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Québec/New Brunswick/Nova Scotia

On the Road: Québec City to the Canadian Maritimes

Program No. 21432RJ

Explore historic Québec City, visit the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and learn the story of French Canada as you venture from Québec to the Maritimes by train and motorcoach.

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11 days

10 nights

25 meals

10B 7L 8D

Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation

Quebec City, Québec

Quebec History, Ursuline Nuns Museum, Upper Town Walk

Quebec City, Québec

Quebec's Evolution, Lower Town Walk, Free Time

Quebec City, Québec

Plains of Abraham, Montmorency Falls, Train Departs

Aboard the Ocean

Train to Moncton

Moncton, NB

Hopewell Rocks, Depart for PEI, Intro to PEI

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

PEI National Park, Oyster Farm, Green Gables

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Shediac Lobster Cruise, Travel to Halifax

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Intro to Nova Scotia, Coach Exploration, Maritime Museum

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Lunenburg, Peggy's Cove

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Program Concludes

Halifax, Nova Scotia

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At a Glance

Embark on a journey through eastern Canada by train and motorcoach reveling in the charm of Québec and the Maritimes. Setting off from Quebec City aboard the “Ocean,” ride the rails overnight through the lower St. Lawrence River valley to Moncton, New Brunswick. There, disembark and venture by motorcoach through New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island and Halifax, experiencing the natural beauty of the Bay of Fundy and the unique culture of the Canadian Maritimes.

Activity Level

Keep the Pace

While in Quebec City; walking up 3-4 miles over the course of the day on uneven surfaces, cobblestones and many steep hills. Stairs will be encountered throughout the program, some without railings, periods of standing. Sleeping arrangements on overnight train include bunk beds in close confines requiring the use of a ladder to reach the top bunk. Travel by motorcoach between 130-200 miles daily over the course of 2-4 hours.

Best of all, you’ll…

Discuss the history, settlement and cultural significance of French Canada with local experts while discovering 400-year-old Québec City.
Discover the dynamic nature of coastal sand dune ecosystems in Prince Edward Island National Park.
In the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, survey the maritime history of Atlantic Canada, from the age of steamships to the Royal Canadian Navy to Nova Scotia's role in the aftermath of the Titanic.

General Notes

Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less.

Featured Expert

All trip experts

James White

James (Jay) White is an expert in history, having earned his PhD in Canadian History from McMaster University in 1994. After a two-year stint at Western Washington University, Jay migrated home to Nova Scotia where he has lived ever since, teaching a variety of historical subjects. He even instructed members of the Canadian Armed Forces in military history. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and photography, is a Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Canadiens fan, and is of Loyalist and Acadian descent.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

James White View biography

Cameron MacDonald View biography

Cameron Bennett MacDonald was born in Charlottetown, as a 9th generation Islander. Being between the theatre and history of the Island his entire childhood, it only made sense that Cameron joined the Confederation players in 2013, a historical reenactment troupe. The troupe combined a knowledge of history and group leading experience, with a theatrical side as well, a job to honor both his parents. As the troupe’s artistic supervisor, he writes historical vignettes and shares his knowledge with those around him.

Marie Legroulx View biography

Marie is an eleventh-generation Quebecoise whose ancestors settled on the shores of the St. Lawrence River in the mid-17th century. She has a BA in history and an MA in Quebec literature from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. Marie draws on both fields in her Road Scholar learning adventures as well as within her life more broadly. She taught French and Quebec literature for 25 years at the university level. Marie has been leading groups in Quebec City and the surrounding area since 2008.

Francois Vidal View biography

François Vidal was born in Québec City, where he spent years studying theatre and travel. He frequently combines his education with his love for Québec City and its rich history, performing in numerous educational theatrical productions. François has been an educational interpreter in Québec City since 2009 and is well-known for his personification of historical figures including a recent production in which he portrayed General Montcalm from the French-Indian War. François displays a keen interest in the architecture, culture and lifestyle in Québec City.

Routes Adventures Mobile Phone View biography

Please call the toll free line at 1-866-745-1690 during regular business hours or for non-urgent matters (Mon - Fri 8:30 - 4:30 EST). The mobile phone #1-613-331-5777 is for after hours and weekends for emergency use only. The phone is carried by a staff member.

Philippe Theriault View biography

Philippe Theriault has been a group leader in India, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the Americas for 30 years. He has a background in anthropology and history, and is an expert in generalizing history to help people understand local cultures and traditions. When asked to comment on his experiences while traveling, Philippe quotes Marcel Proust: “helping people discover a new place or a new culture is also a way of opening their eyes to the joy of living and to the art of travel.”

Suggested Reading List (6 books)

Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop

You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.

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On the Road: Québec City to the Canadian Maritimes

Program Number: 21432

Why I Hate Canadians

by Will Ferguson

First published in 1997, this hilarious book launched satirist Will Ferguson's career. Challenging the notion that Canadians are nice,” the book asks, Do we as Canadians deserve a country so great?” Tackling subjects from Canada's favorite inbred royals to the mighty beaver as national icon, from sex in a canoe to all-Canadian "superhero" Captain Canuck, Ferguson rampages across the cultural landscape.

The Geology of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, or, Acadian Geology

by John William Dawson

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The Boat Who Wouldn't Float

by Farley Mowat

A laugh-out-loud account of Mowat's determination to refurbish and sail a clunky old boat in the not-always-forgiving waters of Newfoundland was first published in 1969. It seemed like a good idea. Tired of everyday life ashore, Mowat would find a sturdy boat in Newfoundland and roam the salt sea over, free as a bird. What he found was the worst boat in the world, and she nearly drove him mad.

Canada and Quebec: One Country, Two Histories

by Robert Bothwell

An in-depth look at Canada-Quebec relations through interviews with prominent Canadian figures.

Nova Scotia: A Pocket History

by John Reid

This book provides a concise history of the province to the beginning of the 21st century. “The history of Nova Scotia,” says the author, “is not quaint. It is made up of the efforts of people of many backgrounds to make their way as best they could.

Canada's Forgotten Slaves: Two Centuries of Bondage

by Marcel Trudel

This book reveals that slavery was not just something that happened in the United States. Quite the contrary! Slavery was very much a part of everyday life in colonial Canada under the French regime starting in 1629, and then under the British regime right up to its official abolition throughout the British empire in 1834.

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