SHORE EXCURSIONS

OVERVIEW

If you want to see and do it all in one day, this is the tour for you! Combining the best of the region’s rich history and heritage with natural beauty, this tour features the Top 10 things to see and do in Saint John and the Bay of Fundy. Discover favorites of locals and visitors alike, including Reversing Falls Rapids, a fishing village with a working harbor, the Bay of Fundy beach and sea caves of St. Martins, scenic vistas of the shoreline, charming, covered bridges and chatting with local vendors at the Saint John City Market. Hear about the rich military history as your tour takes you past key sites such as the Carleton Martello Tower and Fort Howe, see parts of North America’s first Geopark, named Stonehammer, take in the Victorian architecture of the historic district and enjoy a taste of Moosehead Beer at an Irish Pub.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See the Top 10 sights of Saint John & the Bay of Fundy.
• View the Sea Caves at St. Martins, carved by the highest tides in the world.
• Enjoy a sample of local Moosehead Beer at an Irish Pub.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Discover Saint John’s most compelling attractions and venture up the coast to the fishing village of St. Martins, another classic seaside community. The sightseeing begins at Fallsview Park, where you may witness the Reversing Falls Rapids, a natural phenomenon that forces the Saint John River to flow backwards until the tide goes out hours later. A meandering and immensely scenic drive will then take you to St. Martins, a quaint fishing village known for its Victorian architecture, lighthouses and covered bridges. Another highlight is the Sea Caves, which relentless waves have carved out of the red-sand cliffs. After seeing the caves and enjoying the beach, you will stop at a restaurant for a bowl of seafood chowder and then return to Saint John to enjoy free time browsing the Old City Market. Constructed in 1876, it has the distinction of being Canada’s oldest continuously operating farmers market and offers a huge assortment of merchandise.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Watch as the Saint John River reverses its flow if tidal conditions are favorable.
• Enjoy a coastal drive to the charming fishing village of St. Martins.
• Stroll the beach and explore the caverns at the Sea Caves near St. Martins.
• Browse the stands in Canada’s oldest continuously operating farmer’s market.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a comprehensive look at Saint John that presents the quintessential highlights, beginning with a walk through the Old City Market, Canada’s oldest continuously operating farmer’s market. Opened in 1876, it narrowly escaped the Great Fire of 1877 that devastated Saint John, the country’s oldest incorporated city. Continuing through the suburb of Mount Pleasant, you will soon pause at the Fort Howe lookout for a sweeping view of Saint John and your cruise ship in the harbor. As far as natural attractions, none is more unusual than the Reversing Falls Rapids, which you will also observe. At low tide, the Saint John River empties into the bay. As the tide rises, the volume of seawater increases so quickly that it reverses the river water’s flow, pushing it upstream. Military history will take center stage at the Carleton Martello Tower, where the British mounted artillery on its circular flat roof during the War of 1812.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive in and around Saint John with stops at the most historical landmarks.
• Browse the Old City Market, which has been operating continuously for about 150 years.
• Watch the Saint John River reverse its flow, if the tidal conditions are favorable.
• Take in the views from Fort Howe, a National Historic Site that the British built in 1777.
• See a military tower from the War of 1812 that continued to be used until World War II.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Ride a trolley in and around Saint John, taking in the natural beauty and discovering the city’s fascinating history through its landmarks. During the ride, you will learn how Saint John became Canada’s first incorporated city and the effects of the Great Fire of 1877. One of the first stops will be Fort Howe, which the British constructed in 1778 to guard the mouth of the Saint John River. The fort is a re-creation of the original one that burned to the ground in 1819. You will also see the Reversing Falls Rapids, a natural phenomenon created during high tide, when the Bay of Fundy’s mighty waters rise higher than the Saint John River, reversing its flow. Back in town, you may pass the Georgian-style Loyalist House, which survived the great fire, and the grand Imperial Theatre, which was built as a vaudeville house. Your last stop will be the Old City Market.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take in the sweeping river views from Fort Howe, a replica of an 18th-century British fort.
• Hear about some of Saint John’s life-changing historical events such as the Great Fire of 1877.
• Watch as the Saint John River reverses its flow, if tidal conditions are favorable.
• Pass architectural treasures such as the Loyalist House and Imperial Theatre.
• Browse Canada’s oldest continuously operating farmer’s market.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Admire the natural beauty surrounding the Bay of Fundy by visiting a coastal park full of hiking trails, lookouts, and historical buildings. Stop in St. Martins, a seaside village known for its twin covered bridges, which you will view from a vantage point that allows you to capture both spans in one spectacular shot. Travel the winding Fundy Trail Parkway, passing forest lookouts, beautiful beaches, and the spectacular Bay of Fundy. At the Big Salmon Interpretive Centre. Watch an enlightening video about the park’s history and the modest lodge that newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst built nearby. During free time, you might meander the hiking paths, cross the suspension footbridge over the Salmon River, and explore the replica sawmill. The bay’s rising tides have also created sea caves in the red sandstone, which you will see. While totally submerged during high tide, the caves are easy to reach at low tide and make for a memorable photo any time. You will also enjoy lunch at a restaurant that overlooks the caves, before returning to Saint John.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy an immensely scenic coastal drive to St. Martins, a village settled in 1783.
• Pause to photograph the village’s two covered bridges.
• Drive the Fundy Trail Parkway, which meanders through forests and along pristine beaches.
• Hike a nature trail and browse the exhibits at an interpretive centre.
• Behold the power of the sea by visiting caves that the waves have carved out of sandstone cliffs.
• Enjoy lunch at a restaurant that overlooks the sea caves.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Snap selfies at the most photogenic spots in and around Saint John, many of them iconic attractions that define the city. To ensure the best possible results, a selfie tutor will offer tips so you can capture just the right angle, lighting, and composition for every shot. Your pictures will be ideal for posting on social media and sharing in other ways.

As you ride through Saint John, you will pause at designated selfie stops that include:
• Wolastoq Park
• Reversing Falls lookout
• City Market

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take inspiring selfies at the most photogenic attractions in Saint John.
• Follow tips from your selfie tutor to ensure the very best pictures.
• Learn the historical significance of the locales while enjoying their dramatic settings.
• Stand in front of the Reversing Falls, a highly visual tidal phenomenon.
• Browse the City Market, Canada’s oldest continuously operating farmer’s market.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Look for whales and other wildlife while cruising the Bay of Fundy, a nutrient-rich body of water teeming with marine animals. Before heading to sea, you will spend free time shopping, dining or just browsing in St. Andrews, an idyllic resort town that has been designated a National Historic Site. During the hours that follow, you will watch the abundant marine life that inhabits the bay such as seals, porpoises, and whales – including humpbacks, finbacks and minkes – the most sighted whale species. Humpbacks have huge appetites and are named for the way they arch their backs out of the water before diving to feed. Finbacks are the second largest of all whales and are generally solitary. Your whale-watching excursion will not only be exhilarating, but also fund the adoption of a North Atlantic right whale, one of the world’s most endangered large whales. You will receive a certificate that includes the adopted whale’s name.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Look for various species of whales and other marine life in the Bay of Fundy.
• Learn the distinguishing characteristics of the whales that you may spot.
• Take comfort in knowing that whales are sighted more than 90% of the time.
• Keep an eye out for seabirds and eagles, as well.
• Explore the town of Saint Andrews independently.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

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 to 50 feet. Your tour includes a boxed lunch that you can enjoy at your leisure.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See the World-Famous flowerpot rocks at Hopewell Rocks.
• Walk on the ocean floor (tide dependent).
• Fully narrated by a local guide, including stories & history.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

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 homemade 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.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cross the Kennebecasis River on one of the few remaining cable ferries in New Brunswick.
• Take a Sugar Bush tour and learn about the history of maple sugaring.
• Enjoy pure maple syrup with pancakes and sausage then try the age-old tradition of maple taffy on snow!

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Gain a historical perspective of Saint John and behold its natural wonders and come away with a remarkably complete understanding of why the city is so attractive. First enjoy a scenic drive around Saint John, you might pass by charming historic neighborhoods lined with beautifully preserved 19th-century architecture, bustling waterfront districts, and stunning viewpoints overlooking the Bay of Fundy. Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of the City Market, the oldest continuously operating farmers market in Canada, its unique roof, resembling an inverted ship’s hull, pays homage to Saint John’s shipbuilding legacy, enjoy free time to explore its local offerings. The Reversing Falls are timeless, a natural phenomenon that forces the Saint John River to flow backwards when tidal conditions are favorable. Explorer Samuel de Champlain named the river for John the Baptist in 1604.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a leisurely walk and drive through Saint John, Canada’s first incorporated city.
• Take a scenic drive around Saint John, soaking in its stunning coastal and urban views.
• Spend free time browsing the oldest farmers market in Canada.
• Witness the natural phenomenon of the Reversing Falls if the tide is peaking.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Capture the beauty of Saint John in photos with the help of a professional photographer that will share techniques for shooting at the most spectacularly scenic spots. The attractions include the lighthouse at Cape Spencer and Mispec Beach, a lengthy stretch of sand flanked by tall green pines. The beach is a great place for candid lifestyle shots. You will also stop at Fallsview Park, an urban oasis that offers an ideal angle for shooting the tidal phenomenon known as Reversing Falls Rapids. If you are there when the tide rises, the seawater volume will increase so quickly that the Saint John River will flows backwards. It is quite the sight. You will also stop to photograph Long Wharf Landing, a redevelopment area that reflects the city’s vision for the future. At each destination, the guide will be happy to help you compose shots and make the most of the natural lighting.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Photograph the most picturesque settings in and around Saint John.
• Shoot the Saint John River as it reverses its flow, if tidal conditions are favorable.
• Capture timeless images of the waterfront and a historical lighthouse.
• Use tips from the professional photographer guide to maximize the quality of your pictures.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

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. The tour begins with a brief but informative tour of Saint John, Canada’s first incorporated city. Along the way, you will see the former site of the Red Ball Brewery. It 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. Afterwards, you will sample a variety of beers that may include the signature golden lager or Cracked Canoe, a light but full-bodied lager. Upon arriving at, Fallsview Park you will be treated to spectacular views of the Reversing Rapids, a natural phenomenon created during high tide, when the Bay of Fundy rises higher than the Saint John River, reversing its flow.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Admire Saint John’s outstanding late 19th-century architecture.
• See the site where Moosehead beer was first brewed.
• Tour the modern Moosehead brewery, following each step of the process.
• Sample several Moosehead brand beers.
• Stop at a spot to watch the Saint John River reverse its flow if tidal conditions are favorable.

HELPFUL HINTS

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