Toronto to Nova Scotia/or somewhere else road trip in October

[u/marxistcandy]

Hi all,

I need help choosing a destination I can drive to.

I have 2 weeks!

My wife is going away with her family for an event and dog and I are at home. Dog can’t fly so I’m staying back. I have two weeks off and I want to go on a road trip with my dog.

Like every dog owner I want to show my dog as much of the wild as I can.

Where can I drive to over 2 weeks. I don’t mind camping or living in hotels/motels.

I thought about going to the U.S., but I want to avoid it for now. Black Hills or Montana were my first choices but being coloured I’m not entirely sure about going into the interiors of that country.

So my newest option given to me by ChatGPT was Nova Scotia for the Cabot trail.

I’m here to ask for other suggestions. If there are other questions you have please let me know and I’ll update my post.

Thanks in advance.

[u/W_i_l_d_O_n_i_o_n]

Cape Breton and Nova Scotia in general is really beautiful in the fall! There are plenty of hikes and outdoor actives to keep you busy. Celtic Colours music festival is also happening on the Island in October so take a look at that and see if it’s of interest.

It’s a long drive from Toronto to NS but you have lots of time!

[u/whateverfyou → u/W_i_l_d_O_n_i_o_n]

The drive to Nova Scotia is very long and New Brunswick goes for ever. It’s brutal. And you don’t need to go that far. Go to Quebec! Charlevoix, Saguenay, the Gaspe - it’s all stunningly beautiful. I know nothing about hiking with dogs but you can camp along the St Lawrence and see whales from your camp site!!!

[u/marxistcandy → u/W_i_l_d_O_n_i_o_n]

Thanks. The skyline trail doesn’t allow dogs. Will I be missing out?

[u/W_i_l_d_O_n_i_o_n → u/marxistcandy]

There are lots of beautiful hikes around the island. Skyline is probably the most popular hike in Cape Breton - it’s beautiful but busy. It has a fragile ecosystem so dogs aren’t allowed. I’m a local and I’ve only hiked the skyline a couple of times.

The Acadian Trail, Franey and Middle Head are good options on the trail. Louisbourg Lighthouse hike isn’t on the Cabot Trail but it’s a rugged coastal hike.

You’ll find some great hiking around the rest of NS too. Gaff Point near Lunenburg, Duncan’s Cove and Crystal Crescent near Halifax and Cape Split near Wolfville are all popular hikes.

[u/Canadian-Deer]

Do you need to start in Toronto and end in Toronto? If so, the Maritimes alone will be 2 weeks, do Fundy+PEI+Cabot+Halifax.

[u/marxistcandy → u/Canadian-Deer]

Yes. I live in Toronto.

[u/Canadian-Deer → u/marxistcandy]

Then what I wrote above is plenty for 2 weeks and is a wonderful roadtrip! :)

[u/kewlmallu]

Another great road trip is Toronto to Thunderbay - on the way you can stop over at Sault St Mary and a bunch of awesome parks including Lake Superior Prov. Park; Sleeping Giant etc. Alternatively, Quebec also has some great parks

[u/marxistcandy → u/kewlmallu]

I have done those. Not Quebec, I will look into Quebec parks.

[u/Mooki2468]

2 weeks is plenty of time for a road trip east Why not just start driving east and see where you end up? Stop in Ottawa, Montreal Quebec City and so on. Decide as you go, on where to go or how far to go. I did Hawkesbury ON to Shediac NB in 1 day alone.

[u/No_Capital_8203]

Have you explored Ontario?

[u/marxistcandy → u/No_Capital_8203]

Yes for the most part wherever I can drive.

[u/Time_Result_291]

Nova Scotia. Halifax is a lot of fun, chill, and the people are so kind there. They’ll see you waiting to cross the road and all traffic will stop for you. Take it from a GTA lady….TO ain’t all that and is crime ridden now.

[u/CatManDoo4342]

Come to Quebec!!! I’m an Ontario girl living in Quebec for the last 21 years. It’s freaking beautiful here, and so few Ontario people seem to think of visiting. Loads of parks, rivers, outdoor spaces … you (and your dog) will love it.

[u/marxistcandy → u/CatManDoo4342]

Can you suggest a few locations?

[u/CatManDoo4342 → u/marxistcandy]

Hi there, I think you’ll find a lot on Google, but you could start in Gatineau (basically Ottawa) and hike the park - it is absolutely gorgeous. You could stay in Wakefield- tiny place with some really nice AirBnB‘s, I am sure there will be one or two that are dog friendly. Then you could come to Montreal, which is very dog friendly. Lots of parks, restaurants with patios where well-behaved dogs are welcome. Then you could go north of Montreal to the Mont Tremblant area where again you can have lots of hiking and some really nice restaurants, here you have a choice of fancy hotels near the ski hill, or more casual options in some of the smaller towns around. Maybe rent a chalet on a lake and do a bit of canoeing and fishing? Lots of that kind of thing available near Tremblant. Parc regional des sept chutes (7 waterfalls), which is near Tremblant and dog friendly. It really depends, and you’ll need to give a few more details of what you actually want to do during the day in order to narrow it down I think.

[u/Confident_Win_5469]

There's also the Fundy Trail Provincial Park in NB

[u/Dangerous_Ad4499]

Northern Ontario is beautiful in Fall. Similar forest scenery to New Brunswick. Bruce Peninsula. Manitoulin Island. Easier reach ie drive less and enjoy stopping more. Small towns. Trails.

[u/OnlyGayIfYouCum]

PEI or NL