New Brunswick, Canada: Top Attractions

New Brunswick, Canada, is a province full of flavour and adventure. From its stunning natural wonders to its rich cultural heritage, there is plenty to eat, see and do.

Sample fresh seafood straight from the ocean, watch the world's highest tides rise and fall, and walk on the ocean floor at the Bay of Fundy. Adventure seekers can try cross-country skiing, snowboarding, winter biking, and ziplining. Explore the Acadian Historic Village, the Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market, and the Swallowtail Lighthouse. Or, relax on the soft sand of Canada's warmest saltwater beaches.

With so much to offer, New Brunswick is a must-visit destination on Canada's East Coast.

Bay of Fundy

The Bay of Fundy is a bay between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine. It is an arm of the Gulf of Maine and has the highest tidal range in the world. Water levels rise and fall by up to 48 feet every day when around 100 billion tons of seawater crash into the shore.

The Hopewell Rocks, located along the Bay of Fundy, are a unique natural wonder. These oddly shaped rocks, formed by centuries of water, are accessible by foot at low tide, and by kayak at high tide. The Hopewell Rocks are also home to a multi-media exhibit in the Interpretive Centre, scenic walking trails, and lookouts.

The Bay of Fundy is also home to the St. Martins Sea Caves, which are only accessible at low tide. The water is crystal clear, and the cliffs are a deep red, making this a must-see attraction.

The Bay of Fundy offers a variety of outdoor activities such as kayaking, walking on the ocean floor at low tide, and exploring coastal wilderness areas. The extreme tides of the Bay of Fundy create a rare and unique intertidal habitat, such as the mudflats found on the Maringouin Peninsula and in the Minas Basin.

The Bay of Fundy is a place of ecological wonder and extreme natural beauty, offering visitors a unique and unforgettable experience.

Fundy National Park

Located on the southeast coast of New Brunswick, along the 250-kilometre-long Bay of Fundy, Fundy National Park is a beautiful coastal park with miles of hiking trails along rugged shores and bubbling forest streams. The park is easily accessible by car from several local cities, including Fredericton, Saint John, and Moncton.

The park also features a 27-acre horticultural garden with over 50,000 perennials in themed gardens, engaging animals, an annual National Sculpture Competition, ponds, streams, and old-growth Acadian forest. Visitors can enjoy various activities such as biking, snowshoeing, and kayaking, with rentals available.

For those looking to extend their stay, Fundy National Park offers a variety of camping options, including tent, trailer, and backcountry camping, as well as accommodations in the neighbouring seaside village of Alma. The park provides a unique opportunity to experience the world's highest tides, explore diverse landscapes, and discover the natural beauty of New Brunswick.

Roosevelt Campobello International Park

The park preserves the 34-room summer cottage of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, as well as the surrounding landscape. The cottage was built in the Shingle Style and completed in 1897. It was given to the couple as a wedding gift by Franklin's mother, Sara Roosevelt, in 1908. In addition to the cottage, the park also includes related outbuildings, gardens, and hiking trails. The visitor centre features a gift shop and a bilingual display on the open Canada–United States border.

The Roosevelt Campobello International Park Commission was created by an international treaty signed by the leaders of both countries in 1964. The park is a example of international cooperation and a symbol of the friendship between the two nations. It is jointly managed and staffed by both countries, with each contributing equally to the costs of development, operation, and maintenance.

The park is open daily through Canadian Labor Day and offers free admission. Visitors can walk in the footsteps of the Roosevelts and explore Franklin's "Beloved Island." The cottage has been preserved as a museum, showcasing the early life of Franklin Roosevelt before he became President. It provides a glimpse into the summer retreats of the Roosevelt family, where they enjoyed the cool summer weather and the active pursuits the island offered.

Hopewell Rocks

The Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park is one of New Brunswick's top attractions. Located along the Bay of Fundy, home to the highest tides in the world, the park offers a unique natural experience of both high and low tides. The massive tides have, over thousands of years, sculpted the famous flowerpot rocks, or sea stacks, into whimsical shapes. These shapes have earned them names like Elephant, Bear, Dinosaur, ET, and Mother-in-Law.

The park has three primary access points to the ocean floor. The Main Deck offers a large metal staircase with 99 stairs leading down to the ocean floor and 101 back up. For those who are not a fan of stairs, the North Beach entrance grants access to a ramp with benches along the incline. While the ramp is wheelchair-accessible, the ocean floor may be challenging to navigate for those using wheelchairs. The third entrance is a trail leading south from behind the Interpretive Centre, which gently descends to sea level. No matter which entrance visitors choose, the entire shoreline can be explored at low tide. The park also offers a shuttle service from the Interpretive Centre to the top of the stairway for a small fee.

The ocean floor features secluded coves and exceptional views of the sandstone formations, topped with trees, from the viewing platforms. Visitors can also explore the network of well-groomed, wheelchair-friendly trails that provide access to natural forests, stunning lookoffs, and the ocean floor. The Interpretive Centre features a multimedia exhibit, a café, and a gift shop.

The park recommends checking tide times before visiting to ensure safe exploration of the ocean floor and suggests wearing sturdy footwear for exploring the trails and shoreline.

Saint John City Market

The Saint John City Market in Saint John, New Brunswick, is the oldest continuously operated farmer's market in Canada, with a charter dating back to 1785. The market is located at 47 Charlotte Street and is open year-round from Monday to Saturday. It offers a unique shopping experience with a wide range of local and international goods, including traditional farmers' market produce, crafts, and food. The market is alive with the sounds and aromas of busy clerks, shoppers, and fresh food, with colourful displays of produce, meats, and seafood.

The market has a unique interior roof structure that resembles an inverted ship's keel, built with wooden trusses by unemployed ship carpenters of the day. The floor of the market slopes with the natural grade of the land. Some of the businesses in the market have been operating continuously for over 100 years. Facing Kings Square, the market is connected to the city's indoor pedway system.

The city of Saint John once controlled six markets, including a fish market on Water Street, a cluster of sheds called the Country Market, and a hay market on King Street. The current building, designed in the Second Empire style, was completed in 1876 and narrowly escaped the 1877 fire that destroyed 40% of the city's buildings. The market was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1986.

In addition to its historical significance and unique architecture, the Saint John City Market offers a variety of pop-up exhibits, community events, art installations, children's activities, product tastings, and workshops. Visitors can also find local artists selling their handmade crafts, as well as delicious food options, including fish and chips, sandwiches, and international cuisine.

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