Planning a Trip

Visitors drawn to rugged beauty should plan to focus on the Fundy Coast with its stupendous tides, rocky cliffs, and boreal landscape. (The south coast actually feels more remote and northerly than the more densely settled northeast coast.) Those interested in Acadian history or sandy beaches should veer toward the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Those interested in hurrying through the province to get to Prince Edward Island or Nova Scotia . . . well, you should at least detour down through Fundy National Park and visit Cape Enrage and Hopewell Rocks, which number among eastern Canada's more dramatic attractions.

Visitor Information

New Brunswick publishes several free annual directories and guides that are helpful in planning a trip to the province, including Experience New Brunswick, with listings of attractions, accommodations, campgrounds, and multi-day and daylong adventure packages, as well as an official New Brunswick Travel Map. Contact New Brunswick Department of Tourism and Parks, P.O. Box 12345, Campbellton, NB E3N 3T6 (tel. 800/561-0123; www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca).

The province staffs a series of visitor information centers; most cities and larger towns also have their own municipal information centers. A complete listing of phone numbers for these centers can be found in the Travel Planner guide, or look for "?" direction signs on the highway.

Getting There

The Trans-Canada Highway bisects the province, entering from Québec at St. Jacques. It follows the Saint John River Valley before veering through Moncton and exiting into Nova Scotia at Aulac. The entire distance is about 530km (330 miles).

The fastest route from New England to southwestern New Brunswick is to take the Maine turnpike to Bangor, then head east on Route 9 to connect to Route 1 into Calais, which is just across the river from St. Stephen, New Brunswick. A more scenic variation is to drive to Campobello Island across the bridge from Lubec, Maine, then take a ferry to Deer Island, drive the length of the island, and board a second ferry to the mainland. Those headed to Fredericton or Moncton will speed their trip somewhat by following U.S. I-95 to Houlton, then connecting with the Trans-Canada after crossing the border.

By Ferry -- Bay Ferries (tel. 888/249-7245; www.nfl-bay.com) operates a 3-hour ferry that links Saint John with Digby, Nova Scotia. The ferry sails year-round, with as many as three crossings daily each way in summer. Summer fares are C$35 (US$28) for adults, C$25 (US$20) for seniors, C$20 (US$16) for children ages 6 to 17, and C$75 (US$60) and up per vehicle; all are cheaper in the off season. Reservations are advised.

By Air -- The province's main airports are at Fredericton (the provincial capital), Saint John, and Moncton, all of which are chiefly served by Air Canada (tel. 888/AIR-CANA; www.aircanada.com) and the major car-rental companies.

By Train -- VIA Rail (tel. 888/842-7245; www.viarail.com) offers train service through the province (en route from Montréal to Halifax) 6 days per week. The train follows a northerly route, with stops in Campbellton, Miramichi, and Moncton. Check out the website www.viarail.ca for more details on routes, schedules, and online booking.