Michael Huntley, Author at Traveling Huntleys

Prince Edward Island: Red Beaches, Bottle Houses & the Points East Coastal Drive

August 13, 2017 by Michael Huntley

Last Updated: May 2026

We crossed the Restigouche River from New Brunswick and made our way east, eventually arriving at the Confederation Bridge — the longest bridge over ice-covered water in the world, spanning 12.9 kilometres across the Northumberland Strait. In winter, when the Gulf of St. Lawrence freezes over, this is what connects Prince Edward Island to the mainland. It is thought to be the most Scottish place outside Scotland, with roughly 50% of the population claiming Scottish ancestry. The island has a pastoral, almost fairy-tale quality — rolling red-cliffed coastlines, potato fields in every direction, and an unhurried pace that makes it easy to stay longer than planned.

Victoria red beach Prince Edward Island Canada

Coastal New Brunswick: Campbellton, Miguasha National Park & Caraquet

August 6, 2017 by Michael Huntley

Last Updated: May 2026

Crossing the Restigouche River from Québec into Campbellton marked our entry into New Brunswick — and the beginning of a slow, rewarding drive along one of Canada’s most underrated coastlines. From a UNESCO World Heritage fossil site to a personal ancestral stop, lobster traps stacked to the sky, and Celtic music echoing from a lighthouse, coastal New Brunswick delivered surprises at every turn.

Jake Huntley crossing the Restigouche River into New Brunswick

Gaspé Peninsula, Québec: Saint Lawrence River, Forillon National Park & Cap-Bon-Ami

July 31, 2017 by Michael Huntley

Last Updated: July 2017

From Québec City we turned east, following the Saint Lawrence River toward the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula — one of the most scenic drives in eastern Canada. The peninsula juts into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence for nearly 200 miles, with the river on one side and the mountains of the Chic-Chocs on the other. It took us several days to reach the far end, with stops along the way that ranged from a campground disaster to some of the best hiking we found all summer.

Québec City, Canada: Old City Walking Tour, Montmorency Falls & Tall Ships 2017

July 26, 2017 by Michael Huntley

Last Updated: July 2017

After our San Diego interlude, I rejoined Sandy on the East Coast and crossed the border from Vermont into Canada without any drama. The border agent asked about weapons, our occupations, and the length of our stay — nothing about food, wine, medications, or Jake’s rabies certificate. We may have under-packed the wine.

Old Québec City cobblestone streets and historic architecture

Downtown San Diego: Gaslamp Quarter, USS Midway, Comic-Con & La Playa

July 22, 2017 by Michael Huntley

Last Updated: July 2017

We interrupted our New England summer travels when Michael needed to fly back to San Diego for a week to manage his physician practice. It turned out to be a welcome reset — and a reminder of how much there is to do in a city we know well. Downtown San Diego has transformed steadily over the years, and with Comic-Con and Pride Week both kicking off during our visit, the streets had an unusually electric energy. San Diego is the eighth largest city in the United States, its economy anchored by military and defense as much as tourism, and its enduring appeal built on miles of sandy coastline and one of the most reliably mild climates in the country.

The Berkshires, Massachusetts: Hancock Shaker Village, the Clark & Norman Rockwell Museum

July 18, 2017 by Michael Huntley

Last Updated: July 2017

Western Massachusetts doesn’t get the attention it deserves. The Berkshires — a range of low forested hills running along the state’s western edge — quietly house three world-class cultural institutions within a short drive of each other: a living museum of Shaker communal life, one of the finest small art museums in America, and the permanent home of Norman Rockwell’s original canvases. We made a day of all three, and left genuinely impressed by each.