RVentures with Doug and Chris: Beauty Flows Freely: Waterfalls, White Mountains, Tidal Bores ... and Toronto, Too!

Beauty flows freely in the power of water

As we were returning to Nova Scotia on the ferry following our five+ week RVenture on the Rock, I couldn't help but wonder ...

How can the scenery on the mainland even come close to the beauty found in Newfoundland?

But as we soon found out, there was more charm waiting to be discovered in the eastern Great Lakes region of Canada and the United States ...

like panoramic views on the coast of Nova Scotia in Cape Breton Highlands National Park,

or melodious waterfalls that tumble freely down river ravines in New Hampshire's Flume Gorge,

or dense forests that disappear into the fog on Mount Washington in the White Mountains of New Hampshire,

or colorful urban structures that light up the night skies in Toronto, Ontario,

or majestic waterfalls that draw thousands of visitors to Niagara Falls on a daily basis,

or brown murky waters that bring waves of excitement with the changing tides on the Bay of Fundy ... ok, maybe I wouldn't call it beautiful, but it is amazing nonetheless!

Discovering this diverse beauty made us glad that we slowed down to enjoy the natural areas along the way even as I was feeling the strong urge to hurry though in order to spend time with family and friends in Minnesota.

I need to take a lesson from these snowbirds who were enjoying another day of

cool sea breezes and sunshine before beginning their journey south.

Some of the highlights of our journey through eastern Canada and United States included:

Cape Breton Highlands National Park

We took a ride on the Cabot Trail and found ...

brilliant seaside scenery,

tranquil hiking paths,

and a restful spot to enjoy a waterfall view when we reached the end of the trail.

The Bay of Fundy

Situated between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick lies a powerful body of water known for its extremely high tides with 40+ feet of water rise from low to high tide. We stopped at a number of places along the shoreline to marvel at ...

the muddy rock formations that appear during low tide,

and some adventuresome folks riding the waves as the tide came back in.

Fredericton, New Brunswick

We found the provincial capital of New Brunswick to be ...

a charming stop for another ''capitol'' building photo op,

as well as a city blooming with summer flowers and activities.

White Mountains National Forest

In central New Hampshire lies a scenic drive through the White Mountains National Forest. As we drove along the Kancamagus Highway, we enjoyed ...

cascading waterfalls

during a hike through the narrow Flume Gorge,

views of the majestic White Mountain range,

and a chance to step back in time as we stopped at numerous covered bridges, historical inns, and log cabins that line the parkway.

Thousand Islands National Park

We crossed back into Canada from New York in order to take a scenic drive around Lake Ontario. More than one thousand tiny islands dot this northern shoreline, and thus lends itself to the name and scenery of this Canadian National Park.

A hike up to Landon Bay Lookout helped us see five or six of the 1000+ islands.

Kingston, Ontario

The best part of traveling is reconnecting with friends who we have previously met on the road. We got to know fellow Hymer van owners, Rodger and Barb, a few years ago when we were both boondocking in Cape Breton.

We were all happy that we took them up on their offer to stop by if our travels would ever bring us to their hometown of Kingston, Ontario.

There is nothing better than to have a personal tour down the cobblestone streets and past the limestone buildings of this beautiful historic city,

... except, perhaps, sharing stories and laughs with our travel buddies!

Toronto, Ontario

We have heard horror stories of Toronto's traffic, but during our weekend there, we were able to easily drive into downtown and ...

secure a quiet boondocking spot near the heart of the city for only $5/day.

Our folding bikes came in handy as Toronto is very ''bike-friendly''. City paths led us to some beautiful city skyline views,

and up to the provincial capitol building of Ontario.

But it's the international flair of Toronto that makes this such a fun city to visit. Whether your greeted with a ''bonjour'', ''hola'', ''ciao'', or ''你好'',

Toronto's multicultural influences make a trip to the St Lawrence Market,

or a Saturday evening open-air concert a truly global experience!

Niagara Falls

Three waterfalls spanning the border between Ontario and New York have become one of the most popular tourist destinations for both countries. As we prepared for our final crossing back into the US, the mystical charm of Niagara Falls lured us in for another visit. Its colorful beauty flows freely ...

day,

and night!

As much as we both missed the amazing scenery, laid back lifestyle, and daily fish & chip lunches when we left Newfoundland, we found plenty of beauty flowing freely during our time in eastern Canada and United States.