O.T. - Inspired - getting to Cape Breton Island?

[Carl Johnson]

Inspired by Ian Andrews thread: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,57754.0.html  (and other well known golf opportunites), how hard/easy is it to get to CBI these days.  Eight to ten years ago my wife and I vacationed there (no golf) and really enjoyed the people, culture (e.g., music, history), landscape, but getting there from North Carolina was a chore.  Frankly, it's easier to get to the U.K. from here.

Any ideas, suggestions?  Thanks.

[Bart Bradley]

Carl, obviously Ran gets there from NC quite often.  Fly to Halifax and drive....what are you thinking might be other options? 

Bart

[Carl Johnson]

Carl, obviously Ran gets there from NC quite often.  Fly to Halifax and drive....what are you thinking might be other options?  

Bart

Thanks Bart. Yes, that would seem to be the way to do it -- that is what we did the last time my wife and I went.  However, the fly to Halifax was not good.  What I recall, and this was a while ago, is that we connected through Newark or Philly, where we were mega delayed (summer, not winter weather-related), and finally got to Halifax about 2:00 a.m. - six or seven hours late.    The Newark/Philly connection was the problem.  My sense is that connections through either aren't much better now than they were then.  So, I was thinking that there may be some less conventional ways to go, that would be easier on the body and soul.  But, maybe not!

[Brad Tufts]

Without checking the timetables...I bet you could go through Boston, Montreal, Toronto...potentially less hassle-filled airports?

I think Logan has a twice-daily flight on USAW to Halifax in the summer...or at least they did.  Might be Air Canada-only now.  If desiring a flight to Sydney, one has to connect through MTL or Toronto from Boston (or anywhere else).

I say all of this not having made my trip to Cape Breton from Boston as of yet....but I guarantee I will!

[Dan Herrmann]

We drove from Philly.  Very cool drive once you get past Boston.

[Mark Saltzman]

You can fly through Toronto to Sydney.

[Bill_McBride]

Last August I had a comfortable connection the ATL on to Halifax, to be followed by a 3.5 hr drive on to Cabot Links.  Unfortunately Delta had two delays and I finally arrived in Halifax 8 hours late!    Best laid plans aft gang alay and all that!

[Gary Slatter]

Carl, drive all the way up, take your time and enjoy the trip!

[Adam Lawrence]

One of the weird things is just how easy it is to go to NS/CB from Britain. There's a daily, direct flight on Air Canada to Halifax, and it's the shortest transatlantic crossing in town. Coming home, it's actually too short - a redeye, but the flight is so quick you've precious little chance to get more than a couple of hours of sleep.

[Charlie Gallagher]

Here's what I have to offer based on one  experience.
 For me flying from Boston to Toronto, then to Halifax was much cheaper, but circuitous. Playing St. Georges in Toronto made that completely worthwhile, however. Once in Halifax you have a 3:45 drive to Inverness. We drove from there to Ingonish and back, about 3 hours from Inverness to the tip of Cape Breton.
  I have not done the drive, but have been told by one guy I met from Boston who makes the drive 4 or five times a year (his wife is from Inverness) that you can make the drive from Cambridge to Cabot in 11 hours. I will be going up there again, for sure, at some point in the next year or two and I intend to drive next time.

[Mark Chaplin]

Brian - Air Transat direct from LGW around £650 in July. Fly out on 2nd and back on 9th for £615, you can even fly back in club for £860.

[Adam Lawrence]

Both times I have been to Cape Breton I have driven from Halifax to Highlands and then on to Cabot before heading back to the airport.

The journey back from Inverness to Halifax is pretty easy - about 320km. Google says it is three hours and twenty minutes, but it has taken me noticeably less that three hours both times. Halifax to Highlands is about 100km further, but on both occasions it has been a lot more than an hour more - close to five hours. If the Englishtown ferry is operating, take it - it might slightly lengthen the journey time-wise, but it makes the driving less hassle.

I've been there in September and October. The flight from London lands at 13.45; in October it was impossible for me to get to Highlands before dark. The last 30km or so of the drive over Smokey Mountain are pretty hairy at night! I drove hard the second time, in September, and just got there with the last flickers of daylight. It's not a drive I would want to do when really dark.

[Ian Andrew]

The flight from London lands at 13.45; in October it was impossible for me to get to Highlands before dark. The last 30km or so of the drive over Smokey Mountain are pretty hairy at night! I drove hard the second time, in September, and just got there with the last flickers of daylight. It's not a drive I would want to do when really dark.

Don't drive fast beginning at dusk or at night! Moose will cross the road at night and you won't see them in advance. They're fast, tall and very dark animals. One you don't want to hit. Roads are fine, but once its dark, take your time.

The road between Cabot and Highlands (coastal drive) is one of the great drives on Canada - and not to be missed.
Get the chowder at Neil's Harbour

If your a hiker, head up Ben Franey - the view is worth the climb
Surf can be quite good at Ingonish Beach too.

[Adam Lawrence]

The flight from London lands at 13.45; in October it was impossible for me to get to Highlands before dark. The last 30km or so of the drive over Smokey Mountain are pretty hairy at night! I drove hard the second time, in September, and just got there with the last flickers of daylight. It's not a drive I would want to do when really dark.

Don't drive fast beginning at dusk or at night! Moose will cross the road at night and you won't see them in advance. They're fast, tall and very dark animals. One you don't want to hit. Roads are fine, but once its dark, take your time.

... this is why I didn't want to drive over that mountain in the dark!

[Will MacEwen]

If you fly through Montreal or Toronto you will have more back up connecting flights in case you get delayed. 

[Tom Ferrell]

I flew Denver - Toronto - Halifax.  We arrived in Halifax at about 8:30 pm and did the night-time drive to Cabot.  Not sure how much I recommend this.  As Ian said, the roads are fine, but they are EMPTY.  Moose are everywhere.  It's not the greatest situation, although being at Cabot when the sun came up was a big plus.

Do not overlook the pleasures of a night in Halifax itself.  On our way out we left Cabot at 2:00 pm or so and spent the night in Halifax.  Awesome town, kind of a Seattle feel.  Great little downtown area of bars and music clubs.  My buddy hit the casino - I went for a local band in a cool underground bar.  Thoroughly enjoyed the locals and the scene. 

[Don Hyslop]

You will have another option starting in May. Ferry service between Portland ,Maine and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia will resume then with a brand new ferry service. Once in Yarmouth, about 7 hours will get you to Inverness.
http://www.novastarcruises.com/

[Carl Nichols]

You will have another option starting in May. Ferry service between Portland ,Maine and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia will resume then with a brand new ferry service. Once in Yarmouth, about 7 hours will get you to Inverness.
http://www.novastarcruises.com/

That's gotta be a long ferry ride, no?

[Mark Chaplin]

Brian that was an Expedia search I find it stronger for US flights.

[Don Hyslop]

You will have another option starting in May. Ferry service between Portland ,Maine and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia will resume then with a brand new ferry service. Once in Yarmouth, about 7 hours will get you to Inverness.
http://www.novastarcruises.com/

That's gotta be a long ferry ride, no?

From what I read going from Portland to Nova Scotia would be an overnight trip of 8-9 hrs. The rooms on this ship look spectacular.

[Carl Johnson]

Thanks for all the suggestions - duly noted and filed.  I'll explore various plane schedules.  Getting to Sydney by plane would be attractive if the timing on connections would work out.  Unfortunately, at my age driving from North Carolina is not a realistic option.  However, there was a time in my life, if I had the time, when I expect that's exactly what I would have done.  By the way, re Halifax, my prior trip to CBI we did spend some three nights in Halifax - very nice city, agreed.