The list of things to do in New Brunswick is only limited by your imagination. There are countless activities and attractions for all tastes and styles of travel; from adventurous outdoor activities to discovering the rich history and cultures of the province. We’ve listed our top 5 Must-See attractions, but dig deeper into our articles for plenty more things to do around the province.

1. Experience the Bay of Fundy Tides – There are so many ways to experience the dramatic tides and coastlines of the Bay of Fundy, it’s difficult to condense them into one listing. You can hike the Fundy Trail; drive the stunning Fundy Parkway; explore the Hopewell Rocks; ride the tidal bore in Moncton; see the power of the Reversing Rapids in Saint John; camp at the stunning Fundy National Park; or stroll on any of the beaches on the Fundy coast at high and low tide to witness the dramatic difference.

2. Explore the Diverse Ecosystems of Kouchibouguac National Park – Kouchibouguac is the lesser-known of NB’s two National Parks but undeservedly so. It may not have the dramatic rocky coasts of Fundy, but it has warm salt water, sandy beaches, bogs, marshes, and forests brimming with wildlife. The nature trails are some of the best in the Maritimes, and there are plenty of activities for all ages. Read our full article on Kouchibouguac National Park.

3. Share a kiss on New Brunswick’s Covered Bridges – New Brunswick has around 60 covered bridges, most of which are still used for vehicle traffic and maintained by the Department of Transportation. They were known as ‘Kissing Bridges’ because young men would slow their horses while crossing the bridges to steal a kiss from their lady-loves. The longest covered bridge in the world is in Hartland, NB and is well worth the trip to experience crossing this amazing structure.

4. Find one of Canada’s Best Gardens in Quaint St. Andrews – Kingsbrae Garden is ranked one of Canada’s top Botanical Gardens, and it’s easy to see why. The 27-acre park is jam packed with themed gardens, art installations, adorable animals, and a fantastic seasonal restaurant. It doesn’t hurt that it’s located in St. Andrew’s, one of New Brunswick’s prettiest coastal towns, where other attractions include the Huntsman Aquarium and Marine Sciences Centre, the historic blockhouse, access to Ministers Island National & Provincial Historic Site, and colourful murals painted on buildings around the town.

5. Visit Canada’s Oldest Incorporated City – There are plenty of things to see and do in Saint John. Some of the most fascinating are also the oldest in the country: Visiting the Saint John City Market is a must; The New Brunswick Museum gives insight into both the natural and cultural history of the province; and Loyalist House depicts the early days of the ‘Loyalist City,’ of Saint John. Stroll Uptown Saint John to admire the historic architecture and shop in the one-of-a-kind boutiques. Catch a concert at the King’s Square bandstand or revel in the peace of the Loyalist Burial Ground. End your day with a meal at one of the Saint John’s excellent restaurants.

If our top 5 things to do in New Brunswick has whetted your appetite, check out our full listing of 15 Things to do in New Brunswick.

New Brunswick has eight communities with city status. Saint John is the largest, by a slight margin. Despite it being the biggest and oldest incorporated city in the province (1785), it is not the capital. The capital city of New Brunswick is Fredericton (home of the main campus of the University of New Brunswick). The cities in order of population (from the 2011 census) are:

• Saint John (70,063) Primarily Anglophone (Note: writing Saint John, NB as ‘St. John’ is incorrect. Saint is always spelled This is in contrast to the St. John River which runs through the province and St. John’s, Newfoundland. If you really want to annoy a native Saint Johner, abbreviate the word Saint!)
• Moncton (69,074) Primarily Anglophone (Note: Moncton seems much larger than Saint John because of its proximity to Dieppe. [see below] The Greater Moncton Municipality includes these two cities, plus Riverview and parts of the surrounding counties. The total population is 138,644)
• Fredericton (56,224) Primarily Anglophone
• Dieppe (23,310) Primarily Francophone
• Miramichi (17,811) Primarily Anglophone
• Edmundston (16,032) Primarily Francophone
• Bathurst (12,275) Primarily Francophone (however the margin is very close)
• Campbellton (7,385) Primarily Francophone

For independent travellers, by far the easiest way to get around New Brunswick is by road. NB has a reputation for being boring, largely due to people travelling through the province on the main Trans-Canada Highway. Admittedly, there’s not much to see besides a lot of trees, but take the time to get off the highway, and you’ll be charmed by New Brunswick’s picturesque countryside, small towns, and variety of attractions.

Cautionary note: New Brunswick’s road maintenance, particularly on secondary roads is (how do we put this delicately?) not always optimal. Even on some of the designated scenic routes we’ve been bounced and jostled, (not to mention worried about the state of our shocks) especially when travelling in our motorhome.

Likewise, the signage for the tourist driving routes isn’t always reliable, so it’s a good idea to have additional maps and/or GPS devices for travelling the back roads. The scenic routes driving map published by NB Tourism is not particularly detailed, so if you’re relying on old-fashioned paper, you may want to purchase a better map or atlas. We use a combination of maps and GPS in all of our travels. If you do happen to lose your way, the best thing to do is stop and ask a local. New Brunswickers are friendly and helpful and will get you back on the right path in no time. You may even score a recommendation (or invitation) for lunch!

Scenic Drives in New Brunswick

New Brunswick Tourism has devised 5 main scenic drives through the province and overall they are excellent. We’ve done all of the first three below, and completing the final two is on our Bucket List for spring.

You’ll find a full range of accommodations in New Brunswick from luxurious hotels and resorts with all the amenities to quaint and friendly bed & breakfasts and inns to campgrounds and rustic cabins in the middle of nature.

Depending on the length of your stay in New Brunswick, it’s a good idea to choose several ‘home bases’ and day-trip from there, whether these are in one of the vibrant cities, or you opt to take advantage of the National and Provincial Parks.

We’ve stayed at and reviewed the following accommodations in New Brunswick:

The cuisine of New Brunswick is as diverse as the cultures who settled here; English, French, Scottish, Irish, and of course our First Nations. While many of the foods eaten across Canada (like poutine) are found here as well, the province has some local delicacies only found here or in the Maritime Provinces. Below you’ll find our top 4 foods which can be found all over NB. To learn about regional specialities (and where to find them) read our article on the Top 13 Things to Eat & Drink in New Brunswick.

1. Fiddleheads – One of the symbols of New Brunswick (and of the River Valley Scenic Drive) is the fiddlehead. This unfurled fern is foraged in the spring, and the greens are a local delicacy. Fiddleheads have a short growing season and are only found in the wild, making them all the more special. You can find fiddleheads on seasonal restaurant menus in the spring, but for the full experience, you need to go foraging for yourself. (Just make sure you go with an experienced forager as some fern species here are poisonous). Read about our Fiddlehead Foraging experience near Fredericton.

2. Seafood – New Brunswick’s Fundy and Northumberland coasts provide the province with a plethora of bounty from the sea. If you try one food in New Brunswick, let it be our local lobster. For a local experience, head to any lobster pound and choose your dinner. (Many pounds also offer cooked lobster if you can’t toss them in the pot yourself.) Beyond lobster, New Brunswick’s shellfish include clams, mussels, periwinkles, oysters (NB’s BeauSoleils have a global reputation), and scallops, and making the best seafood chowder is a competitive sport in NB. The Miramichi River is world famous for its salmon, and some smokehouses have emerged recently, selling local smoked salmon. Fish & Chips are a local staple and fresh seafood features on restaurant menus here at all price brackets; from roadside take outs to fine dining. (Read our full article on what to eat in NB for more about our treasures from the sea.)

3. Blueberries – New Brunswick’s favourite superfood is the wild blueberry, bursting with antioxidants and vitamins. NB wild blueberry growers harvest more than 30 million pounds of berries to ship around the world. In addition to fresh and frozen berries, you can sample blueberry syrups, jams, jellies, vinaigrettes, and even blueberry wine. Visit in mid-August to mid-September to taste blueberries fresh from the bush.

4. Maple Products – Canada is known around the world for its excellent maple syrup and New Brunswick produces 1.8 million kilograms of this liquid gold each year. While we love our syrup, it’s not the only maple product on offer in NB. Maple butter, maple sugar, maple candy, even maple cotton candy are some of the sweet treats you can enjoy in the province. You can buy NB maple products year-round but the best time to get the full ‘maple experience’ is when the sap starts running in early spring. Half a dozen maple producers around the province offer a ‘sugar bush’ experience where you can visit during the harvest and enjoy the maple goodness onsite.

While typical souvenir shops abound around the province, especially in heavily touristed areas like Uptown Saint John and Downtown Fredericton, we’ve always preferred to ‘shop local’ by supporting artisans and producers when we travel. Luckily there are plenty of options as New Brunswickers are a creative bunch, and you’ll find local galleries and studios all over the province. Here are a few of our personal favourites:

• Check out the Created Here website and magazine for an in-depth look at NB’s local ‘makers.’
• The Handworks Gallery in Saint John has been featuring local artists since 1990; the New Brunswick Museum Shop is a treasure trove of NB art, or buy directly from local crafters at the Saint John City Market.
• Saint John’s In Pursuit Truck is a mobile boutique brimming with fashion and gift items. Although not all of the products are made locally (although many are Canadian made), some are, and the founder, Dominique, is a local gal from Fredericton. (Also, the hot pink truck is awesome.) Because of its small size, the stock changes frequently, but current gift items include YSJ tee-shirts (Saint John’s airport code), a Canadian pin set (with poutine, Tim Horton’s coffee, and ‘Sorry’ pins), and a fantastic greeting card selection.
• The former soldiers’ barracks in Fredericton’s Garrison District are now home to The Barracks Fine Craft Shops and are brimming with works by local artisans from June-September, or for year-round shopping pop into nearby Botanicals Gift Shop, Studio, and Gallery for works by 11 different artisans.
• Of course, we always think edible gifts are great. Stock up on NB maple products, craft beer, wines, or any of the other tasty treats New Brunswick is known for and share them with friends and family back home, (or keep them all to yourself. We won’t judge.)