Sydney help

[smitty3000]

Originally Posted by maryann ns

The route in the map mentioned above is one I have done and recommended many times. The scenery is great, particularly in the Iona area. http://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=Syd...ra=ls&t=m&z=10

Toms Port guides are excellent, but not perfect. The ferry he mentions was closed a few years ago for repairs, but runs fine now.

It is very frustrating that ships will not stay in Sydney long enough for people to drive around the Cabot Trail. However they don't so you really have two options for a great day.

One is to go to Baddeck and Iona and renting a car is the best way to do this.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ns/grahambell/index.aspx
http://museum.gov.ns.ca/hv/en/home/default.aspx

The second is to go to Fortress Louisbourg. Renting a car also works for this, and depending upon the time you are in port and how long you spend at Louisbourg, you may also have time to go to the Glace Bay Miner's Museum, where you can be taken down into an old coal mine and learn about the life of a miner from a retired coal miner.
http://www.minersmuseum.com/mine_tour.htm

Louisbourg is only fully open from June 15 to October 15 so keep that in mind. When it is open, you are immersed into the life of the fortified town in the year 1744, with live animators (people playing the roles of actual people) and restaurants, pubs, etc.

Hi Maryann, just curious, how many Ferries will we be on, on this route and what is the cost to take the ferry. I have booked the ship excursion and a rental car so I can cancel one or the other. Still trying to decide the best way. So far I am finding out that the cost of the rental car will be half of the ship excursion. That includes all the entrance fees and gas. If we drive ourself how much time would you allow at the Bell Museum and at the Highland Village? We are there on June 8th from 8 - 5 so want to be back in plenty of time to drop off rental car and get back to the ship by 4:30. Thank you so much for all your helpful info. Also, any stops you can recommend on your route to stop and see beside Alexander Graham Bell Museum and Highland Village. We love scenery. Thanks again.

[maryann ns]

http://g.co/maps/dhmtm

There is just the one 'ferry', merely a cable barge that takes less than five minutes.

http://g.co/maps/dhmtm

http://marinas.com/view/ferry/404_Li...erry_NS_Canada

24/7 on demand for $5.25 http://gov.ns.ca/tran/hottopics/ferries.asp

You will want perhaps two hours at the Bell Museum and an hour or so at Highland Village. You could stop in Baddeck for lunch, perhaps.

You will perhaps make a few photo stops, but you should have time for a nice day.

[readsalot]

Hi, and thanks for all the info!
We don't leave til 6:30 and were thinking of going both to the fortress and to Baddeck.
Is this too much?
readsalot

[maryann ns]

It may be too much as they are in opposite directions. Fortress Louisbourg is amazing, and most people spend at least four hours there. I would go there first and then you can decide.

[Ladyarli]

I have been to Sydney on a few cruises, and I'd like to offer my opinions. We've been to Fortress Louisburg, the Miner's Museum, and the Alexander Graham Bell Museum. My hands down favorite was the Fortress. It kind of reminded us of a small version of Colonial Williamsburg. It's really nice, but if your walking is limited, I wouldn't recommend it. Also, if you're going when the character interpreters are not there, the experience would not be quite the same.
I'm 5 ft 1 in, so I loved the Miner's Museum. My husband, who is 6 ft. 1 in, didn't like it as much. A retired miner takes you down into a mine, which is only about 5 ft 4 in high. My poor husband's back was killing him when we came out. Really interesting, if you don't have to walk like Quasimodo.
The Alexander Bell Museum was my least favorite. I am a real museum nerd, but I thought that one was a real snore. I had more fun shopping by the pier.

[3rdGenCunarder]

We were in Syndey after Canadian Thanksgiving, so Louisburg's regular scheduled interpreters weren't there. We finally decided to take the ship's tour, rather than renting a car. We had wanted to stay longer than the tour provided, but the tour was just the easiest way to do it.

The tour company arranged walking tours and for us to meet three character interpreters, a soldier, a kitchen demo (followed by a cup of "drinking chocolate), and a lady in one of the houses. Because of the late date, it wasn't as good as the full slate of characters in the summer, and not everything was open. But it was a good tour and used the time well. There were a few people walking around on their own, but they didn't get the programs we had, so we were glad we took the ship's tour instead of going on our own.

[jkrislc]

Originally Posted by travelbig

Here is a google map of a driving route for sightseeing:

http://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=Syd...ra=ls&t=m&z=10

This is an excellent route that I intend to follow in a couple of weeks. However, I will be using a GPS device loaded with Canadian maps. Any suggestions on how to program in these navigation points? Do "city centers" work or are there landmark addresses I should use?

Thanks!

[maryann ns]

That is a good question (which means I don't know the answer!). You will see that the Sydney address is the Marine Terminal (postal code B1P 1A1). That should work.

Baddeck is very small so any address should work. The Highway is #105.
The Bell Museum is here, a bit away from the centre of town: http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ns/graha...it/visit2.aspx

For Iona put in the Highland Museum: 4119 Highway 223
Iona, NS,B2C 1A3

Christmas Island is a couple houses along the main road. It is on highway 223 where #216 comes in.

[jkrislc]

Originally Posted by maryann ns

That is a good question (which means I don't know the answer!). You will see that the Sydney address is the Marine Terminal (postal code B1P 1A1). That should work.

Baddeck is very small so any address should work. The Highway is #105.
The Bell Museum is here, a bit away from the centre of town: http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ns/graha...it/visit2.aspx

For Iona put in the Highland Museum: 4119 Highway 223
Iona, NS,B2C 1A3

Christmas Island is a couple houses along the main road. It is on highway 223 where #216 comes in.

Thanks. I'll try what you've suggested.

[jkrislc]

Originally Posted by jkrislc

This is an excellent route that I intend to follow in a couple of weeks. However, I will be using a GPS device loaded with Canadian maps. Any suggestions on how to program in these navigation points? Do "city centers" work or are there landmark addresses I should use?

Thanks!

Seems odd to reply to my own post, but I found a solution that others might find helpful.

If you go to the Google Maps route linked above, you can click on each of the destination points (e.g., marked A on the map). If you right click on the marker point on the map, an "Address" bubble will appear and give you the following options: Search Nearby, Save to Map, or More. If you click on More, one of the options is Send. If you have a compatible GPS device attached to your computer either by the USB cable or by Bluetooth, you can actually send the point to your GPS and name it whatever you want. In my case, I named it Sydney Point A, Sydney Point B, etc.

Hope this helps others.

[maryann ns]

Thanks for this great tip!

[tilda]

Are you on celebrity, summit? We will also be in Sydney on the same day & planning on renting a car there.