Planning a trip to New Brunswick

Here's a bit of advice: It's important to come to New Brunswick with a strategy already in hand, one that takes into account geography and driving times. That's because the key tourist attractions here aren't close to each other at all, and there are no superspeedways to get you from one to the next quickly. You'd hate to spend most of your vacation looking out the window of a car.

If you're drawn to rugged beauty, plan to focus mostly on the Fundy Coast with its stupendous dropping tides, rocky cliffs, and boreal landscape. This part of the coastline actually feels a lot more remote and northerly than the more densely settled (and tamer-looking) northeastern coast.

Those who want to sip a pint to the strains of traditional music, shop at a great farmer's market, or visit a museum or gourmet restaurant? Swing through Saint John and its lovely associated fishing towns instead. Those interested in Franco history or sandy beaches, on the other hand, should keep moving and drive north to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which brings Acadian heritage, seafood, whale-watches, and a laid-back feel to the table.

Those simply interested in hurrying through the province to get to Prince Edward Island or Nova Scotia? Well, you've come to the wrong section of this guide. Take at least a day to detour through Fundy National Park to see Cape Enrage and Hopewell Rocks -- two of among eastern Canada's most dramatic attractions. If nothing else, you'll be able to tell your friends that New Brunswick should never again be written off on any tour of eastern Canada.

Getting to New Brunswick

By Car and Ferry: The Trans-Canada Highway bisects the province, entering from Québec at St. Jacques. It follows the St. John River Valley before veering through Moncton and exiting into Nova Scotia. The entire distance is about 530km (329 miles).

Entering from the U.S.: The fastest route from New York City or New England to New Brunswick is the Maine Turnpike (a toll road). Take the turnpike north to Bangor, Maine, then slice east on Route 9 to connect to Route 1. Continue to Calais, Maine, which is just across the river from St. Stephen, New Brunswick.

A more scenic variation is to drive across a bridge onto Campobello Island 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 can speed their trips somewhat by following the Maine Turnpike to its conclusion, then continuing north on I-95 all the way to Houlton, Maine, and beyond; you’ll connect with the Trans-Canada after crossing the border.

Bay Ferries (tel. 877/762-7245) operates the ferry MV Fundy Rose that links Saint John with Digby, Nova Scotia. The ferry sails year-round, with one to two crossings daily (travel time: 2.5 hours) each way. The peak-season (June–Oct) one-way fares are C$53 for adults, C$43 for seniors and students, C$38 for children ages 6 to 13, free for children 5 and under, and C$128 and up per vehicle; fares are cheaper during the rest of the year. Also, discounts are available on round-trips completed within 30 days, so be sure to buy a round-trip ticket if you plan to return the same way you came. 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 (aircanada.com; [tel] 888/247-2262) which also flies to Bathurst. WestJet (tel/ 888/937-8538) flies into and out of Moncton and Fredericton. Porter Airlines (tel. 888/619-8622 or 416/619-8622) offers flights from Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton. None of the airports currently have direct flights to and from the U.S. so connections are usually made through Toronto, Montreal or Ottawa. At each you’ll find major car-rental companies.

By Train: VIA Rail (tel. 888/842-7245) offers train service from Montreal, Toronto and Halifax to Moncton and Bathurst as well as other stops through the province year-round. The trains alsos top at many smaller stations along the routes. Check the VIA Rail website for more details.

By Cruise Ship: Many cruise lines call on Saint John. See the city’s tourism website sjport.com/cruise-home for a complete list and links to cruise-booking sites.

Visitor Information for New Brunswick

New Brunswick publishes a helpful website for visitors and staffs three official visitor information centers.