The Whale Camp

ADULT AND EDUCATOR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
Participants of Adult or Adult Educator programs are responsible for their own transportation to, from and on Grand Manan Island.

Some Travel Tips:

Plan well in advance.
Review maps, schedules and time-zone changes.
Allow enough extra travel time to make the trip more fun and less stressful.

Grand Manan Island is a Canadian island located in the province of New Brunswick just across the border from Maine. To get to Grand Manan, fly or drive to Bangor, Maine and follow the directions included in this packet. If you are driving to Bangor, we find that getting a "AAA Trip-Tik" to guide your journey is very helpful. Plan early and give yourself extra time to keep your trip as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.

TRAVEL PLANS AND OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS
Plan on traveling at least as far north as Bangor Maine on the day prior to the opening of the session. For your convenience, The Whale Camp has arraigned for a significantly reduced lodging fee of $49 for June programs and $65 for August programs at the Ramada Inn in Bangor. The Ramada is located just off Interstate 95 exit 45B. Turn right onto Odlin Road at the lights just off the exit ramp. The Ramada is immediately on the left. To take advantage of these savings you must call the Ramada Inn at 207-947-6961 several weeks in advance and reserve one of the rooms blocked for The Whale Camp.

Since one hour is lost due to changing time zones at the border of Canada, and you should be in line at the ferry terminal at least one hour before departure, give yourself at least five hours total travel time from Bangor to the ferry terminal. This means leaving Bangor by about 7:00 am on the first day of the program.

A more comfortable option is to travel closer to Grand Manan the day before your program begins. We recommend lodging at the Granite Town Motel in St. George, New Brunswick Canada (800-667-2010). This motel is just minutes away from the ferry terminal to Grand Manan and would allow you to take an early morning ferry to the island. In any case, make your reservations well in advance. of course, other lodging is available. A AAA booklet on the Atlantic Provinces and Maine could help you locate and choose other lodging.

The map and description details your drive from Bangor to the ferry terminal. Again, in order to make your trip as enjoyable as possible, avoid stress by allowing extra time in your travel plans. Note that you will lose one hour when changing time zones as you cross the border into Canada.

DRIVING FROM BANGOR, MAINE TO THE FERRY TERMINAL
Take Route 9 North (Airport Road) to Route 1 (about 90 miles). This road is mostly two lanes and can have delays for road repairs. It travels across mountains and through woods. There are a few small towns and a gas station and store on the right about 45 minutes out of Bangor. It is a good idea to fill up your gas tank before leaving Bangor. At Route 1, turn right to Calais, Maine. It is advisable to fill up your gas tank again before crossing the border due to the expense of gas in Canada. Follow the signs to the border crossing into St. Stephens, New Brunswick. When you stop at the customs drive thru booth, you may be asked for a picture identification.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are taking a child across the border without the child's parents or without your spouse, you need to have a notarized note from the parent(s) giving you permission to take the child out of the country. Be sure the note specifies the dates of travel and is signed and notarized. After crossing turn right onto Main Street and left onto Route 1 at the first traffic light. Follow Route 1 North toward St. John. Remember to change your clocks one hour ahead to Atlantic time. After passing St. George you will see the signs for Grand Manan and the ferry. Follow these signs through Black's Harbour to the ferry terminal.

THE FERRY TO GRAND MANAN
The ferry terminal to Grand Manan island is located in Blacks Harbor New Brunswick. Follow the directions with the map from Bangor Maine. When you arrive, you'll notice that as you drive down the hill to the ferry terminal the cars and trucks for the ferry are lined up on the right side of the road. It is advisable to get in this line at least one hour prior to the ferry departure time. At the time of this publication, departure times for Grand Manan on Sundays in June are 9:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 6:30 pm Atlantic time (one hour ahead of Eastern Time). At the time of this publication, departure times on Sundays in August are 9:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 5:30 pm and 9:30 pm Atlantic time (one hour ahead of Eastern Time). Please call the ferry terminal at 506-662-3724 for any updates to the ferry schedule and inquire about the volume of traffic to gage how early you should arrive to guarantee your spot on the ferry. Since our program starts at 4:00 pm plan to take the 1:30 or earlier ferry.

YOUR DESTINATION AND STARTING TIME
All of our adult sessions begin at 4:00 pm in the parking lot at Swallowtail Lighthouse. If you arrive on the 1:30 ferry from Blacks Harbor, do not go to the hotel or to the Whale Camp property, go directly to Swallowtail Lighthouse parking lot. This is the lighthouse you see in our brochure, advertisements and web pages. You will first see it in person as you pass it on your ferry ride, just before docking. As you depart the ferry, drive to the end of Ferry Dock Road (1/10 mile) to the stop sign. Route 776 is the main road of Grand Manan and extends the length of the island. Turn Right on 776 for about 1/10 mile then left up Old Airport Road for about 1/10 mile, then right on Swallowtail road for about another 1/10 mile. You are now in the parking lot of Swallowtail Lighthouse. Have your binoculars, camera, hat and jacket ready. Be in a positive, even giddy, frame of mind.

IF YOU ARRIVE EARLY AND WANT TO GET SETTLED
Our June Birding program and August Adult program is centered at our facility on Red Point Road in Seal Cove. Take Route 776 south (see Grand Manan Map) about 12 miles to Seal Cove. As you are entering Seal Cove you will drive around a sharp curve and see the town laid out before you. Part way down the hill, make the first possible left turn onto Red Point Road. The Whale Camp is about 1/4 mile on your Right. Look for the brown dormitories nestled in the trees on the right just before the broad fields.

Our July Educators programs are centered at the Shorecrest Lodge in North Head. From the end of Ferry Dock Road turn left onto Route 776 for about 2/10 mile. The driveway to the Shorecrest Lodge is clearly marked on the right side of the road.

1-888-54-WHALE