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The Beauty of New Brunswick

Sightseeing in a Canadian province

By Rasma RaistersPublished about a year ago 7 min read
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The attractions of New Brunswick, one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada are directly related to the Bay of Fundy and its tides. In this funnel-shaped bay, tides occur twice daily. The rushing waters carved out the coastline which is marked by cliffs, sea caves, and fantastic rock formations.

Rising and falling each day the tides create natural phenomena including Moncton's tidal bore and the famous Reversing Falls of Saint John's. Along the shore are beautiful lighthouses and quaint fishing villages. These are prime feeding waters for whales with as many as 12 species found here in the summer.

Fundy National Park has the New Brunswick Forest, a stretch of undeveloped coastline midway between Moncton and Saint John. Visitors can enjoy the hiking trails stretching along the coast and through the forest. In the spring and autumn migratory species of birds come to feed on the tidal mudflats.

Dickson Falls

In the winter there are 40 km of trails for cross-country skiing. There are three of the most lovely waterfalls in New Brunswick near Alma, a village in the park. The three are Dickson Falls, Laverty Falls, and Third Vault Falls. Park facilities include campgrounds, swimming, and a golf course.

The Hopewell Rocks look different at high and low tides. When the tide comes in, they look like tree-clad islands. They can be viewed from a series of platforms that are connected by stairs. At low tide, they become giant, eroded sea stacks that tower over the rocky beach. Stairs take you to the ocean floor and you can walk among them. Park rangers help with any questions visitors might have. There are interpretive signs and the visitor center explains the formation of these sculpted cliffs and pillars. At high tide, you can kayak among the rocks on a guided kayak excursion.

The Fundy Trail Parkway is a coastal drive northeast of Saint John. There are many scenic lookouts and picnic areas with views of the coastal cliffs, beaches, marine wildlife, and Flowerpot Rock.

Parallel to the Fundy Trail Parkway is a 10-kilometer pedestrian and bike trail. At Big Salmon River you'll find an interpretive center with an interesting video and displays about the former logging community here. At Heritage Sawmill old lumbering equipment is on display.

There is an 84-meter suspension footbridge across Big Salmon River. The road also crosses the river.

The parkway is accessible from the village of St. Martins. At the village are two covered bridges, sea caves, craft shops, and an outfitter for tours of the Fundy coast.

Sea Caves are natural wonders created by the Bay of Fundy tides. These caves at St. Martins were carved from cliffs of red sandstone. The rush of the Fundy tides rushing in and our twice daily have carved the soft stone into sea caves partially submerged by tides. At low tide, you can walk along the beach and into the caves. At high tide, the caves can be explored by kayak on a tour available at the village.

In The Bay of Fundy, you can find as many as 12 species of whales and other marine animals. They can be seen during the summer when they have their young and feed on the krill and fish the Fundy Tides bring in. Minke and Finback whales come in the spring with Harbor Porpoises and in June humpback whales and white-sided dolphins.

The rare North Atlantic Right whales arrive by midsummer. There are tours to take to see all the marine life, lighthouses, and islands where sea birds nest.

You can get whale and wildlife cruises from the town of St. Andrews. It is a lovely town where visitors can see a replica of a blockhouse from the War of 1812, the Huntsman Marine Science Center, and Kingsbrae Garden. There are also lovely historic homes.

Kingsbrae Garden is the premier botanical garden in New Brunswick. The Bay of Fundy provides a tempered climate and in the garden there are over 50,000 perennials in a series of themed gardens. Within the garden, you'll find a windmill, two historically detailed playhouses, a cedar maze, peacocks, ponds, an apple orchard, woodland trails, a garden for the senses, a heather garden, and formal terraces.

For children, there are small playhouses, a castle to climb, rabbits, and a corral with alpacas and goats.

The garden has the artwork of contemporary sculptors and a separate Sculpture Garden.

Ministers Island Historic Site is accessible only at low tide by a causeway. The 50-room summer home belonged to railway builder Sir William Van Horne.

Van Horne built the landmark St. Andrews hotel, The Algonquin.

Campobello Island is accessible from mid-June through September by ferry from mainland New Brunswick to Deer Island and to Campobello. The island can be accessed by a bridge year-round from Lubec, Maine.

The historic Roosevelt summer estate is the centerpiece of Roosevelt Campobello International Park. The main structure is a 34-room cottage where the Roosevelt family summered with their children from 1905 to 1921.

In the park, you can get a guide to wildflowers and plants in the park, take a geological walking tour, a self-guided bog tour, or follow trails through various ecosystems.

Camping, golf, hiking trails, and beaches are located at Herring Cove Provincial Park. At the northern tip of the island is East Quoddy Lighthouse.

The best views of the Bay of Fundy are at Reversing Falls Bridge, where the river narrows through a deep gorge.

Also at the Skywalk Saint John, at the end of the bridge. This is a rooftop observation platform extending over eigh meters beyond the edge of the cliff above the falls. The glass floor provides a clear view of the cliffs, falls, and whirlpools 30 meters below. Video and interactive displays explain the falls and geology of the cliffs.

Saint John is a seaport city of the Atlantic Ocean on the Bay of Fundy. It is Canada's first city and a natural wonderland at the place where the Bay of Fund meets with the Saint John River.

Prince William Street is a designated National Historic Site.

Another National Historic site is St. John's Anglican Church which was built in 1825.

Irving Nature Park is located just outside the center of Saint John. The park protects 600 acres of salt marsh, forests, mud flats, volcanic rock, and a beach stretching 11 km along the shore. A boardwalk across the marsh provides a great place from which to observe over 250 species of birds nesting in the park or passing through during migration. From the Seal Observation Deck harbor seals can be seen. Trails lead through the woods, there is a playground for children, and picnic facilities with barbecue grills.

At Cape Enrage a tiny lighthouse dating back to 1838 sits on top of rugged cliffs. There is also an outdoor activity center where adventure seekers can learn to rappel, zipline, rock climb, and kayak.

Grand Manan Island is only accessible by ferry from Blacks Harbor. Here you'll find a tiny fishing community.

It is popular with birders and there are over 240 bird species found here. Among them are the Atlantic puffins.

The island is also popular for whale watching and to see other marine animals like the Atlantic white-sided dolphin, harbor porpoise, and four species of seals.

Historic Acadian Village is a museum village that represents the lives of a different group of New Brunswick settlers, the Acadians arriving from France in the 1600s and 1700s. Their French-speaking descendants live in northeastern New Brunswick, along the coast north of Moncton, and throughout the region of the Acadian Peninsula.

Within the historic village are 40 preserved and replicated homes, shops, and workshops, Costumed interpreters demonstrate the household, farm, and craftsmen skills found in villages during those periods.

The nearby Acadian community of Shediac is known as the lobster capital of the world. At the information center is a large-sized lobster statue.

Kouchibouguac National Park has a variety of ecosystems as well as wide beaches and sandbars. Forests extend inland. There is a lot of birdlife and seals can be seen on the offshore sandbars. There are campgrounds, public beaches, and picnic areas. In the summer bike and canoe rentals are available and in the winter snowshoes and ski equipment.

A popular place to visit is Moncton, Magnetic Hill which is on the Canadian Register of Historic Places.

Here you'll find the Magnetic Hill Zoo which is the largest zoo in Atlantic Canada. It is home to about 600 mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, and fish. Visitors enjoy the big cats African lions, jaguars, tigers, Amur leopards, cheetahs, and Amur tigers.

Among exotic animals are monkeys, toucans, flamingoes, zebras, and ring-tailed lemurs as well as local wildlife like red foxes, otters, black bears, and caribou.

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About the Creator

Rasma Raisters

My passions are writing and creating poetry. I write for several sites online and have four themed blogs on Wordpress. Please follow me on Twitter.

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