Fundy National Park

Along New Brunswick’s southern shore, the tremendous tides of the Bay of Fundy are a powerful feature of everyday life. Twice a day, over 100 billion tons of water swirl into and out of the bay, creating a tidal shift of up to 15 m (48 ft) and carving out a stunning wild and rocky shoreline.

One of the best places to experience these world-famous tidal wonders is at Fundy National Park, which is filled with wildlife and hiking trails. Here at low tide, visitors can walk out for over a kilometer.

The Bay is a favorite with naturalists, who study the fascinating creatures that live half their lives under water and the other half above.

Kouchibouguac National Park

The name of this park comes from the native Mi’kmaq word for “River of Long Tides.” The park’s 238 sq km (92 sq miles) encompass a salt-spray world of wind-sculpted dunes, salt marshes packed with wild life, and 25 km (16 miles) of fine sand beaches, as well as excellent terrain for cyclists. A popular activity is the Voyager Marine Adventure, a threehour canoe paddle to offshore sandbanks where hundreds of gray seals relax in the sun.

The Acadian Peninsula

The quiet coastal villages, beaches, and gentle surf of the Acadian peninsula have made it a favorite vacation destination. Established here since the 1600s, the Acadians have long enjoyed a reputation for prosperous farming, pretty villages and a strong folk music tradition.

In Shippagan, the small fishing town at the tip of the mainland, the Marine Centre and Aquarium holds tanks with over 3,000 specimens of Atlantic sea life and displays on local fishing industries. Nearby, the Lameque and Miscou islands are connected by causeways to the mainland.

On Miscou Island, a 1-km (0.5-mile) boardwalk leads through a peat bog with signs about this unique ecosystem. The 35-m (85-ft) high Miscou Lighthouse is the oldest operating wooden lighthouse in Canada. Home to many Acadian artists, Caraquet is the busy cultural center of the peninsula.

On the waterfront, adventure centers offer guided kayak trips on the Baie des Chaleurs. For those wanting an introduction to the story of the Acadians, the Acadian Wax Museum features a self-guided audio tour past 23 tableaus from Acadian history. The scenes begin with the founding of the “Order of the Good Times” at Annapolis Royal in 1604 and focus on the expulsion of 1755.

Attractions:

Marine Centre and Aquarium

100 Aquarium Street, Shippagan.

Tel: (506) 336 3013.

Acadian Wax Museum

Rte 11, Caraquet.

Tel: (506) 7276424.