Canada’s Best Adventure Towns: St. Andrews, New Brunswick
Activities:
- sea kayaking
- hiking
- rock climbing
- wildlife viewing
- SCUBA diving
Why Go? Think quaint Maritime town and St. Andrews by the Sea will fit the image. At the end of a peninsula—deep inside the Bay of Fundy and across a passage of water from Maine—it’s a town dominated by the tides. Indeed, sea kayaking and whale watching should not be missed here. But there are also a couple of excellent hikes, a rock climbing bluff and whitewater paddling, too.
Play: Every May, the town hosts Paddlefest NB, a sea kayak and music festival. The organized trips led by local guides are a good reference for the best tours: The St. Croix River back to town, passing St. Croix Island, where Samuel de Champlain and Pierre Dugua set up the first French settlements in North America; out and around Navy Island right in front of town; and across Passamaquoddy Bay to Deer Island’s geologically interesting shoreline. Most of the whales hang out beyond a sea kayak day-trip. Instead, hop aboard the Jolly Breeze, a tall ship whale-watching cruise. On land, enjoy a 360-degree view of the peninsula, the bay, into Maine and the interior of New Brunswick by hiking up Chamcock Hill or scaling the cliffs at Greenlaw Mountain.
Stay: There are plenty of places in town to stay, but none more memorable than the historic (and possibly haunted) Algonquin Resort.
Eat: The Red Herring is not only the best spot to take in live music and a fun pub atmosphere, it also serves the best fish and chips in town. For the daily java fix, hit Honeybeans Coffee, Tea & Treats. And to sample wild edibles and local produce, try the restaurant at the Rossmount Inn, right at the base of the hike to Chamcock Hill.
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