Fredericton’s trail system for walkers and bikers includes 88km (55 miles) of trails. The centerpiece is undeniably the South Riverfront, a 5km (3-mile) path that follows the river past the Delta hotel (see “Where to Stay,” below) to near the Princess Margaret Bridge. It’s a lovely walk, and passes by most of the city’s key sightseeing points: the Old Government House, the downtown area, and open parklands near Waterloo Row.

Connecting with this trail, a well-used pedestrian bridge crosses the St. John River using an abandoned railroad trestle just east of downtown. From this vantage point, you get superb views of downtown and the surrounding river valley. If you continue, the Nashwaak follows an abandoned rail bed along the attractive Nashwaak River; after about 4km (2.5 miles) you can cross the river at Bridge Street and loop back to the pedestrian rail bridge via the 5km (3-mile) Gibson Trail.

A number of other trails link up to this network, as well. A free trail guide is available at the information centers.

Bikes may be rented at Savage’s Bicycle Center (www.sbcoutlet.com; tel. 506/457-7452), 441 King St. for (C$15 half day or C$25 full day), and at Radical Edge, 386 Queen St. (www.radicaledge.ca; tel. 506/459-3478). Figure C$75 per week, C$25 per day or C$7.50 per hour for a rental.

Many visitors get out on the water in a canoe, kayak, stand up paddle boards or even a rowing scull with a rental from the Small Craft Aquatic Centre at the Fredericton Rowing Club next to the river at the corner of Brunswick and Smythe Streets; www.fredericton.ca/en/recleisure/smallcraftaquaticcentre.asp; tel. 506/460-2260). A float down the Nashwaak in a tube is doable with a  rental from Nashwaak Tubing

(629 Route 8, Durham Bridge ; www.nashwaaktubing.com; tel. 506/457-2300) for C$10/adults, C$5 children, or luxury tubes for C$12 (reservations recommended); or Taymouth Tubing ★ (959 Route 628, Taymouth ; www.taymouthventures.com; tel. 506/450-6020). Rates start at C$9 per person (reservations recommended.)

Other less active opportunities for getting on the river include taking a river cruise with Wolastoq Tour Boat & Charter  (tel. 506/471-8680) for C$19 adult, C$17 student and senior. Children under five get on free; or renting a houseboat that sleeps from six to 14 people further upriver at Mactaquac with Lakeway Houseboat Rentals  (www.lakewayhouseboats.com; tel. 888/452-5392) for a weekend, half week or full week.

Golfers will want to play a round or two at the Kingswood  golf course (www.kingswoodpark.com/golf.php; tel. 800/423-5969 or 506/443-3333) named one of the top 100 courses outside the US by Golf Digest. It consists of 27 holes, a par-3 course, a driving range, and a large putting green. Greens fees for 18 holes run from C$39 to C$89.

Finally, if any city in the Maritimes is worth visiting the winter, it’s Fredericton. Frostival (www.tourismfredericton.ca; tel. 888/888-4768) is a giant month-long collection of over 100 activities and events, some of them of significant size themselves. You can try dog sledding, snowshoe in the moonlight, discover snowga (yoga in the snow), join an old-fashioned outdoor skating party, learn an art form, hear lots of live music, or dine around town for a single price.    

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.