Several cruise ships include Saint John, New Brunswick, the oldest incorporated city in Canada, as a port of call. (Not to be confused with St. John's, Newfoundland!) Saint John sits on the eastern side of the Bay of Fundy, and was founded in 1604 as an Indian trading post. The city was a haven for settlers loyal to the King during the American Revolutionary War. In May 1783, over 3000 Loyalists fled from the new United States to found the city of Saint John from the original trading post. Today it is a small bustling city with the traditional look of an antique seaport community.
If your ship ports in Saint John, you can easily explore the town center and harbor area on foot. Quaint shops, museums, and historical buildings are scattered throughout the city center. Market Square, part of the extensive restoration of Saint John's riverfront, is lined with shops and restaurants. If you happen to be in Saint John during July, you might enjoy the Loyalist Days Festival. It features a re-enactment of the landings of the United Empire Loyalists in 1783, complete with period costumes, parades, horse racing, and an antique fair. The Festival by the Sea is in August. This cultural festival brings together Canadian and international performers who provide over 100 performances over the 10 day festival. Another festival in August is the "Buskers on the Boardwalk". It features magic, mime, and music on the harbor-front boardwalk.
You will need a car or a tour to see the Reversing Falls Rapids or other Bay of Fundy sites. The Bay of Fundy is famous for its strong tides, the most extreme in the entire world. This phenomenon makes for unbelievable scenery and fascinating natural events such as the Reversing Falls Rapids. Among all of Saint John's attractions, we enjoyed the Reversing Falls Rapids the most. It is not far from the downtown area, and the magic show occurs twice daily where the Saint John River meets the Bay of Fundy in a narrow rocky gorge. When the Fundy tides are low, the river rushes past the steep cliffs into the bay. It looks much like any whitewater river, full of rocks, rapids, and whirlpools. However, as the tides rise, even the river cannot match the power of the ocean surge from the Fundy. As the level of the bay rises, the river undergoes a transformation. First, at slack tide (when the level of the bay and the level of the river are about equal), the whitewater in the gorge becomes as smooth as glass. It looks completely different! Then, almost miraculously, as the Fundy tides reach their peak, they overpower the river and force it to retreat, causing the rapids to push upstream! It is really unbelievable!
Driving up the Fundy coast you will find some of New Brunswick's loveliest coastline. There are charming fishing villages and rocky coves. The 80-square-mile (206-square-kilometer) Fundy National Park is full of sloping cliffs down to tide-washed beaches, and is a microcosm of New Brunswick's inland and coastal climates. It also has miles of beautiful hiking trails. Just driving through the park takes at least an hour. If you stop to hike or wish to take your time, you need at least 4 hours to a whole day. Just standing on one of the cliffs and watching the phenomenal tide rise or fall is a memory I'll never forget. Alma is the small seaside town that services the park. It is about 85 miles from Saint John, and you reach it after driving through the park. If you like pastries, be sure to buy some of the local specialty--sticky buns. They are advertised as world famous! I love sticky buns, but had never even heard of Alma or its sticky buns until our visit. I'll have to admit they were some of the best I've ever had. Visitors start lining up at the bakery very early to stock up before starting their day. Before you decide whether to eat your sticky buns "on the go" or linger at Fundy Park, check the tide charts. You won't want to miss the "flower pot" rocks while you are in New Brunswick, but they are only visible at low tide!
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