This New Brunswick, Canada travel story follows my journey along the Bay of Fundy, from Saint John and the sea caves of St. Martins to Fundy Trail Parkway, Fundy National Park, Alma, and Hopewell Rocks. Discover some of the best things to do in New Brunswick, scenic coastal drives, charming fishing villages, and the unforgettable kayaking experience that gave me the courage to adventure again.
JUMP TO A SECTION: THINGS TO DO ⋅ WHERE TO STAY ⋅ WHY VISIT ⋅ FINAL THOUGHTS ⋅ TRAVEL GUIDE ⋅ PHOTOS ⋅ FAQ’S
Every great adventure has a beginning. Sometimes that beginning is a plane ticket. Sometimes it’s a dream you’ve been planning for years. And sometimes, it’s simply the courage to put the car in drive.
My Northeast Canada road trip officially began in New Brunswick, but in many ways, the journey had started long before I crossed the Canadian border. I had driven all the way from Conroe, Texas, spending several days on the road before finally arriving in Saint John just as the sun was setting.
After unpacking my suitcase, I remember thinking: it’s finally here. Months of planning had become reality. This wasn’t just another vacation. It was the beginning of a road trip I had dreamed about for a long time.
The next morning happened to be a Sunday, and for once, I gave myself permission to simply rest. Room service arrived with a warm bowl of seafood chowder while football played quietly in the background. Even though my Dallas Cowboys managed to lose, I still considered it a perfect afternoon.
Sometimes the best travel memories aren’t filled with activity. Sometimes they’re simply moments where your soul catches its breath before the adventure truly begins.
Things to Do in Prince Edward Island
Explore Saint John
Everything changed the following day. I drove about forty minutes to the small fishing village of St. Martins, nestled along the Bay of Fundy. Towering red sandstone cliffs rose above the shoreline while sea caves waited to be explored during low tide. The landscape felt rugged, untouched, and wonderfully wild.
But the scenery wasn’t what made the day unforgettable. It was what happened on the water.
Kayak the Bay of Fundy in St. Martins
Courage on the Bay of Fundy
I had signed up for a two-hour kayaking excursion with Bay of Fundy Adventures. To be honest, I was nervous. Not because I had never kayaked before. I’d done that plenty of times.
I was nervous because the Bay of Fundy was unlike anywhere I had paddled before. The water temperature hovered around 46 degrees, and I couldn’t stop thinking about what would happen if my kayak tipped over.
Adding to that anxiety was another reality. Just three months earlier, I had undergone spinal surgery. As excited as I was, I couldn’t help but wonder: Was I pushing myself too soon? Thankfully, our guides, Jordan and Peter, immediately put everyone at ease. Their confidence, encouragement, and sense of humor transformed nervousness into excitement.
The wind picked up. The waves rolled beneath our kayaks. Instead of fearing the rough water, I found myself laughing as we rode over the swells. Some of my favorite memories weren’t just the scenery—they were the people. Our group quickly became friends, cheering one another on and sharing plenty of laughs along the way.
When the excursion ended, I realized something. Three months earlier, I was recovering from surgery. Now I was kayaking on one of the most remarkable coastlines in the world. Sometimes healing isn’t measured by how much pain is gone. Sometimes it’s measured by the courage to try again.
Drive the Fundy Trail Parkway
God’s Beauty on Full Display
That afternoon, I traded my paddle for the driver’s seat and spent the rest of the day following the Fundy Trail Parkway. Every overlook seemed impossible to top. Steep cliffs. Dense forests. Quiet coves. The endless Bay of Fundy stretching toward the horizon.
Every few miles I found myself pulling over once again, convinced the next view couldn’t possibly be prettier than the last. It always was.
By evening, I stopped for dinner at Fresh at Fundy before continuing the scenic drive. The entire day felt like a gift. Not rushed. Not complicated. Just hours spent admiring the beauty God had painted across New Brunswick’s coastline.
Choosing the Beautiful Way
Fundy National Park
On my final morning in New Brunswick, I wasn’t quite ready to leave. I walked part of Harbour Passage, watching fishing boats and cruise ships resting peacefully in the harbor before beginning one final scenic drive toward Nova Scotia.
Rather than taking the fastest route, I chose the beautiful one. Fundy National Park welcomed me with forests, cliffs, tidal flats, and countless overlooks that seemed to stretch forever toward the Atlantic.
Stop for Seafood in Alma
Then came one of my favorite surprises of the trip. Lunch in the tiny fishing village of Alma. I ordered a lobster roll and seafood chowder at Tipsy Tails while fishing boats sat just behind the restaurant. It doesn’t get much fresher than that.
After lunch, I wandered down to the beach and simply sat for a while, listening to the gentle rhythm of the water. No schedule. No hurry. Just gratitude.
Visit Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park
My final stop before crossing into Nova Scotia was Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park. Standing above the famous Flowerpot Rocks at high tide, it was easy to imagine how centuries of powerful tides had patiently sculpted these incredible formations. Creation often reminds us that some of God’s greatest works happen slowly. Little by little. Year after year. Wave after wave.
Where to Stay in New Brunswick
I stayed in Saint John, which worked well as a starting point for exploring the Bay of Fundy and St. Martins. If your itinerary focuses more heavily on Fundy National Park and Hopewell Rocks, the small coastal village of Alma can also make a convenient base for exploring this part of New Brunswick.
Is New Brunswick Worth Visiting?
The Confidence to Begin Again
Looking back, New Brunswick wasn’t the busiest stop on my Northeast Canada road trip. It wasn’t filled with famous landmarks or packed itineraries. Instead, it gave me something far more valuable. It gave me confidence. It reminded me that my body was healing. It reminded me that adventure was still possible. And it reminded me that sometimes the best way to begin a journey is simply by saying “yes” to the next step God places in front of you.
As I crossed into Nova Scotia, I had no idea what the next days would hold. I only knew one thing. The adventure had officially begun.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for dramatic coastal scenery, charming fishing villages, and one of the most unique tidal landscapes in the world, New Brunswick deserves a place on your itinerary. And if you have the opportunity, don’t miss kayaking with Bay of Fundy Adventures. It wasn’t just the highlight of my time in New Brunswick—it became one of my favorite experiences of my entire Northeast Canada road trip.
If you are planning to travel to New Brunswick, check out my travel guide for a thoughtfully curated itinerary filled with scenic stops, coastal experiences, and practical recommendations to help you plan your journey.
Until our next journey,
xoxo Karen Estrada
Ready to plan your trip to New Brunswick? Check out my detailed Travel Guide.
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New Brunswick FAQs
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New Brunswick is best known for the Bay of Fundy and its extraordinary tides, which are the highest in the world. The province is also known for Hopewell Rocks, Fundy National Park, the Fundy Trail Parkway, coastal fishing villages, seafood, and beautiful Atlantic scenery.
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I would allow at least three to four days to explore the Bay of Fundy region without rushing. If you want to see more of New Brunswick beyond the places I visited, adding several additional days would give you more time to explore the province.
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Summer through early fall is ideal for coastal road trips, hiking, kayaking, and exploring the Bay of Fundy. Early fall also brings cooler temperatures and changing foliage, making scenic drives especially beautiful.
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Both offer completely different experiences. At low tide, you can walk on the ocean floor around the famous Flowerpot Rocks. At high tide, much of that same area disappears beneath the water, showing just how dramatically the Bay of Fundy changes with the tides. If your schedule allows, seeing both gives you the best perspective.