When it comes to learning about Canada’s incredible history, there’s no better place to start than Saint John, New Brunswick.
Established in 1785, it’s the oldest incorporated city in Canada and has the third busiest active harbor in the country. Its become well-known for its seaside hospitality and stunning historical uptown area. The Best Western Plus Saint John Hotel & Suites is in a prime location. Within a ten-minute drive to the city center, it gives excellent access to shopping, beautiful parks, and historic neighborhoods.
While Saint John seems small, with a population of under 60,000, you’ll quickly find there’s too much to see in one trip. With that in mind, here are my tips for making the most out of this historic city.
That might seem obvious, but I find the best way to explore uptown Saint John is to park the car and explore by foot or bike if you can handle steep hills. When on foot, you genuinely appreciate the history and beauty of the city. It reminds me so much of larger cities like New York City. You can spend the day wandering around going up and down the streets and are guaranteed to find something new. On one trip, you’ll encounter an incredible mural, the next, a nearly 200-year-old building, or on another, a quaint coffee shop.
If walking along a boat-filled port, relaxing in the sun, and listening to live music is your idea of a good time, you’ll love Market Square. There you’ll find six or seven patios serving everything from fresh seafood to international flare, all while enjoying music alongside the sights and sounds of the port city. When people picture an authentic experience in Atlantic Canada, they think of Saint John.
Whether one day or one week in Saint John, I often make daily visits to the Saint John City Market. The oldest city market in Canada, there is always something new to see and, more importantly, eat. If you can believe it, the market first opened in 1876. In the center of the city, it’s a great place to explore, maybe on a rainy afternoon or as a reprieve from a humid summer day. Inside are dozens of vendors with local art, fresh baked goods, and straight-from-the-ocean seafood. While most markets tend to be open just on the weekends, this one is open six days a week. It’s attached to the city’s pedway system, which connects many of Saint John’s major buildings without having to go outside.
They always say that when you travel, you should ask a local what they recommend. When you ask a local of Saint John, there’s only one answer: the Irving Nature Park. Despite only being a ten-minute drive from the hustle and bustle of uptown Saint John, you’ll find yourself surrounded by rich trails, beaches, marshes, and fantastic views of the Fundy coastline. The park is free to all visitors and easily accessible, but I recommend hiking. There are plenty of trail options, no matter your ability. If you have young ones, the park also features a children’s forest, playground, and life-size mazes for them to enjoy.
Saint John is also close to one of my favorite beaches: New River Beach. Not many – including New Brunswickers – know about it, but it’s a beautiful sandy beach that’s never too busy. It’s also a popular destination for sand sculptures, so keep an eye out for those.
There are many opportunities to see things you might not see anywhere else in a place surrounded by natural beauty like Saint John. That’s certainly the case with Reversing Falls. In this unique natural phenomenon, the Bay of Fundy and the Saint John River crash into each other during high tide, reversing the water’s direction. If you’re not afraid of heights, there’s a beautiful bridge with a fantastic vantage point for watching the spectacle.
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Mike Morrison, aka @mikebloggity, is a Canadian host, writer, speaker, podcaster and community builder who loves to travel and share his adventures. Enjoy his blog here.
