Sugar shack

Does anyone know if you can to a sugar shack from the pier if you don't take an excursion?

Are you asking about Holy Donuts in Portland, ME?

If you are, it is in walking distance from where the cruise ship docks.

Here are the walking directions provided by CC member Jude8:

You are going to get off the ship at India and Commercial St (Rte 1A). For us we turned headed left down Commercial until Pearl Street to avoid the tourists. Most passengers stayed on Commercial. We turned right on Pearl and walked one block up to Fore Street. We then turned left on Fore and walked until Exchange Street. It is on the right up the hill on Exchange Street. It was about 10 minute walk at most. We had to wait about 10-15 min in the line.

SBtS

Does anyone know if you can to a sugar shack from the pier if you don't take an excursion?

Well, it would really depend on what port, what pier, and definitely, what time of year. Sugaring season isn't typically cruising season.

To be specific, sugaring goes on when sap begins to run, when the early spring days turn a bit warm, but the nights remain cold. So probably somewhat early for most cruises.

In Halifax on the road to Peggy's Cove you can visit Acadian Maple Products. In Quebec City I believe there are maple sugar places on Ile D'Orleans. Both of these would require a rental car or an excursion.

In Halifax at the shopping area at the pier you will find maple products for sale.

I am from Montreal.

as stated before. cruising season does not match up with sugar season.

You can however, buy maple products year round.

Sugaring season starts when the maple sap begins to flow; in mid-February in southern New England, and a week or two later in Québec. The season ends when the leaf-buds come out, usually late March in southern New England, and into April farther north. Like the fall foliage colors in the same region, the actual dates vary from year to year (for some of the same reasons).

Some sugar shacks (sugar houses, cabanes à sucre) may be open year-round, but the traditional combination of maple syrup fresh from the boiler; with food, drink, music, and dancing, is seasonal. Anywhere in maple sugaring country, you can find all manner of delicious maple products year-round. This thread inspired me to make pancakes this morning, with some delicious amber-colored syrup from the Green Mountains of Vermont. Mmmmmmhhh!

We did a "Sugar Shack" tour in Quebec, but it was a ship's tour. It was fantastic, even in the pouring rain.

We were served a hearty lumberjack dinner with local entertainment, then taken into the actual sugar shack for a short demonstration & video of the process, got to see the huge distillery tank, and a small area of items for sale. Some of the folks participated in pulling taffy, it was quite tasty. All in all about a 4 hour tour. Thankfully the dining hall was indoors, as was the "sugar shack". We did get a little wet crossing from one building to another, but it was definitely worth the money for the tour. Learning how that lovely golden maple syrup is made was one of the highlights of our cruise. I just wish the weather in Quebec had been a little nicer. Sightseeing in the cold pouring rain isn't that great.