St. John

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St. John

Few cities are as fortunately located as St. John, New Brunswick. Situated on the Bay of Fundy St. John is an attractive destination. With its great parks, restaurants, trails and markets, the city of St. John is must-see for North Atlantic travelers. The Bay of Fundy, which some people (locals usually) consider “one of the marine wonders of the world,” is truly beautiful. With natural rock formations and abundant wildlife, particularly birds and whales, the bay would be a site to see on any coast around the world. What separates the Bay of Fundy from other bays is the enormity of its tides. The fluctuation in those tides is so large that the current of the river running into the bay, the St. John River, reverses at high tide. It’s a rare site to see the river stop flowing, then flow backward, and it’s absolutely worth seeing.

Further up the bay good hiking can be found in Fundy National Park, and closer in at Irving Nature Park where traversing boardwalks opens up views over the marsh into town or out to the Atlantic Ocean over the bay. For an experience that encompasses the entire Bay of Fundy walk, bike or ride the Fundy Trail. For a shorter trail follow the Harbour Passage. Walk or bike this system of trails for a comprehensive look at St. John Harbour and learn about its shipbuilding and harbor history. Other outdoor fun can be had at Rockwood Park, situated at St. John’s north end. It features hiking trails, lakes for fishing and other recreation (including skating in the winter) and an 18-hole golf course.

Gourmands especially, but any traveler really, will want to sample the local seafood and focus on the lobster. The St. John Old City Market is a great alternative way to find good local fare. The Market is also a great place to find artisan wares and local produce, desserts and of course seafood. St. John is also the place to be in New Brunswick for nightlife as numerous pubs line its streets; the city supports a healthy live music scene.

Cruises in the North Atlantic often stop in St. John and are a good way to see the entire Maritime and North Atlantic parts of Canada. For arriving by ground or air, roads run into St. John from the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada; planes fly into St. John direct from Toronto, Montreal and Halifax.

St. John has a mild Canadian climate. Summer temperatures rarely break 75° and winter temperatures do not often fall below 0°. Winter temperatures will remain below freezing though, so snow can be expected. That allows visitors to take up cross-country skiing as well as outdoor ice skating.

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