Get out into nature and enjoy an active, adventurous time in beautiful Rockwood Park, as you hike and paddle around these beautiful lakes. You’ll spend approximately 55 minutes doing each activity in small groups of up to 15 per guide. After you gear up and receive safety instructions, you’ll hike along a wooded trail for approximately one mile. You’ll then have the choice to paddle on the lake in your choice of kayak or canoe for approximately 1/4 mile.

OVERVIEW

Sample some of the delectable small-plate dishes and irresistible sweets that have elevated Saint John into a true foodie destination. Your culinary immersion will begin with dessert, an indication that you should expect the unexpected. The venue will be Wild Flours Sweets & Treats, which is next door to Gahan House, a brew pub that will offer you a few of its specialties. You will also visit the Old City Market, which opened in 1876 and is the oldest such setting in Canada. While browsing iconic shops such as Slocum & Ferris, you will be served unusual items such as dulse, a deep-purple sea vegetable that is dried and eaten by the handful like popcorn. Nearby Pomodori Pizza is known for its wood-fired pizza and you will sample a slice with toppings that are favorites in Saint John. Another treat awaits you at Beavertails, a waterfront food truck revered for its artisanal pastries.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk through historical downtown Saint John and enjoy tastings at various venues.
• Browse Canada’s oldest farmers market and sample foods characteristic of Saint John.
• Savor a slice of pizza and unusual items such as a dried sea vegetable known as dulse.
• Leave room for dessert, as fresh-baked pastries will be offered.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Walk through Irving Nature Park at your own pace and enjoy the wonderfully serene setting, which is ideal for birdwatching and enjoying the provided picnic box lunch. During free time, you can meander down the boardwalk, and along the network of trails that wind through the coastal forests and marshland. At 600 acres, Irving Nature Park is large enough to hold six different ecosystems that are home to an incredible diversity of flora and fauna. Birds in particular flock there in great numbers as the peninsular park is a staging site for migratory birds that travel between the Arctic and South America. More than 200 species of birds have been spotted there, including snow buntings that typically live in higher latitudes, colorful songbirds such as the yellow-breasted chat and whimbrels, a large brown shore bird that winters as far south as Tierra del Fuego.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Spend time walking about Irving Nature Park at your leisure.
• Stroll the boardwalk, and follow the winding trails.
• Spot all sorts of birds, as more than 200 species of them have been logged in the park.
• Pick a relaxing spot to stretch out and enjoy a picnic box lunch.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Moosehead is an award-winning brewery, and has won numerous awards over the years, including most recently at the Canadian Brewing Awards. Three separate small batch craft beers took home a gold, silver and bronze!

Sample several tasty beers at Moosehead, the country’s last major Canadian-owned brewery, and then watch the extraordinary tidal phenomenon known as the Reversing Rapids.

After departing from the pier, you will begin a brief but informative tour of Saint John, Canada’s first incorporated city. Although the Great Fire of 1877 destroyed much of Saint John, the city was beautifully rebuilt with stone and brick following that conflagration.

You will then arrive at Moosehead Brewery which was owned by the Oland family that started Moosehead, one of the most revered brands of beer in Canada. While touring the modernized Moosehead facility, you will watch the beer being brewed, bottled and shipped. You will also tour and taste in the new small batch brewer located onsite. The process is as fascinating as the company’s 150-year history.

Moosehead produces a variety of beers, several of which you will sample. You may be served the signature golden lager, a pale ale, a lime-flavored beer, or Cracked Canoe, a light but full-bodied lager. The tastes reflect the local ingredients and show the diversity of product.

Continuing on, you will soon arrive at Wolastoq, a park whose name means “beautiful river” in the language of the Maliseet people that once lived here. The views will be spectacular, especially of the Reversing Rapids, a natural phenomenon created during high tide, when the Bay of Fundy rises 14 feet higher than the Saint John River, reversing its flow. You will also see a wood carving of famed brewer George Oland before returning to the pier.

Hear all about the history of Saint John as you travel through the city and out to the New Brunswick countryside. Cross the Kennebecasis River on one of the few remaining cable ferries in New Brunswick. Take in the sights and stories of the Kingston Peninsula home to Elmhurst Outdoors, a small family run maple sugar farm. Tag along on an enlightening Maple Sugar Bush tour, to a present day Maple Sugar Shack.

Informative displays will show you the history of maple sugaring of North Americans, from the very beginning to present day. After your tour, return to the lodge for home made pancakes, sausage and of course all kinds of pure maple syrup. To round out a perfect day, you’ll be treated to an age old tradition of maple taffy on snow.

After departing from the pier, you will settle in for an extraordinarily scenic and circuituous drive through the countryside and around the northern edge of Passamaquoddy Bay. Upon reaching the town of Saint Andrews at the tip of a peninsula, you will board a Zodiac boat and zip off toward the Bay of Fundy.

Over the next few hours, you will watch for the abundant marine life that come here to feed. Although a dozen or so species of whales are found here during the summer, the most commonly sightly whales include humpbacks, minkes and finbacks.

Humpbacks have huge appetites and are named for the way they arch their backs out of the water before diving to feed. You may also spot them spy-hopping with their snouts and eyes vertically out of the water and slapping their fins on the water’s surface.

Minke whales are much smaller, ranging between 15 to 25 feet, and are easy to identify by the white strip across each flipper. Finback whales are the second largest of all whales and are generally solitary and have a distinct dorsal fin. The crew will help you identify the whales, elaborate on their behavior and answer questions.

Following this magnificent adventure, you will enjoy free time in Saint Andrews to shop and perhaps enjoy lunch on your own.

OVERVIEW

Drop by three popular venues to sample a variety of dishes made with just-caught locally sourced seafood. The menu constantly changes with the seasons and to take advantage of the ingredients that are freshest, but you can be sure that the dishes will be prepared from scratch and will be characteristic of Saint John. Because of the city’s superb location on the Bay of Fundy, an abundance of seafood is readily available. Lobster, oysters and caviar are just a few of the items that reflect the bounty of the sea. The dishes will likely be influenced by French and British cuisine as both France and England formerly colonized this area. The tastings may include scallops, fried clams, crab cakes, pan-seared cod, steamed lobster or North Atlantic salmon. The recipes may be traditional or innovative. It all depends on the venue and the chef. You might even sample dulse, a dried vitamin-rich red seaweed.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sample a variety of fresh seafood dishes at three popular dining venues.
• Learn about the history of the dishes and why they are so characteristic of Saint John.
• Recognize the French and British influences that make the dishes so delectable.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Experience some of the world’s highest tides as you explore a world-class attraction. Travel along the picturesque Fundy coastal drive to the Hopewell Rocks. Your local guide will delight you with both facts and folklore surrounding the Bay of Fundy coastal communities. Pass through Fundy National Park, where you can often spot various birds and even an occasional moose. Then get ready to discover the Hopewell Rocks, an icon of New Brunswick.

These flowerpot rocks were created by the clash of continents, carved by melting glaciers, then sculpted by the highest tides in the world. Interpretation will be delivered to explain how twice daily one hundred billion tons of water creates tides that can rise up to 50 feet. Your tour includes a boxed lunch that you can enjoy at your leisure.

OVERVIEW

Experience the life of a lobster fisherman while onboard a vessel purpose-built for hauling in these tasty crustaceans. Your guide will be Captain Jaret, a 7th-generation lobster fisherman that still plies his trade on the Bay of Fundy. You will learn the fundamentals of lobstering hands-on, including how to haul a trap, tie a buoy and most everything else essential to success all while sailing to various locations in Saint John Harbour. The captain will describe the challenges of fishing for lobsters, how the industry ensures its sustainability and all sorts of entertaining facts about lobsters. You may even hear about King Louie, a massive 23-pound lobster caught locally that a vegan activist later purchased and released back into the Bay of Fundy. If Captain Jaret’s daughter – an 8th-generation lobster fisherman – is onboard she will share her experiences at sea. Afterwards, you will dine on a lobster roll or another lobster specialty at the Gahan House restaurant and brewpub.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Learn the ins and outs of lobstering from a 7th-generation lobster fisherman.
• Try your hand at hauling in a lobster trap and tying a buoy while onboard the lobster boat.
• Hear about the future of lobstering and learn fascinating facts about lobsters.
• Dine on a lobster dish at the Gahan House restaurant across from the dock.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Discover close to four hundred years of history in the heart of Canada’s oldest incorporated city which has passed the tests of salt air, sea winds and a devastating fire. As your guide takes you past prominent landmarks and historic buildings, you’ll be introduced to many fascinating personalities and events that occurred to make Saint John the greatest little city in the east. Visit the Reversing Rapids , where the mighty Bay of Fundy causes the St. John River to reverse direction and flow upstream. Stop to explore the Old City Market, where you’ll delight in the vibrant sights and sounds and chat with the locals. Pass the Carleton Martello Tower, and see your ship in the port of Saint John against the beauty of the Bay of Fundy from Fort Howe lookout. Experience a delightful blend of past and present.

OVERVIEW

Walk through downtown Saint John sampling a selection of seafood at various venues as the guide offers enlightening commentary on the fishing industry, the local cuisine and the city’s fascinating history. Being on the Bay of Fundy, Saint John is known for excellent seafood of every imaginable type. Lobster rolls, fried clams and grilled salmon only touch on the variety of seafood and preparations. At each of the three stops, you will taste a signature dish made from scratch using locally sourced seafood. The exact dishes will depend on the season and the available ingredients. It will be apparent that some of the preparations reflect a French or British influence, as France first colonized this area and England followed in the mid-1700s. Chances are, many of the ingredients for the dishes will have been purchased that morning from the City Market, which dates to the 1870s.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sample a variety of fresh seafood dishes at three popular dining establishments.
• Recognize the French and British influences that make the dishes so delectable.
• Walk from venue to venue as the guide describes the local cuisine and history.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Tour Saint John on a San Francisco-style motorized trolley and enjoy the narrative by your driver/guide as Saint John history comes to life. Discover Saint John’s charm and learn about the personalities and events that have contributed to its fascinating history. Visit the Reversing Falls Rapids, where the mighty Bay of Fundy causes the St. John River to reverse direction and flow upstream.

View the port of Saint John and your cruise ship against the beauty of the Bay of Fundy from Fort Howe lookout. Discover 400 years of history in the heart of Canada’s oldest incorporated city and experience a delightful blend of past and present. Your tour ends at the Old City Market, in the heart of Saint John. Disembark and explore at your leisure, as you are within a three block radius of Saint John’s top attractions. If you wish, you may stay on your trolley to return to your ship.