New Brunswick: an environmental mecca rich with culture, nature and heritage.

Everyone these days is developing a growing respect for nature and the environment. Sometimes there's nothing better than to get away from the jet set of big city life and loose yourself in greenery  and wild ocean sunsets. Why not join the 1.57 million people who visit New Brunswick Canada every  year and spend a week or two in one of the most beautiful natural habitats in Canada. On top of that, we are the only officially bilingual province in Canada with about 33 per cent of the population French-speaking. So you can get your services in both languages. Can't beat that.

 Although it has all the benefits of modern technology (our hotels are hooked to the internet) New Brunswickers  have gone out of their way to preserve the beauty of its heritage, natural habitats and culture. And guess what? You're bound to have fun when you're here... A 2006 Quebec survey ranked NB as the happiest province in Canada. Why? As Dom, 19, a Starbucks worker says:" We're Maritimers. We've got nothing to worry about. We're not caught in the big city stress. You go to Quebec and people are all over the place. We're laid back."

New Brunswick is one of the four Atlantic provinces in Canada and the third-smallest province. Since New Brunswick is not very big, with a total population of  752,000 --one third the population of Toronto-- you can easily get from one location to another in a couple of hours drive. In fact you can actually drive from one end of NB to another , the Edmundston border to the NS border,  in five hours. That's the neat thing about NB. You get a taste of everything without having to pay expensive plane fare to get there.

So what's so great about the place?

Maybe it's the breathtaking transformation of the trees in autumn, or the rise of the Atlantic ocean in summer,  the thrill of skiing down Edmundston's Mont Farlagne in winter or cross country skiing Moncton's Centennial Park. . From the best shopping in Eastern Canada at Moncton's Champlain Place Mall, great golf courses and hiking trails in Dieppe, to beautiful beaches and lobsters feast in Shediac, amazing hiking at Fundy Park, and classic  paintings at Fredericton's Beaverbrook Art Gallery, you can put together an adventure rich in culture, heritage, great meals and great times sitting around the fire on a warm summer campground.

New Brunswick's Winter Wonderland Escape

During the winter months, NB becomes one big blanket of snow. It's a time to turn up the heat and scrape the ice off the cars, but it is also the chance to experience wonderful sport activities.

So here's the plan...why not set yourself up in a comfortable hotel in the Moncton area. Maybe Crystal Palace. It's great if you have kids since there is a great amusement park right there in the building with roller coasters and the whole deal. So you can take a coffee at Starbucks and pick up a book at Chapters while the kids amuse themselves. Or you can go shopping next door at one of the biggest shopping malls in the Maritimes...Champlain Place Mall.

 Ok...so that's just day one. Now comes the fun part...you are in proximity of great winter activities. Right in Moncton itself, you can do some great cross country skiing and skating at Centennial Park or Dieppe Rotary Park. Or head to the Miramichi for a few days and  enjoy snowmobiling , cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, go for a walk on a winter trail or just play in the snow..

Or you can hit one of our many slops for down-hill skiing in close proximity to Moncton. You can even rent the skis. Check out the following:

• Polly Mountain , Sussex NB. The town is centrally located between New Brunswick's 3 major cities - Moncton, Saint John and the capital city of Fredericton.  For first time skiers, their Discover programs are the best deal you can get for a lift ticket, rental package and group lesson. $36.95
• Crabbe Mountain, Located 35 min North West of Fredericton and 2 hrs from Moncton. Ski lessons, for $45 dollars with full day lift and full day rental.
• Mount Farlagne; located near the beautiful city of Edmundston Class and pass for $30-$50

New Brunswick Summer Get-A-Way

Now let's plan  a summer escape. NB has a lot to offer on that level too. Spend a summer day enjoying its beaches and a hiking along Fundy National Park hiking trails, then camp out for the night. After a few days back to nature in one of Fundy great camping areas, you can  head back to the city of Moncton the next day and enjoy a nice bed and breakfast or a stay at Chateau Moncton. On a romantique couple escape? Try our fancy Boutique Hotel. Brought the kids along? Stay at Dieppe's at Crystal Palace . Then the kids can spend the day at the amusement park while you shop at Champlain Place Mall, one of the biggest shopping malls in eastern Canada. The next day, you might want to drive up to  the Dune of Bouctouche, then check out the beaches and lobster in Shediac.  Then you can head up north of the province and visit the Acadian community of Caraquet.

How do you get to all these places? You can do all this by following the Fundy Coastal Drive (see map), then branching on to the Acadian Coastal Drive (see map)
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The first takes you along  South Eastern NB along the Bay of Fundy. It goes through  St Andrews, Saint John, Fundy National Park, Cap Enrage, Hopewell Cap, Dieppe, Moncton , and Sackville. Then you can head part way up the Acadian Coastal Drive which will take you through the French communities of Shediac. , Bouctouche, Kouchibouguac National Park and Caraquet.

The World Famous Bay of Fundy

The Bay of Fundy has just been Named in the Top 77 Finalists for the New 7 Wonders of the World!

A lot of people head straight to Fundy Park to enjoy hiking on the great paths in the woods, camping and walking along the beautiful Fundy Coast.  In fact, it was voted by Destinations Canada among top 10 attractions in the world . The waters of the bay are populated with approximately 8 species of whales, an abundance of dolphins, porpoises, fish, seals, seabirds and more. All this is framed by breathtaking rock cliffs, eroded sandstone statues, dramatic mud flats and bountiful marsh plateaus. You can visit it by car, bike, kayak or hiking. 

It was also voted as Best Atlantic Views (Reader's Digest June 2006)

http://www.destinationcanada.info/canadas_top_ten_attractions.html
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nb/fundy/index_e.asp

Cape Enrage

"Cape Enrage is a lighthouse station standing atop the 150-ft ocean cliffs overlooking the giant tides of the Bay of Fundy. One of New Brunswick's Top Attractions, this historic site  features fine seafood in its restaurant, a fossil beach, extreme adventures and a family experience close to Fundy National Park."

http://www.capenrage.org/
http://www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca/product.aspx?pid=42

Hopewell Rocks

At low tide, explore quiet coves with flowerpot-shaped rock formations bearing such curious names as 'Mother-in-Law', 'ET' and 'Lover's Arch'. Then, as the tide gently shifts, experience the wonder of nature as 100-billion tonnes of salt-water slowly fills the Bay of Fundy.

These are the highest tides in the world. And they happen twice a day.... every day.
At high tide, paddle a kayak around these same sandstone pillars or visit our multi-media interpretive centre where you will learn about the fascinating geology and forces that crafted them. Discover the colourful Mi'kmaq legends created to explain this unique phenomenon of these extraordinary tides."
http://www.thehopewellrocks.ca/

Bouctouche: Environmental and Cultural Work of Art

http://www.knowbouctouche.com

Bouctouche is the best example of Eastern Canada as a natural, historical and cultural retreat. With a population in 2001 of 2,426, one of its most sought after location, le Pays de la Sagouine, attracts over 100,000 visitors a year.  Along with its culture, it is also an example of eco-tourism at its best, being the award-winning site of the beautiful Dunes de Bouctouche and its walk-way along the river, with hiking and cycling trails that are part of the NB Trail system. Also a must-see is the astounding Irving Arboretum, a place where over 10 000 types of trees or shrubs are cultivated for their educational or scientific interest. See more

Enjoy Lobster at Parlee Beach in Shediac.

http://www.knowshediac.com

Known as the Lobster Capital of the World and also home of the World's Largest Lobster, Shediac is one of New Brunswick's most beautiful communities. With a cozy, vibrant community of approximately 5500 people, Shediac is one of the more open and welcoming destinations. It is mostly known for the beauty of its beaches, with the Parlee Beach, a beautiful white-sand beach,  being the warmest saltwater beach north of Virginia . Enjoy the best of Acadian hospitality or attend the lobster festival that attracts 50 000 people each year. See more

Acadian Village Caraquet.

You can find Caraquet along the Baie des Chaleurs with beaches, farms and fishing communities. But it is mostly a village that is vibrant with Acadian pride and joie de vivre. This can be seen in the attitude of its residents and in the pride that was put into creating the Village Historique Acadien, a tourist attraction that depicts the life of earlier Acadian settlers.

http://www.villagehistoriqueacadien.com/main.htm
http://www.ville.caraquet.nb.ca/

City of Moncton - Canada's Fastest Growing City

http://www.knowmoncton.com

Located in the geographic centre of the Maritimes,  New Brunswick's top tourist destinations are within an easy commute from the city. From the Dunes of Bouctouche with its award winning Acadian Pays de la Sagouine, to Fundy National Park with beauty to behold, Moncton is the link to fabulous beaches, with the warmest waters east of the Carolinas and world-class national parks only a short drive away. Shediac, for example, along with the now famous Parley Beach, is the quaintest little town with cute little arts boutiques, great espresso bars, and restaurants such as Gould's take out where you get the best fried clams in the world.

But Moncton has much to offer on its own, with a rich blend of English and Acadian tradition that gives the city a unique cultural flair. The city's vibrant downtown, a variety of festivals such as the Northrop Fry Literary festival in the Spring, the Hub Cap Comedy Festival in the Winter and the 15 aout de Fous Acadian Festival in August, and top-notch restaurants and accommodations make it a great place to visit - even if you don't leave the city.

City of Dieppe - New Brunswick's Newest City.

http://www.knowdieppe.com

The town was named in 1946 after the World War II battle site in France where more than 800 Canadian soldiers died and nearly 2,000 were captured.  This new city is home to the largest indoor amusement park, Crystal Palace,  and the best place to shop in the Maritimes. It is centrally located so as to allow for a full-day visiting neighbouring Moncton, or visiting Shediac's seafood restaurants, must-see attractions and renowned beaches only half an hour drive away.

 Dieppe is known  for the newly formed Rotary Park located off Melanson Road in Dieppe. Activities held at the park include  the international kite festival, the newly constructed Velodrome which is the headquarters of the recently established National Cycling Development Centre . The winter season activities include outdoor skating, cross-country skiing and sliding down the hill. Also, checkout the beautiful new Fox Creek Golf Club. Discover breathtaking landscapes and luscious greenery - right in the heart of the city of Dieppe

While you're here, enjoy a walk along the Riverfront Promenade, a path of nearly 2 km of multi-use trails along the Petitcodiac River that joins Dieppe and Moncton. The Promenade is wheelchair accessible, and offers visitors beautiful floral displays, benches, as well as convenient links to the Downtown.