East coast, west coast or stay in ON | GTAMotorcycle.com

East coast, west coast or stay in ON

ifiddles

ifiddles

Well-known member
Forum Sponsor
So hubby is off for the month of August (and I'm off as well since I'm a teacher) and we're trying to decide what to do...we didn't go anywhere last year due to Covid and we were hoping (sort of) to go see his son graduate from Army basic training in MO, however the border won't reopen in time (which I'm secretly glad for anyways) for us to do that...

Other than the Cabot Trail, what is there to do and see out east?...I've already applied for the travel passes for each of the three Atlantic provinces so just waiting for approval...if we go east, we probably wouldn't bring the motorcycles (we'll drive as neither one of us is into riding long distances) and I don't feel like towing them all that way (we would however bring the bicycles)...I'm thinking we could spend a week in each province, picking out a few cities to stay in and exploring the area on bicycles...I've been to Newfoundland, but hubby hasn't been at all...

Our other choice was to go west to AB and BC, however, the wild fires are deterring us from looking into that option...same idea though, I don't feel like trailering the motorcycles all that way, so we'd probably just bring the bicycles...

Finally, I'm leaning towards staying in ON and checking out areas we haven't been to...staying in ON means we would trailer the motorcycles and put the bicycles in with them...thinking we could check out Pelee Island, go to Kingston, go to SSM, Manitoulin Island, Huntsville area...the idea being grab a hotel for a few days in each region, then explore the area...could even do the Bancroft area again (last time was in 2015 I believe)...

Ultimately, decision will be ours to make, just looking for feedback on all three options...ciao! :D
 
My vote would be to stay in ON, lots of cool things to see and do and hopefully save you a few bucks in travel expenses.
But if I had to choose East or West coast right now, I'd head East.
 
I’m going to say east coast, so many villages to spend time in. And rich in nautical history.

If it was me i would take the motor bikes
Nothing like a coastal ride when you’re chasing the sunset
 
Not being able to swing through Maine to get to the coast would be a bummer for me. The Trans-Canada between Quebec City and Moncton is very boring
 
West coast if you have the time, its a looonnng drive/ride.
Otherwise east coast: lobsters! also 3 of us are also headed there in august.
 
East coast, 'cos the slab time is less.
Did the Cabot Trail and looped back thru the US, ferry across Lake Placid (tho' a summer rain storm gave lie to the term "placid"!) and then back across to the 401. (this was before the world of virus)
 
Lot's of stuff to see out East, and it's not that far.

Hopewell Rocks
goo.gl

Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park · 131 Discovery Rd, Hopewell Cape, NB E4H 4Z5, Canada

âââââ · Tourist attraction
goo.gl goo.gl

Magnetic Hill
goo.gl

Magnetic Hill · Moncton, NB E1G 2W7, Canada

Moncton, NB E1G 2W7, Canada
goo.gl goo.gl
It's fun, did it 3 times, once in reverse, silly stupid fun.

Peggy's Point Lighthouse
goo.gl

Peggy's Cove Lighthouse · Peggys Point Rd, Peggy's Cove, NS B3Z 3S1, Canada

âââââ · Historical landmark
goo.gl goo.gl

Whale watching.
People are super nice, food is good!

PEI is nice and scenic, easy to do.
If you are into Anne of Green Gables, if not the general area is nice.

annemuseum - Google Search

g.page

Plus crossing on the Confederation Bridge is something, though not much of a view with the hi sidewalls.

Gros Morne Park if you cross over to The Rock.
goo.gl

Gros Morne National Park Of Canada · Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

âââââ · National park
goo.gl goo.gl

Or just explore Northern Ontario if you haven't been that far around here.

I guess it depends what is open with stupid COVID as well.....
 
I think we've decided on taking both the motorcycles and bicycles and go to Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Parry Sound and Kingston (start/end in Milton)...we can explore some of the more northern roads (ie: to Wawa, the 129, the 144, Manitoulin Island) as well as others east and north of PS and between Kingston and Bancroft area by motorcycle, then do things like St. Joseph Island, Amherst Island, Wolfe Island by bicycle...

I've never been north of Parry Sound so it will be interesting...I've been to Kingston but only for one night for a previous employer so again, should be interesting...

Hubby just wants to be anywhere other than home :D
 
Northern NB is beautiful with wonderful people and small communities you can explore. Caraquet, Bathurst etc.

Or continue along the NB coast Cocagne, Shediac, Alma, Hopewell Rocks etc.

Or NS such as Peggy’s Cove, the Annapolis Valley is wine country with rivers and coastal views along rolling hills.

Search out camping or cottages or Air BnB.

We’ve done PEI and toured lighthouses around the coast.

Out West, recommend looking at staying in Canmore, it’s less touristy with lots of local trails, motor lodges etc. You can travel to Banff and BC interior. Lussier Hot Springs (in BC) is an actual natural hot spring flowing into a river. Not the concrete pool filled with spring water.

All kinds of wild life. Bears, mountain goats etc.

Northern Ontario is also wonderful with excellent fishing, trails etc. The French River, Parry Sound etc.

Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
What kind of bikes (MC) are you riding. You could kill a month riding gravel in the near north if that's of interest. If you're into to strictly pavement then you've likely ridden most the good stuff already.
 
@timtune we have road bikes and you're correct, I've ridden majority of the good roads around southern Ontario many times over the past 11 years...we are looking for a couple of enduros, but pickings are very slim...I'm bicycling and walking more than riding this summer...bored doing the same roads over and over...
 
A dual sport or enduro would open up a multitude of riding and most of it won't get you into 50 over territory so easy.
 
@timtune agreed, even though neither hubby nor I ride aggressively so 50 (or 40) over territory isn't a concern...but yeah, enduros would open up new avenues...if you know of any TW200 or XT250 for sale, let me know... 🤗😎
 
I'm on the way to NS now

blasted across QC - nothing against it, just saw most of it last summer
spending more time in NB this trip - usually blast across it too

nice route south out of Edmunston, the Fiddle Head route
guessing it used to be a major highway before the TC went in
great road, zero traffic, good pavement, great scenery
speed limit of 100 which is not typical for secondary highways

not sure when I'm gonna make it to NS
parked in St. John tonight and really digging the town

image_2021-07-24_191843.png
 
Last time I checked (couple weeks ago), you could get a round trip flight to Vancouver for only $150 when booked for August. The money you save in gas instead of driving your car could be used to rent motorcycles out there.
 
I've been to both coasts, and honestly, the west coast beats anything else in Canada for scenery hands down, zero debate. The only thing in Ontario that even remotely gives it a run for it's money is the TransCan between the Soo and Thunder Bay. But once you've driven through BC, well, there is no comparison.

But the east coast beats the west for the Nautical history and friendly people. Cool things to do on both coasts honestly. The deciding factor for me would be time - when we went out west we did it in 4 weeks - Trans Canada all the way to Vancouver, a few days in Banff, a few days in Vancouver, then we crossed into the USA and came home that way...a few days in Yellowstone, etc. It was a busy schedule given it's 11,000+KM doing it that way. I always said if we were to do it again we'd take 6 weeks minimum (8 weeks ideally), as honestly, the most frustrating part I remember is seeing so many cool places and things and just not having the time to stop and see/do them.

The east coast on the other hand, with 4 weeks, you can do a hell of a lot of cool things and see a lot of cool places. Yeah, the slab to and from is meh, but if you're motivated and can hoof on it for a solid long day of driving you can cover most of the boring slab in one day and be into the good stuff fairly quickly.
 
Apparently there are current flights to Calgary for $725 US for your bike.

WESTJET RATES & PORTS | Motorcycle Express

www.motorcycleexpress.com www.motorcycleexpress.com

I did this in 2019 and it worked out well. Flew myself and the bike to Calgary. Rode BC for two weeks then rode back on the Northern TransCanada with the prevailing wind.
Get to Calgary in the morning ...on the bike in an hour.
Forum Sponsor
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom