert, exploring the living fish exhibit and wharf-side vessels.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Take advantage of the on-site amenities such as kayaks, bikes and beach.

Day 5
Windsor, Grand Pre, Wolfville
Chester, Nova Scotia B,L,D Oak Island Resort and Conference Centre
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Driving 110 miles, about 2 hours. Walking 1.5 miles, some uneven terrain.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: This morning we depart for the north shore to visit Windsor, Grand Pre and Wolfville. We’ll stop at Grand Pré, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated at the north east end of the Annapolis Valley, it borders on the Minas Basin and the tidal lands of the Bay of Fundy. The area was settled in the 1600s by French settlers from Port Royal who reclaimed the lands from the tides and made a fertile land. We’ll be joined by a local expert and learn about this exceptional living agricultural landscape. We’ll also hear the story of the Acadian deportation during the wars between the English and French, and the many villages in the area that were destroyed.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Stroll through the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens. Learn about both the native plant species of the area as well as the plants that have been introduced by the Acadians. This outdoor classroom experience will teach us about the Acadian community and their efforts towards educating about gardening, ecosystems, and the critical relationship between greenery and ecology.

Dinner: At the resort.

Evening: We’ll enjoy a cookout and campfire under the stars, listening to the waves while sitting on the beach.

Day 6
Kejimkujik National Park, Port Royal, Ferry to Saint John
Saint John, New Brunswick B,L Delta Hotels by Marriott Saint John
Activity note: Getting on/off ferry. Ferry ride is about 2.5 hours. Docks may be slippery. Getting on/off motorcoach. Driving 100 miles, about 2 hours. Walking approximately 1 mile, around 1 hour, on some uneven terrain.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: En route to catch the ferry to Saint John, we will make some stops along the way. Visit Kejimkujik National Park to learn about the First Nations who inhabited this area and see evidence of their existence. On a walking field trip with a local expert, we will see some of the park’s petroglyphs. These fascinating stone-carved stories are one of North America’s largest such collections and have been vital clues for reconstructing regional history, some of the only remaining evidence of the ancient Mi’kmaw’s written history. Next, we’ll visit the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens for a self-guided visit before lunch. Named the 2015 Canadian Garden of the Year, the gardens tell the story of Nova Scotian history in this area through its plants. Explore the rich tapestry of heritage in one of the oldest European settlements in North America.

Lunch: Lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon: Our next stop is at Port Royal, France’s first successful settlement in North America. We’ll learn how Port Royal was established in 1605 and served as the capital of Acadia until it was destroyed by the British. It became the first European settlement north of Florida. We’ll hear about the history of the settlement that, while in existence only a few years, proved to be a model for future exploration of the continent. We’ll also learn how the French settled along the shores of the river at Port-Royal and began the distinctive dyke-land agriculture still in use today. Explore a replica village built using original plans, a gateway to the past where costumed interpreters take us back to the 17th century. Resuming our transfer, we’ll arrive in Digby and check in to the ferry terminal in Digby, Nova Scotia for the ferry trip to Saint John, New Brunswick.

Dinner: Dinner on own on the ferry.

Evening: Check-in to the hotel in Saint John, approximately 8:30 p.m.; the rest of evening is at leisure.

Day 7
Fundy Shore, Sea Caves, Fundy Tides & Trail
Saint John, New Brunswick B,L,D Delta Hotels by Marriott Saint John
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Driving approximately 75 miles, about 2 hours. Walking 2 miles, about 3 hours, on pavement, boardwalk, some slippery and uneven terrain.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we will enjoy a breakfast buffet.

Morning: We will drive to the shore to discover quiet beaches, cliffs, sea caves, lighthouses, and covered bridges, while also learning about the tides, geology and history of the area with a local expert. We’ll watch the highest tides in the world sweeping in and out and learn how they carve sea stacks and caves into the rugged red cliffs that surround the village. Our expert will also discuss the legacy of the Loyalists and the shipbuilding history of this area.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: With a local expert, we’ll explore the phenomenon of the Bay of Fundy tides, the highest in the world, and learn about this natural wonder that draws many each year. We will explore on foot the Fundy Trail and breathtaking areas of the Bay of Fundy coastline that were previously unreachable.

Dinner: At a local inn.

Evening: We will return by motorcoach to Saint John after dinner.

Day 8
Campobello Island, Head Harbor Light
Campobello Island, New Brunswick B,L,D Roosevelt Campobello International Park
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Driving 125 miles, under 2.5 hours. Walking 1 mile, about 2 hours, on some uneven terrain.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: After breakfast, we will depart for Campobello Island. Campobello Island is one of the three Fundy Isles, located in the Bay of Fundy, just offshore of Lubec, ME, in the United States. The fishing industry remains the backbone of this area, including the harvesting of lobster, scallops, clams, herring, cod, pollock, mackerel, and farmed salmon.

Lunch: On Campobello Island.

Afternoon: Enjoy a presentation about life in Campobello Island from a seventh generation Campobello resident. Next, we will set out to explore Roosevelt Campobello International Park, named in honor of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt’s splendid summer home, preserved as a nature park and museum. The park is an extraordinary example of international cooperation, jointly run by the Canada and the United States.

Dinner: On Campobello Island.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 9
Campobello Library & Museum, Whale Watching or Free Time
Campobello Island, New Brunswick B,L,D Roosevelt Campobello International Park
Activity note: Walking 1 mile, about 1.5 hours. Getting on/off whale watching boat, cruising approximately 30 miles over 2.5 hours on board. The group will be divided for the whale watching activity, with free time either Day 9 afternoon, or Day 10 morning.

Breakfast: At one of the cottages in the park, we will enjoy our breakfast.

Morning: The Campobello Public Library and Museum evokes the memories of bygone days, from its construction over a century ago. We will discover why FDR called Campobello his “beloved island” during a presentation at the island’s library and museum by the museum’s historian. We’ll also learn how this became the 19th-century summer retreat of well-to-do families like the Roosevelts. The museum houses many other links to the past, such as the Owen Carriage and a dining room table once owned and used by Captain William Owen himself.

Lunch: On Campobello Island.

Afternoon: One half of our group will then head out into the Bay of Fundy by boat to look for whales. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for minke, finback, humpback, and the endangered North Atlantic right whales as we enjoy the fresh air and blue waters. Our second group with enjoy free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner: On Campobello Island.

Evening: An evening presentation from a local expert will focus on marine ecology and whale rescue.

Day 10
Whale Watching or Free Time, Summer Home, Tea with Eleanor
Campobello Island, New Brunswick B,L,D Roosevelt Campobello International Park
Activity note: Walking 1/2 mile, about 1.5 hours. The group will be divided for the whale watching activity on Day 9 & 10, with free time either Day 9 afternoon, or Day 10 morning.

Breakfast: Cottage breakfast.

Morning: Completing yesterday’s activities, the second half of our group will whale watch on the Bay of Fundy, while the other enjoys free time.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: We will visit the Roosevelt's summer cottage and have tea with Eleanor. Local experts will tell of Eleanor Roosevelt's life on Campobello Island and her life in activism and public service, accompanied by Eleanor's favorite tea and cookies. We’ll see a special exhibit of rare photos of Eleanor on Campobello Island and a sample of her My Day Columns. Next, we will enjoy a presentation about the Atlantic Charter, a personal victory for FDR and Winston Churchill, in which goals like self-determination, international cooperation, and commitments to peace and disarmament were laid out for the postwar world.

Dinner: At one of the cottages in the park.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 11
Transfer to Portland, Bar Harbor, Farewell Dinner
Portland, Maine B,L,D Holiday Inn by the Bay
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Driving 215 miles, about 5.5 hours. Walking approximately 2 miles, around 2 hours, on mostly paved roads.

Breakfast: Cottage breakfast.

Morning: Departing Campobello Island by motorcoach, we will cross the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Bridge, with stops en route to Bar Harbor in Acadia National Park, home to much diverse flora and fauna, granite peaks, historic carriage roads, and Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain on the Atlantic coast in the United States. We’ll explore Bar Harbor on an expert-led walk in what was once the premier summer resort in New England in the 19th century. We’ll see beautiful historic properties and Saint Saviour's Episcopal Church, with its 10 original Tiffany stained glass windows.

Lunch: At a local restaurant in Bar Harbor.

Afternoon: Learn about the development of Acadia National Park, spearheaded by wealthy summer residents such as Joseph Kennedy and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. We’ll also learn about the devastating fire of 1947 and its effects on the island. We’ll then transfer to Portland to check into our last hotel.

Dinner: At the hotel, we will have a farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for checkout and departure in the morning.

Day 12
Program Concludes
Portland, Maine B
Activity note: Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we will enjoy a buffet breakfast, with coffee, tea, water included. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Day 1 Trip starts in Vancouver

Our Canadian family tour begins in Vancouver. Known as the Jewel of North America, and easily one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Canada, Vancouver eases us into the country's wonderous nature, backed by Mount Seymour and set on the Pacific Coast. Due to the number of evening flights into Vancouver, our tour leader - who is also our driver for the duration of the tour - will meet you on the morning of day two. A message will be left in the hotel reception with timings and anything you might need for the following day. There are no activities planned today, so you\ re free to arrive into Vancouver at any time. If you\ d like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Vancouver International Airport (YVC), which is a 40-minute drive from the hotel. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, our hotel is centrally located in the downtown area and is the perfect base to explore some of the city's highlights. You might like to head to the enormous rainforest in Stanley Park or to see the Granville Island public market.

Meals Provided : None

Day 2 Explore Vancouver and catch ferry to Vancouver Island

This morning, we'll explore Vancouver including visiting Granville Island and its public market, Chinatown, the Gastown area of the city and Stanley Park. We'll enjoy a picnic in one of Vancouver's parks that overlook the bay and catch the afternoon ferry to Victoria on Vancouver Island where we'll camp on the outskirts of the city. Although the island stretches almost 500 kilometres from north to south, it has a population of just 500,000 and, with its numerous provincial parks, it's easy to escape into the wilderness.

Meals Provided : Lunch & Dinner

Day 3 Whale watching trip and discover Victoria and its totem poles

Vancouver Island is one of the best places in the world to spot marine wildlife, being situated on the main migration route of several species of whale including Orca, Humpback, Grey Whales, and Minke. We'll board a catamaran for a whale-watching excursion around the surrounding islands. It may also be possible to spot Osprey, Bald Eagle, and other marine birds on our tour. Upon returning to shore, we'll explore Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, including sites such as the Inner Harbour, Bastion Square, and the impressive Empress Hotel on the harbourfront. We'll finish our guided tour at Thunderbird Park, home to numerous totem poles that were carved by First Nation citizens, the original inhabitants of modern-day Canada. The rest of the day is free for optional visits, including to the Royal British Columbia Museum or Butchart's Gardens which is world-renowned for its beauty.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 4 Return to the mainland, treetop adventure at Capilano Suspension Bridge and drive to Squamish

We'll take the morning ferry back to the mainland and stop off at Capilano Suspension Bridge for a treetop adventure 70 metres above the Capilano River. Manoeuvre from one Douglas Fir tree to another on a series of elevated suspension bridges, some reaching as high as 30 metres above the forest floor. Afterwards, we'll continue to Squamish, situated at the end of the Howe Sound and surrounded by mountains, arriving in time to enjoy an evening meal cooked by our tour leader.

Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5 Visit a First Nations cultural centre and make a traditional drum, continue to Hat Creek campground

This morning, we'll visit the Squamish Lil'Wat Cultural Centre and learn about the indigenous people of the region who'll show us how to make a traditional mini drum. In the afternoon, we'll drive northeast to the Hat Creek campground, in the grounds of a historic ranch built in the Gold Rush era.

Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6 Drive to Clearwater via Spahats Creek Falls viewpoint, canoe in Wells Gray Provincial Park

Today, we'll explore more of the historic Hat Creek site and indigenous village. Continuing towards Wells Gray Park, we'll make a stop at Spahats Creek Falls viewpoint and take in the scenery while we tuck into a picnic lunch in the park. Upon arrival at Wells Gray, our local guide will give us a detailed introduction to paddling techniques and environmental ethics before we take to canoes for a three-hour journey to our wild camping spot. Please note, for the next two nights, we'll go back to basics as we wild camp. There'll be no showers or running water.

Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7 Full day in Wells Gray Provincial Park, canoe on Clearwater Lake and wild camp

After a hearty breakfast, we'll head back out onto Clearwater Lake to further explore the waters. After an hour of canoeing, we'll reach Eagle's View, where we can take in the vistas over the lake. There's a beach where we'll stop with time to enjoy a dip in the lake. Back at our camp, this afternoon we'll learn some bushcraft skills as we prepare a campfire and assist our guide in making our evening meal. We'll spend the evening roasting marshmallows on the campfire and stargazing.

Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8 Walk along the Fraser Canyon and stay in Jasper

This morning, we'll paddle back to the launch and swap our canoes for our bus. If time permits, we'll make another stop along the road to complete our Wells Gray Park exploration, visiting either Helmcken Falls or Bailey's Chute. Heading northeast towards Mount Robson Provincial Park, we'll see Mount Robson itself which is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies at 3954 meters. It's so tall that it has its own weather patterns and if we're lucky we'll be able to view it from top to bottom. From here, we'll enjoy a walk along Fraser Canyon to Overlander Falls (a one-kilometre round trip/45-minute walk) and then drive on to Jasper, our destination for today. Look out for black bears, elks, and eagles en route, many of which can usually be spotted from the road. We'll set up camp for the next two nights in the National Park.

Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 9 Visit Maligne Canyon and walk the Bald Hill Trail

We'll dedicate today to Maligne Canyon. The canyon has a reputation for being one of the most spectacular gorges in the Canadian Rockies, with sheer, limestone walls that plunge 50 metres into the waters of the Maligne River. We'll take a short walk along the canyon passing by springs, waterfalls, bridges, and forests before visiting Maligne Lake, the largest lake in the Rockies. After enjoying a picnic lunch near the lake, the afternoon sees us hiking along the Bald Hills Trail (around 13 kilometres/four-to-five hours of walking). There are several routes that we might take, and our leader will choose which one is best based on the makeup of the group. There are also opportunities to explore the lake by canoe or cruise boat (optional), before we drive back to Jasper through the Maligne Valley.

Meals Provided : Breakfast & Lunch

Day 10 Drive Icefield Parkway, snow glacier tour and arrive in Golden

Today's drive takes us along the Icefield Parkway to Golden. The road negotiates its way through a landscape of coniferous forests, towering mountain peaks, turquoise lakes, and impressive glaciers. Possible scenic stops en route include Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, and Athabasca Falls. Along the way, we'll hop on board the Ice Explorer, a vehicle designed especially for glacial travel, for an excursion across the surface of the Falls Glacier. In the afternoon, we'll continue our drive to Golden with wildlife spotting as we go, so be on the lookout for black bears, elks and eagles. Tonight, we'll stay in Golden, a small town in the heart of the Columbia Valley.

Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 11 Visit grizzly bear refuge and walk in Yoho National Park

This morning, we'll head to the remarkable Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge, the world's largest enclosed grizzly bear habitat. It offers us a unique opportunity to watch a grizzly behaving exactly as it would in the wild. After a short hike to the reserve, you'll have a chance to meet Boo, the refuge's very own orphan grizzly, and learn more about the life of these magnificent bears from one of the centre's resident naturalists. Next, we head for Yoho National Park, to take a short walk up to Takkakaw Falls which is the second-highest waterfall in Canada. You can either relax at our campsite or stretch your legs on one of the nearby trails.

Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 12 Walk by Lake Louise and Moraine Lake and drive to Banff

This morning, we'll drive for around three hours to Banff National Park - a landscape of mountains, meadows, and crystal-clear lakes. On our way, we'll stop for a walk around the postcard-perfect Lake Louise and Moraine Lake - the walk will be based on the groups\ abilities with a choice of routes ranging from six kilometres (around two-and-a-half hours) to 14 kilometres (around five hours). You'll also have the option of renting a canoe and heading out on Lake Louise. If time permits, we might have the chance to visit Banff on the way to our evening's campground for a bit of exploration.

Meals Provided : Breakfast & Lunch

Day 13 Explore Banff before hiking in Banff National Park and drive to Calgary

This morning, we'll take a hike in Banff National Park, which is rich in wildlife with over 60 species of mammals and 280 species of birds being recorded here, including golden eagles, cougars, and black bears. We'll then drive to Calgary and spend the afternoon exploring on foot. There's the option to climb Calgary Tower for a 360-degree panoramic view over the city, set against a backdrop of the Rockies.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 14 Trip ends in Calgary

There are no activities planned today, so you\ re free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you\ d like an airport transfer, you need to depart from Calgary International Airport (YYC), around a 20-minute drive from the hotel.

Meals Provided : None