Don't miss/don't bother on Can/NE itin?

[ewl]

Hi all,

 

Sailing on 8/21 on CB on the Can/NE itin with stops in Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Saint John, and Halifax with our 8-yo DD. Looking at touring Boston with family, Oli's and Lulu's lobster boat in Bar Harbor, but the rest is up in the air. Any advice on what not to miss or what to definitely skip (and anything an 8-yo would particularly like/not like)? Or other tips?

 

Thanks! :)

[Acey]

Hi all,

 

Sailing on 8/21 on CB on the Can/NE itin with stops in Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Saint John, and Halifax with our 8-yo DD. Looking at touring Boston with family, Oli's and Lulu's lobster boat in Bar Harbor, but the rest is up in the air. Any advice on what not to miss or what to definitely skip (and anything an 8-yo would particularly like/not like)? Or other tips?

 

Thanks! :)

 

In Saint John Reversing Falls lookout platform is popular; however, is definately not a must see and not worth going out of your way for (because the time you are in port you can't fully appreciate the difference between high and low tide). What is worth going out of your way is the jet boat ride through the rapids of Reversing Falls and the zip lining if you are a thrill seeker - both leave from Fallsview Park and both have very positive reviews. www.jetboatrides.com www.saintjohnadventures.ca

St. Martin's walk the sea floor and sea cave is the most popular out of city excursion.

[Bowie MeMe]

In Boston, there is a wonderful hands on science museum with IMAX etc that is perfect for 8 year olds (I have taken my 8yo DD who has grown up to be a PhD professor of analytical brain chemistry and last year my 8 yo DGD) and know from experience that hands on science museum is a great place for families. The adults can converse and catch up on the family and the kids have exciting things to do as each adult shares things interesting with the children. For example, Granddaddy love dinosaurs and he took all the Grands through that exhibit while I got to talk with my daughters/cousins. Then I went to the biology exhibits with older kids while aunts went to the "baby area". Hope you have an absolutely wonderful time on your cruise. Cruising with your children is absolutely the BEST!

 

Learn more about the Museum of Science at www.mos.org

[ewl]

Thanks Acey and Bowie MeMe for the good suggestions!

 

Here's another question-- I see there are horse-drawn carriage rides in Halifax and Saint John; does anyone offer pony rides by chance? DD would so love that... :)

[Acey]

Thanks Acey and Bowie MeMe for the good suggestions!

 

Here's another question-- I see there are horse-drawn carriage rides in Halifax and Saint John; does anyone offer pony rides by chance? DD would so love that... :)

 

Pony rides are available in Saint John at Rockwood Park stables. Please see web site for info and contact info http://www.horsesinsaintjohn.com/

You may be interested to know that there is a miniature horse farm in St. Martin's if you choose to explore the sea cave/sea floor excursion on your own - they offer miniature horse rides for the kids for $7 http://www.fundyfarmcottages.com/ http://www.fundyfarmcottages.com/Photos.htm

[OttawaTravelAgent]

In Boston, the New England Aquarium is amazing. I think your 8 year old would love it!

[Mickeddie]

Hi there!

We will also be on the Aud 21st CB cruise to NE / Can. Our DD just turned 8 and we are looking for interesting things for her (she's a bit of a tomboy and a lot shy). Thank you for posting your question.

Email me privately if you hear of something that would be great for the kids, or if you want to do anything together during the cruise. Mickeddie@yahoo.com.

 

 

Michelle

Mickeddie@yahoo.com

 

Michelle

 

Mickeddie@yahoo.com

[kevrab]

If I could do it again I would skip the Reversing Falls in Saint Johns. Pretty area but I do not get the fascination with it.Its as exciting as watching your toilet flush.

 

At Halifax I would skip Peggys Cove--beautiful area but once you have taken a few photos there is not much there except for a couple of gift shops and a lighthouse.

 

The visit to Fairview Cemetery (Titanic victims) in Halifax was very cool and educational. We both enjoyed that.

 

Afterwards my wife and I really wished we would have done of of the whale watching tours, went on the sea caves tour or went sea kayaking.

[celebrity]

If I could do it again I would skip the Reversing Falls in Saint Johns. Pretty area but I do not get the fascination with it.Its as exciting as watching your toilet flush.

 

At Halifax I would skip Peggys Cove--beautiful area but once you have taken a few photos there is not much there except for a couple of gift shops and a lighthouse.

 

The visit to Fairview Cemetery (Titanic victims) in Halifax was very cool and educational. We both enjoyed that.

 

Afterwards my wife and I really wished we would have done of of the whale watching tours, went on the sea caves tour or went sea kayaking.

 

Would you mind telling me what month you sailed? I booked 9/15/11 on the Explorer & I'm wondering if it would be too cold to sea kayak? Your thoughts?

[nybumpkin]

For kids in Halifax, I recommend the Harbour Hopper. It's a 1/2 hour land tour, 1/2 hour harbor tour on an amphibious watercraft. The kids love driving into the water!

[SailBadtheSinner]

Here are my suggestions for Newport:

 

Your 8 yo may enjoy doing Cliff Walk but the south end is very rough and would require adult supervision; my children thought it was quite an adventure, their dad did not:

http://www.cliffwalk.com/

http://www.cliffwalk.com/sect1.htm

 

Go by ferry to visit Fort Adams State Park; construction started on the fort in 1824.:

http://www.fortadams.org/

 

Go sailing on Narragansett Bay on Madeleine, a 72 ft schooner

http://www.cruisenewport.com/

 

Take a tour of local waters on a classic speedboat:

http://www.cruisenewport.com/

 

Take a tour of the restored Rose Island Lighthouse:

http://roseislandlighthouse.org/

 

Does your child play tennis? Then you wouldn’t want to miss a tour of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. You could rent a grass tennis court there and play.

http://www.tennisfame.com/

 

Take a harbor tour:

http://oldportmarine.com/harbor_tours.htm

 

Does your child enjoy woodworking, then how about a visit to the International Yacht Restoration School and watch the students work on old wooden boats.

http://www.iyrs.org/

 

Visit a Mansion; I found that my children just needed a bribe. Astor's Beechwood Mansion has costumed actors dressed as Astor residents and staff lead kid-friendly tours through the manor, showing how the other half lived in the nineteenth century. http://www.newportmansions.org/

 

Some of these are seasonal.

 

 

SBtS

[kevrab]

Would you mind telling me what month you sailed? I booked 9/15/11 on the Explorer & I'm wondering if it would be too cold to sea kayak? Your thoughts?

 

We just sailed the last week of July and the weather in St John was beautiful--sunny and 80-- but in Halifax, the next day, it was 60 and rainy but we did see people kayaking in the Bay of Fundy and in Halifax harbor.

[celebrity]

We just sailed the last week of July and the weather in St John was beautiful--sunny and 80-- but in Halifax, the next day, it was 60 and rainy but we did see people kayaking in the Bay of Fundy and in Halifax harbor.

 

Thanks for the info. Do you know if the kayaking in Halifax Harbor can be booked that day or must be reserved? TIA.

[estebofarr]

We are planning on taking this trip without children. Are the above suggestions also good for early retirees?

[CamperAng]

The Discovery Center in Halifax would also be great for your 8 year old. There is also the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and The Museum of Natural History.

 

The MNH has Gus, a tortoise who just turned 80 I think, the other day.