New Brunswick might be Canada’s most underrated province. It rarely makes top ten travel lists, and yet, it has everything from tidal wonders to Acadian culture and forests thick with folklore. Skip the stereotypes of covered bridges and lobster rolls, though those are great too, and make time for these lesser-known attractions that just might change how you see the province.
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Take a walk on the seafloor, but with a twist, at Ministers Island
Yes, you’ve heard about walking on the sea floor at the Hopewell Rocks, but what about driving across the ocean floor to visit a vanished tycoon’s summer estate?
At low tide, a gravel bar appears off the coast of St. Andrews on the Bay of Fundy, linking the mainland to Ministers Island, once the lavish retreat of Sir William Van Horne, the driving force behind the Canadian Pacific Railway during the race to build a transcontinental link across this vast country. His mansion is still there for visitors to explore. It’s full of quirky artefacts and unexpected luxury, from hand-painted ceilings to a vintage wind-powered bathhouse. There’s even a round-roofed barn built like a giant barrel.
It’s part Downton Abbey, part Scooby-Doo episode, especially if you lose track of time and the tide starts creeping back in, stranding you on the island until the water retreats.
https://www.ministersisland.net
Seek out the otherworldly St. Martins Sea Cave
Overshadowed by the famous Fundy tides and the Hopewell Rocks, the sea caves of St. Martins offer a more serene, but equally stunning, coastal experience. When the tide recedes, you can walk right into massive sandstone caverns sculpted by the sea over millennia.
The cliffs glow red in the afternoon sun, and the nearby covered bridges and quaint fishing harbour feel like a set from an East Coast fairytale. There’s even a seafood shack steps from the caves serving up some of the best chowder in the province.
You can also hike or drive a portion of the nearby Fundy Trail Parkway for sweeping views and a healthy dose of sea breeze.
https://tourismnewbrunswick.ca/listing/st-martins-sea-caves
Let Shediac’s Giant Lobster guide you to the Homarus Eco-Centre
Like all tourists, I have taken photos of my family at Shediac’s famous giant lobster statue, but few visitors venture beyond it to discover the Homarus Eco-Centre. Just steps away from the giant lobster, this interactive marine centre shines a light on the life cycle of lobsters and the conservation efforts behind one of Atlantic Canada’s most iconic species.
Run by the Coastal Zones Research Institute, the centre offers hands-on exhibits, touch tanks, and guided tours that delve into the science of lobster fishing, marine biodiversity and sustainable practices. It’s an educational gem tucked into a town better known for its crustacean kitsch.
While you’re in Shediac, be sure to spend some time on the beach. Tourism promoters have long claimed the town has the warmest ocean waters north of the Carolinas. I don’t know if it’s true, but I don’t feel like I’m going to die when I swim there during the summer, so they might not be wrong.
If you visit during the Shediac Lobster Festival in July, you can indulge in some world-class seafood.
