Page 79 - 2023-2024 Travel Guide to Canada

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as does the engaging New Brunswick
Museum in Saint John. Local culture here,
however, is a living entity that survives
outside museum-like settings.
Eclectic artisans, many of them con-
centrated around Fredericton, put a contem-
porary spin on age-old crafts. Poets and
playwrights uphold a rich literary tradition,
performing in coffee houses and theatres.
Musicians thrive as well, which explains
why, along with almost every imaginable
form of modern music, you can hear
hypnotic First Nations drumbeats, British
folk songs and Cajun-style fiddles in pubs
and at concerts or festivals province-wide.
Quick Fact
NEW BRUNSWICK HAS MORE THAN
50 SALTWATER AND FRESHWATER
BEACHES AND CAN BOAST THE WARMEST
SALTWATER BEACHES IN CANADA
MUST SEE, MUST DO
Hopewell Cape’s tree-tufted islands always
look lovely, but their full beauty is only
revealed when the tide ebbs, transforming
them into megaliths looming above the bare
ocean floor (www.thehopewellrocks.ca).
For flower fans, Kingsbrae Garden is reason
enough to visit prim, trim St. Andrews by-
the-Sea. Created from several old estates, the
11-ha (27-acre) property has over 20 themed
zones (www.kingsbraegarden.com).
Kouchibouguac National Park boasts an
array of ecosystems and recreational
options. You can swim, bike, boat, fish, or
explore lagoons and dunes on a guided walk
(www.parkscanada.gc.ca/kouchibouguac).
At Fredericton’s Beaverbrook Art Gallery,
A-listers like Gainsborough, Dali and Reynolds
share wall space with Canada’s own Group of
Seven. Programs for art lovers are available
(www.beaverbrookartgallery.org).
The Saint John City Market is overflowing
with incredible edibles. Opened in 1876, the
block-long building was constructed by
shipbuilders, so its ceiling resembles an
inverted hull (www.sjcitymarket.ca).
Kings Landing Historical Settlement, a
recreated Loyalist village, features 70-plus
MISPEC BEACH, SAINT JOHN • TOURISM NB/AARON MCKENZIE FRASER
restored structures, among them antique-
filled homes, working farms and picture-
perfect churches (www.kingslanding.nb.ca).
SCENIC DRIVES
On the 460-km (286-mi.) Fundy Coastal
Drive, welcoming communities combine
with top natural attractions—including the
Reversing Falls Rapids, Fundy National Park,
the Hopewell Rocks and Cape Enrage—which
are testaments to the world’s highest tides.
FAMILY FUN
Pay homage to the homard (lobster) in
Shediac. After clambering over the world’s
largest lobster—a 55,000-kg (55-tonne)
whopper, albeit made from metal—kids can
learn how to catch, and then eat the “king of
crustaceans” on an entertaining and
educational Lobster Tales Cruise
(www.shediacbaycruises.ca).
The 750-km (466-mi.) Acadian Coastal Drive
delivers a quintessentially Acadian seascape of
fishing wharves and lighthouses. Take a beach
break or immerse in local history at Village
Historique Acadien, where faux townsfolk
enliven the scene with joie de vivre.
The 512-km (318-mi.) River Valley Scenic
Route follows the winding path of the
legendary St. John River, a federally-
designated heritage waterway notable for its
bankside cities, camera-ready covered
bridges, open-deck cable ferries and gor-
geous Grand Falls.
The 180-km (112-mi.) Miramichi River Route
is synonymous with salmon. Learn more
about the “King of Game Fish” at the Atlantic
Salmon Museum in Doaktown, then dine on
the catch of the day, leaving time in-between
for some adventures on or in the water.
Anchored by a pair of provincial parks—
Mount Carleton and Sugarloaf—the 278-km
(172-mi.) Appalachian Range Route is
notable for rugged terrain that promises
impressive scenery both on-road and off.
Enjoy it to the fullest by breaking for a hike,
bike or canoe ride.
Park Pick
FORT BEAUSÉJOUR–
FORT CUMBERLAND
NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
Linking New Brunswick and Nova Scotia,
the Isthmus of Chignecto is tranquil
today; the remains of Fort Beauséjour,
however, prove this wasn’t always the
case. Erected by the French in 1751 and
captured by the British, who renamed it
Fort Cumberland in 1755, the star-shaped
fort played a pivotal role in the battle for
colonial control. In summer, you can view
exhibits at the visitor centre, then take a
guided tour or look around independently
aided by the Parks Canada app, the
Xplorer booklet or interpretive signage.
Kids, in particular, will enjoy the cannons
and casements, though they may be
content to don period-style guard
costumes and just patrol the grounds
(www.parkscanada.gc.ca/beausejour).
National Parks and Historic Sites:
www.parkscanada.gc.ca
1-888-773-8888