NEW BRUNSWICK

Kayak the world’s highest tides, sip unique craft ales, or take the road trip of your life. Charlotte Flach explores the diversity of New Brunswick

1 Kayak the rocks: Head over to The Hopewell Rocks Park to experience ‘the highest tidal paddling experience on earth’. During the tour sea kayakers will discover the sea stacks at the giant “flowerpot” rock formations, steering their vessel through the small tunnels and narrow passageways of the Bay of Fundy’s giant tides. Baymount Outdoor Adventures offers this 1.5 to 2-hour experience between June and September, with a rare opportunity to paddle in the midst of tens of thousands of migratory shorebirds in mid-August. Baymountadventures.com

2 Explore endless coastline: The Bay of Fundy has thousands of miles of coastline ready for exploration. To feel the full effect of the highest tides in the world, return at low tide to stroll along the ocean floor and view the full extent of the magnificent rock formations. There’s over 5,500km of pristine and rugged coastline to explore, perfect for taking in the marvels of nature. While the Acadian Shore is known for the warmest salted water in Canada, with endless sand dunes and sandy beaches. tourismnewbrunswick.ca/outdoor-adventures

3 Go exploring: Hit the road in a campervan or an RV to best explore Canada’s vast landscapes. New Brunswick has eight suggested road trip routes, which take in the best food, friendly villages, buzzing cities, and breathtaking landscapes at the road-tripper’s own pace. Trips include the famous Fundy Coast or Acadian Shore routes, Hops and Harvest for craft beer enthusiasts or historic riverside communities along the Saint John River. While Hub City favours avant-garde foodies and urban explorers. tourismnewbrunswick.ca/roadtrips

4 Immerse yourself in culture: Despite being best known for its abundant nature, New Brunswick has a multifaceted cultural fabric made up of indigenous peoples, French influences, and its British, Scottish and irish settlers. Crosscultural influences have only grown with italian, Greek, Lebanese, Asian, indian, Pakistani, Syrian and African Canadian communities established over the past century in the major cities. There are a multitude of festivals and events annually, such as the Harvest Music Festival and New Brunswick spirit festivals – Canada’s oldest whisky (and spirits) festival.

tourismnewbrunswick.ca/our-roots

5 Marvel at the wildlife: Wildlife watching is a bucket list experience in Canada, and New Brunswick is the home of some of the best whale-watching in the world. Some of the rarest species of whale come to give birth, feed, and rest in The Bay of Fundy, such as the endangered North Atlantic right whale. There are also finbacks- the second largest whale in the world- humpbacks, minkes, plus porpoises,

seals, and seabirds. Sailing vessels are guided by experts who have the utmost respect for the wildlife. tourismnewbrunswick.ca/whale-watching

6 Hike through nature: Mountains, parks, rivers, and waterfalls are around every turn in New Brunswick. The Fundy Trail Parkway is a paradise for hikers, with plenty of lookout points. The trail connects the four top natural attractions for a region collectively called the Fundy Coastal Drive. There’s also Mount Carleton provincial park, home to more animal species than any other part of the province; and Kouchibouguac for stargazing and constellation spotting after the sun goes down. Fundytrailparkway.com

7 Discover vibrant cities: Galleries, museums, spas, shopping malls and family-friendly attractions of all kinds make New Brunswick’s cities of Saint John, the only city on the Bay of Fundy, Fredericton, the Capital City and Moncton, the Hub of the Maritimes, infinitely exciting. The vibe is often laid-back, with a good mixture of indoor and outdoor fun to keep the whole family busy. Shopping and restaurants range from the traditional local favourites to distinctive and trendy new offerings.

tourismnewbrunswick.ca/cities-regions

8 Sample the freshest seafood: The province is most renowned for its plentiful seafood. The town of Shediac is considered the Lobster Capital of the World due to its giant specimens, with thousands of visitors flocking every year to sample the unmatched crustaceans. Taking the concept of farm to table to the next level, everything from oysters to salmon have a short journey from sea to plate, making the seafood some of the freshest travellers will taste.

tourismnewbrunswick.ca/food-and-drink

9 Brew up a storm: New Brunswick is home to a staggering 50 plus craft breweries, and also has the highest concentration of microbreweries in Atlantic Canada. Ales, lagers, and Pilsners are crafted by brewmasters, often using just a few ingredients and especially locally-sourced products like wild blueberries or maple syrup. These microbrewery brands are often inspired by local folklore and housed in unusual locations such as a historic community church or former auto garage.

tourismnewbrunswick.ca/breweries

10 Scope out unique stays: Why stay in a ‘normal’ hotel with so many unique properties on offer? Mangata Mactaquac features a-frame cabins nestled in the woods directly beside Mactaquac Provincial Park. While Balsam Ridge Forest Domes sit tucked among the treetops, just a 35-minute drive from the city of Moncton. Or Creekside RnR’s Mirror Cabins allow guests to see nature up close with its two-way mirrors.

tourismnewbrunswick.ca/accommodation •