One of Canada’s less well-known provinces, New Brunswick offers a surprisingly diverse range of natural, historic, geological and culinary attractions – as well as the friendliest and most welcoming locals! Following a recent visit, travel specialist Liz shares her New Brunswick highlights below:
1. Lobster Rolls
Seafood lovers will relish the chance to eat freshly caught lobster straight off the boat. Head to the coastal village of Alma or take a cruise from Shediac to witness the day’s catch being hauled from the sea. Don’t leave new Brunswick without sampling the ubiquitous lobster roll!
2. Bay of Fundy Tides
Home to the highest tides in the world, there’s no better place to appreciate this phenomena than at Hopewell Rocks. The huge contrast between low and high tide here clearly demonstrates the colossal volume of water that flows in and out of the Bay of Fundy every single day – 160 billion tonnes, which is enough to fill the Grand Canyon!
3. Historic Saint John
The city of Saint John has a proud ship-building history dating back to 1785. Its popular market is one of the few buildings to survive the great fire of 1877 and today the city has an eclectic mix of architectural styles. Head down to the waterfront to visit the new Area 506 container village, opening in summer 2022 and featuring a wealth of food trucks, retail outlets and live music.
4. Whale Watching
From June to October the nutrient-rich waters of the Bay of Fundy attract a variety of whale species, including the rare northern Atlantic right whale, as well as humpbacks, fin and minke whales. Most whale watching cruises depart from St Andrews, and offer excellent opportunities to spot these behemoths.
5. Picturesque St Andrews & the Islands
The pretty seaside town of St Andrews is a popular holiday resort offering a good choice of dining and shopping. An unexpected highlight for me was the sprawling Kingsbrae Garden (which supports a number of community initiatives) while off-shore the islands of Ministers, Campobello and Grand Manan each hold their own appeal.
6. Coastal Drives
The Fundy Trail Parkway is one of the province’s most scenic drives. Meandering for 30kms between St Martin’s and Little Salmon River, here you’ll find beaches, waterfalls, towering sea cliffs, forested hiking trails and panoramic lookouts.Take a picnic and spend a day exploring at leisure, before continuing along the new connector road to Alma through the heart of Fundy National Park.
7. Stonehammer GeoPark
Canada’s oldest UNESCO Global GeoPark stretches over 2,500 square kms and was created by colliding continents, volcanoes, earthquakes, oceans and ice ages. The region bears witness to a billion years of evolutionary history, including the discovery of Pre-Cambrian stromatolites, footprints of the first animals to walk the earth, and some of the world’s largest trilobite fossils.
8. Fall colours
As the summer draws to a close the forests of New Brunswick begin to glow. 85% of the province is wilderness and the vivid red, orange and gold leaves that adorn the trees here rival any to be seen in New England. Having traveled in May, the lure of this autumnal spectacle already has me planning my next visit…
Feeling inspired?
Our two-week Maritimes Explorer combines New Brunswick with Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, whilst our team of travel specialists would be happy to tailor a New Brunswick itinerary to suit you.
If you have any questions about any of our Canada holidays or want to start planning your own trip, send an enquiry or call us on 01737 214 250 to discuss your options.