Saint John New Brunswick simply is likely to be probably the most underrated metropolis in Canada. And throughout our two visits, we discovered loads of issues to do in Saint John, that can fully shock you. With historic buildings transformed to stylish espresso retailers and micro brewpubs, native artists organising store downtown, and nature at your fingertips, Saint John has rapidly became one among Canada’s coolest cities to go to.
Things to do in Saint John, New Brunswick
Saint John, NB is one among Canada’s oldest cities relationship again to 1604. Discovered by Samuel de Champlain, it turned a serious hub due to its inviting harbour. The metropolis has been having a renaissance this previous decade with Millenials opening companies and artists organising store. If you’re planning an East Coast street journey, be certain to put Saint John, New Brunswick in your checklist. Fundy National Park, positioned in southern New Brunswick, is definitely accessible from Saint John and gives wilderness areas, wildlife, and scenic landscapes. These are the highest points of interest in Saint John and the most effective day journeys from the town.
While the rugged coast of New Brunswick is a serious draw street tripper, there are many issues to do in Saint John positioned in the center of the town. We recommend spending at the very least two nights to take in the vitality of the city and to discover the nightlife.
1. Reversing Falls
As one native mentioned to us, “The Reversing Falls of Saint John is probably the most overrated attraction in the city, but the science behind it is interesting.” And when you perceive that the Bay of Fundy is so highly effective that it reverses the movement of the Saint John River twice a day, it’s fairly cool.
We checked it out from two completely different viewpoints. I extremely suggest going to the Reversing Falls Skywalk and Bridge to see it from above.
Saint John itself s positioned on the Bay of Fundy creating a singular phenomenon because the Bay of Fundy’s excessive tide collides with the Saint John River. As the tides rise, it overpowers the river reversing the movement. It’s a cool factor to see the river flowing a method after which smashing towards the tide creating rapids and whirlpools.
2. Market Square
This cool avenue has saved its historic really feel with eateries and bars inside constructing facades relationship again to the 1800s. It has that previous world appeal with a hip trendy vibe.
Stroll alongside North Market Wharf’s waterfront boardwalk the place you’ll occur upon festivals and music occasions on the outside stage. Pop right into a pub or restaurant and do some procuring. At night time, issues actually kick off with individuals bar hopping and outside leisure going down on the waterfront.
Cool reality: The New Brunswick Museum can also be positioned at Market Square. It’s Canada’s oldest continuous-running museum!
3. Saint John City Market
City Market is an indoor market in downtown Saint John and it’s excellent to stroll by means of to purchase some snacks on your street journey or for a picnic in the park. Grab some bread and cheese on the pretty market and have a picnic in King’s Square, a vibrant park with a singular design that resembles the British flag and is shut to native points of interest just like the Saint John City Market. This is a good place to finish your stroll after shopping the Saint John Galleries.
4. Kings Square
Established in 1734, King’s Square was named after King George III. There are statues and monuments devoted to nice Canadians and warfare heroes. And it’s located in a stunning setting with park benches and greenery surrounding the principle pavilion, making it the right spot for a day picnic.
5. Barbour’s General Store
Barbour’s General Store is a really cool museum and store that dates again to the 1800s. This is a good place to begin your tour of Saint John. It was initially constructed in Northern New Brunswick and introduced to Saint John in 29167.
The Saint John customer’s centre is positioned inside the place you’ll be able to e book excursions and decide up data on the world. And get data on touring downtown for the historic walks of Saint John.
6. Historic Walks of Saint John New Brunswick
Saint John is Canada oldest metropolis and the one metropolis positioned on the Bay of Fundy. It is crammed with historical past from the early settlers and a captivating maritime previous.
It is value taking one among its historic walks to study extra a few metropolis that dates again to 1604 when Samuel de Champlain proclaimed the title St. John. It was one other 25 years earlier than a buying and selling submit was constructed right here.
The space noticed many historic occasions together with the American Revolution the place 14,000 Loyalists settled alongside the St. John River. Today you’ll be able to hint that historical past alongside the Loyalist Trail, Victorian Stroll, and Prince William Walk.
Each self-guided strolling tour takes about 1.5 hours and is an fascinating approach to discover the structure and streets of Saint John.
7. Loyalist Trail
Walk the Loyalist Trail all through the downtown core to comply with in the footsteps of early settlers. There are indicators all through the town that includes plaques and buildings showcasing the historical past of the Americans who settled the world after the American Revolution. Here you’ll see the loyalist cemetery and picturesque gardens.
Stops on the Loyalist Trail Include:
County Court, King’s Square
City Market
The Old Burial Ground at Sydney Street
Stone Church on Carlton Street
Loyalist House on Union Street
Barbour’s General Store.
8. Historic Imperial Theatre
The Imperial Theatre is a beautiful historic theatre with a connection to Hollywood. Louis B. Mayer (MGM Studios fame) grew up in Saint John and mentored a neighborhood businessman by the title of Walter Golding.
Golding opened the vaudeville theatre attracting the likes of Ethel Barrymore and Harry Houdini. It has lately been renovated and the historic decor will knock you off your ft. You can take a tour of the theatre, or see a present!
9. Grannan and Germain
This is the best nook in Saint John. Here you’ll discover quirky retailers, artist galleries, and loads of selections for meals, bars, and pubs. Grab dinner at Italian by Night that serves scrumptious genuine Italian meals after which end off on the comfortable sofas of Port City Royal for cocktails.
10. Downtown Art Galleries
There are loads of artists which have arrange store in Saint John and you’ll take a gallery tour to see all of them. The individuals of Saint John are welcoming and can fortunately invite you in for a chat to discuss concerning the artists and artwork of show.
If you proceed strolling to Princess Street from Grannan, you’ll come to many galleries and workshops. Pop into the historic warehouses and also you’ll discover artists studios showcasing distinctive artistic endeavors.
11. Cape Spencer Lighthouse
Just a brief drive out of the town is the Cape Spencer Lighthouse. The lighthouse itself isn’t spectacular, however the view is phenomenal. High cliffs overlook the Bay of Fundy with the lighthouse standing proud on a steep hill reaching 200 ft above the bay.
It’s positioned close to Bayshore Beach, if you end up there, head down to the water for just a little little bit of seashore time.
12. Hiking Trails Irving Nature Park
If you’re in search of issues to do in Saint John open air, there are many issues to do close to the town. Irving Nature Park has loads of climbing trails with lookouts to spectacular views of The Bay of Fundy. With 6 completely different ecosystems, it’s an fascinating hike. We stumbled upon an extended sandy seashore that we walked hand in hand in solitude and it’s a excellent spot for chicken watching and watching the Bay of Fundy.
13. Sunset at Fort Howe
The finest place in Saint John for sundown is Fort Howe. Climb to the highest of the hill and watch the solar go down over the town with the Trinity Church Steeple entrance and centre.
14. Carlton Martello Tower
Martello Tower dates again to the warfare of 1812. It is only one of 9 remaining Martello Towers in Canada that had been necessary forts for conserving watch over the port. It is a nationwide historic website and value a go to. The construction has been restored with military barracks, jail, and gun powder rooms relationship again to 1865.
15. Rockwood Park
Rockwood Park is a sprawling 2,200-acre oasis in the center of Saint John, New Brunswick. This pure gem gives a various array of landscapes, from dense forests and serene lakes to lush wetlands. Whether you’re an avid hiker, a biking fanatic, or somebody who loves to paddle, Rockwood Park has one thing for everybody.
Families will discover loads of picnic areas and playgrounds, making it a perfect spot for a day trip. Wildlife fans can maintain a watch out for deer, varied chicken species, and fish in the park’s waters. Open year-round, Rockwood Park gives guided excursions and academic applications that cater to guests of all ages, making it a unbelievable vacation spot for nature images and birdwatching.
One of the park’s highlights is the 1.5 km Rockwood Park Trail, excellent for a leisurely stroll to soak in the pure fantastic thing about Saint John. Whether you’re wanting to loosen up or embark on an outside journey, Rockwood Park is a must-visit vacation spot in Saint John, New Brunswick.
Saint John Day Trips
When travelling wherever in Canada, we suggest having your personal automotive. We booked a automotive rental for our street journey giving us loads of flexibility. And with low-cost parking throughout the road, we set out every day to discover the sights in and across the metropolis. Most points of interest are wherever from 10 minutes to 2-hours away.
Fundy National Park, positioned in southern New Brunswick, gives beautiful wilderness areas, various wildlife, and scenic landscapes, making it a must-visit vacation spot.
If you go to Saint John, New Brunswick, listed below are the principle points of interest you can’t miss.
16. Hopewell Rocks
The Hopewell Rocks are most likely probably the most well-known attraction on all of New Brunswick and with good motive. Located 2 hours from Saint John, they make for a superb day journey from the town.
These flower pot rocks grace the covers of magazines and journey guides every time one searches for Canadian East Coast Attractions. Every day 100 million tons of water drain from the Bay of Fundy revealing the ocean ground. This is your likelihood to witness the world’s highest tides.
Visitors can stroll for hours alongside the Bay of Fundy taking in the large rock formation uncovered by the tides. Keep a watch on tidal occasions to plan your go to. You can stroll across the rocks 3 hours earlier than and three hours after low tide.
We suggest visiting round sundown. Once the solar goes down, most individuals go away and you’ve got all of it to yourselves. There are corporations that provide kayaking round Hopewell Rocks at excessive tide and that is extremely really helpful. We kayaked the Three Sisters on the opposite facet of the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia and it was a spotlight of our journey!
17. Fundy National Park
Fundy National Park is one among Canada’s Premier National Parks Located between Hopewell Rocks and Saint John, it’s only a 1-hour drive from the town. Spend at the very least a day exploring the attractive surroundings and climbing trails of the park. Trails vary from brief 100 metre walks to 8 km treks. Read extra at: The Most Beautiful National Parks in Canada
18. Waterfalls
It’s a gorgeous drive, however please do get out of the automotive to take in the stunning waterfalls, bogs, beaver ponds and boardwalks. If you resolve to in a single day in the park, there are a number of choices from tenting to cabin leases, yurts and oTENTiks.
You also can e book guided walks on the park headquarters to discover the Medicinal forests, seashore explorations and indigenous experiences.
19. Cape Enrage
Cape Enrage isn’t solely a beautiful scenic cease on the coast, however it is usually a gorgeous drive. Driving by means of the winding roads, we stopped frequently to take in the views earlier than popping out at a rocky seashore crammed with Inukshuks.
When the tide is out, the rock led to a large sandbar the place you’ll be able to stroll out 200 metres alongside the ocean ground.
Just just a little farther alongside is the Cape Enrage lighthouse sitting atop a towering cliff. Bring a picnic to benefit from the view or have a espresso and snack on the restaurant.
There are additionally some adventures to be had together with a zipper line and 46-metre (150 foot) rappelling wall. We didn’t know concerning the mountain climbing wall, or we might have positively equipped for a climb.
20. St. Martins Covered Bridges
St. Martins is a gorgeous historic city that isn’t removed from Saint John. While we suggest staying an evening right here, it could possibly simply be achieved as a day journey to see it’s superb surroundings together with its 2 coated bridges. New Brunswick is thought for its historic coated bridges. You can discover them scattered all through the province. But there are two positioned very shut to Saint John in the city of St. Martins.
If you time it proper, you’ll be able to expertise the most effective of the Bay of Fundy at low tide. We went early in the morning to keep away from crowds and site visitors and explored at low tide. The city was quiet and fishing boats sat on dry land ready for the tides to come in. The ocean ground was uncovered and we walked alongside the rocky seashore spying eagles perched on the pier in search of their prey. Be positive to take a stroll on the paths close to the lighthouse for higher views of the river and bridges.
21. Caves of St Martins
The Caves of St. Martin are additionally not to be missed! St. Martin Caves nearly disappear at excessive tide, however when the water goes out, you’ll be able to stroll all the way in which out to discover inside. These caves are huge and spectacular.
The crimson cliffs entice photographers from world wide to seize these iconic Instagram pictures. Don’t neglect to go across the nook to discover much more caves and cliffs.
And be certain that come again later in the day to see the caves at excessive tide. You’ll be amazed to see how a lot water covers the bottom that you simply walked on hours earlier. You also can e book kayaking journeys in St. Martins to exit and discover the Bay of Fundy.
22. Fundy Trail Parkway
St. Martins is the gateway to the Fundy Trail. The Fundy Trail Parkway is a 30km (19mile) drive alongside the coast of New Brunswick. At one time, guests might solely see this scenic stretch of shoreline by climbing the Fundy Footpath (68 km lengthy). But as we speak anybody can discover the coast by automotive with the choice to get out and hike a number of km to see seashores, gorges and waterfalls.
Hikes vary from 300 (984 ft) metres lengthy to 4.4 km. (2.73 miles) It is among the most scenic drives in Canada with unimaginable views of huge sea cliffs. What we love about this drive is that the velocity restrict is barely 40 km (24mph) and there are a number of pull-offs to take in the view.
23. Split Rock at Duck Pond Beach
We by no means would have identified of this spot had been it not for Ingrid at Bunkhaus Hostel. We had been looking for a spot to spend dawn and he or she urged Duck Pond Road, simply 40 minutes outdoors the town.
While crowds gathered on the cliffs of St. Martins, we had the view of the Cliffs of Simonds all to ourselves. They are simply as spectacular as St. Martins with crimson cliffs stretching out to the ocean. The cliffs are positioned on a seashore the place you’ll be able to unfold out a blanket to take in the view.
24. Alma
Alma is a city positioned on the entrance to Fundy National Park and is a captivating fishing village that’s value spending a while in. It has loads of completely different choices for eating and some locations for lodging.
There are present retailers and bookstores reminding me a little bit of the small cities positioned alongside Route 66. In {the summertime}, this place is buzzing. It is right here that you may seize one other a type of iconic pictures of fishing boats tied to the pier sitting on dry land ready for the tide to come in.
25. Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy, nestled between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, is a pure marvel that boasts a number of the highest tides in the world. This beautiful bay is a haven for outside fans, providing actions like kayaking, whale watching, and climbing. The bay’s wealthy biodiversity contains whales, dolphins, and a wide range of seabirds, making it a major spot for wildlife remark.
Recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the Bay of Fundy is well known for its distinctive pure and cultural heritage. Visitors can discover the bay by means of guided excursions that delve into its fascinating historical past, geology, and wildlife. With quite a few seashores and coves, the Bay of Fundy is ideal for swimming, sunbathing, fishing, and boating. Whether you’re searching for journey or tranquility, the Bay of Fundy gives an unforgettable expertise in New Brunswick.
Where to Eat in Saint John
Lemongrass & Peppers Pub – Lemongrass had genuine Thai Cuisine that was very satisfying. Located at Market Square you’ll be able to eat on the patio or inside.
East Coast Bistro – East Coast Bistro is an upscale restaurant that’s excellent for a romantic night time out. We strolled alongside Prince William Street to the inviting diner the place we ate wine and cheese whereas ready for our major course. I’ll positively be consuming there once more.
Saint John Ale House – Located close to Lemongrass at Market Square, Saint John Ale House is one other excellent spot to eat. Its upscale pub fare gives loads of alternative with a rotating menu. Like Lemongrass, it has a patio the place you’ll be able to take in the motion on the boardwalk.
Italian by Night – This was our favorite meal in Saint John. The genuine Italian cuisines made us really feel as if we had stepped into just a little nook of Italy.
Port City Royal – Port City Royal has an inviting ambiance with uncovered brick and a snug leather-based sofa that invitations patrons to combine and mingle. Great for a cocktail after your meal, or you’ll be able to order meals right here too.
Where to Stay in Saint John
The Hilton Saint John is an efficient central location on the water that’s inside strolling distance to all of the downtown points of interest. Plus, you’ll be able to by no means go incorrect with a Hilton. Check out charges and Availability on TripAdvisor / Booking.com
Delta Hotels by Marriott is one other nice location downtown. Just 25 minutes from Saint John Airport in the center of downtown. The indoor pedway system connects it to Saint John City Market, Brunswick Square Shopping Complex, City Hall, the Canada Games Aquatic Centre, Harbour Station. View it on TripAdvisor / Booking.com
Saint John, New Brunswick will certainly shock you. Many individuals overlook journey to New Brunswick when visiting the East Coast, however there are numerous issues to do in Saint John and the encircling space.
If you add it to your itinerary, you gained’t be dissatisfied.
If you ask somebody from Saint John what makes it so particular, the unanimous reply would be the individuals. And we agree! The individuals of Saint John are the friendliest in Canada and are blissful to lend a serving to hand, provide recommendation and simply say whats up in the morning if you are out on your espresso. If you journey to Saint John New Brunswick, you’ll make recollections to final a lifetime.