New Brunswick/Cape Breton/Halifax for a week

[GreenLantern]

My wife is going to New Brunswick for work for the week in mid September and I thought I might join her and extend it into the weekend. She is staying in Sussex, which is not a very big town and is about 40 minutes NE of St. John. So we could commute into St. John or Moncton for the night and then on Thursday at noon she is done for the week so we would have Thursday night and all day Friday/Saturday to do what we want.

I'm thinking of flying in early on the Saturday as they have some sort of hot air balloon festival including rides in Sussex on the Sunday. Then on the weekend we would either drive into St. John or Moncton.

Any advice/tips?

[Maritime Q-Scout]

I'm not super familiar with Sussex other than it's about halfway between Moncton and Saint John.

As for things to do in Moncton:

• Magnetic Hill & The Zoo are decent touristy things
• Pumphouse MicroBrewery & Restaurant is good
• Moncton gets some good acts through, check the Casino, Capitol Theatre, and Colliesum
• Tree-Go is pretty awesome
• Wildcasts could be playing

As for Saint John, I'm not as familiar but:

• Reversing Falls is cool (the waterfalls changes direction depending on the tide)
• Downtown is small but a nice walk to explore
• Sea Dogs could be playing, and Harbour Station gets the odd bigger show

If you're willing to drive 1.5-2 hours then Fredericton has the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Jazz Fest *might* be going on then, but I think it may be earlier than mid-September. Fredericton is a very pretty city to explore.

Halifax is also only about 2 hours away and I think there's a thread about Halifax/Nova Scotia not too far back.

That's off the top of my head, if you have any specific questions let me know. I've spent a few years in New Brunswick, and have lots of family there.

[Fuzz]

BORING! Just kidding. Was there a couple years ago. If you are there for a full moon, you can watch the tidal bore come in at Moncton. Sounds boring, but if it is a good tide, guys will surf the wave as it comes in. It's pretty neat, I think there is a website that tells you what time it hits Moncton so you don't have to stand around watching the tide for hours... It's a nice drive to the Bay of Funday, and Hopewell Rocks is really cool as well.

[Fuzz]

Just looked at a map....I'd suggest driving to bay of Funday park(bring your park pass if you have one!) then up the coast, hit Hopewell Rocks then to Moncton. Would make a good day. If you like hiking there are several in Funday Park. I could suggest one if you want. Hopewell is a also a bit of a walk about, but it's all pathways and it is a little expensive for what it is.

[MoneyGuy]

Hopewell Rocks is a must. That's all I got. We went to Hopewell Rocks on our way to PEI.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Hopewell is a also a bit of a walk about, but it's all pathways and it is a little expensive for what it is.

Really? I spent a whole day at Hopewell Rocks and it was awesome. That tide was insane.

[Firebot]

Do Hopewell Rocks, go whale watching in St Andrews, drive past Moncton to Shediac and get some fresh lobster, or go on a fishing boat tour. You also have time to drive to Halifax for a night and back, drive on the east NB coast (very scenic), or even visit PEI for a day

Avoid at all costs Magnetic Hill, Reversing Falls or anything which is a campy tourist trap that sounds as boring as the dscription.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Admittedly I haven't done Hopewell Rocks. Just never got around to it... yet.

Reversing Falls doesn't cost anything. You just watch the falls reverse. Tide's low the water falls into the harbour, the tide's high the water in the harbour is above the river and the water falls into the river.

I haven't done magnetic hill, no idea the cost, but Moncton isn't that exciting, gotta come up with something.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

Really? I spent a whole day at Hopewell Rocks and it was awesome. That tide was insane.

I think knowing that it used to be free, and me being cheap may have coloured my opinion But yes, it is super cool.

[GreenLantern]

I think driving to Halifax is going to happen, I've always wanted to go there and I am not sure when I will ever be this close again. Is the drive at all scenic? Or relaxing? or is it like driving from Red Deer to Edmonton? We've got all week in New Brunswick to go do these activities, she is usually done work around 4 and the mine is close so we would be on our way out to somewhere by 5 or 5:30. So maybe Halifax Friday morning and then back to St. John (as our flight leaves from there Sunday) for Saturday.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Unfortunately the drive through NB and down to Halifax is not scenic but I do recommend swinging Halifax if possible. Then again I could be comparing it to other drives through the Maritimes.

[Fuzz]

This is the scenery:
https://goo.gl/maps/CeYXLRVTfYL2

That's about it, anywhere you drive(except close to the Bay of Funday or along the coast. If you are driving through the middle of it though, this is all you will see. I didn't even have to know this location, I just randomly street-viewed and it was exactly what I thought it would look like. So ya. Yay.

If you are into fossils, and are going to Halifax, you can detour a bit to Joggins Fossil cliffs. Just make sure you time it for low tide, or it isn't worth going as you can't get down to the cliffs.

[JiriHrdina]

Eat. Eat. Eat.
Chowder and Lobster!!

[TheAlpineOracle]

I'm from Moncton and can probably answer any questions you may have. I'm actually currently there. My wife is also from Saint John so I've spent a lot of time there as well.

Getting out of Sussex is a must. Absolutely nothing to do there.

I see someone had mentioned Sussex to Halifax is a 2 hour drive. It's at least 3.5. On a good day, Halifax is 2.5 hours from Moncton. I wouldn't recommend going to Halifax unless you are spending the night as it would be a very long day on a very boring road. That said, . I wouldn't recommend anyone going to Halifax unless they were spending the night anyways because the liquor, she is a flowing there.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Firebot

Do Hopewell Rocks, go whale watching in St Andrews, drive past Moncton to Shediac and get some fresh lobster, or go on a fishing boat tour. You also have time to drive to Halifax for a night and back, drive on the east NB coast (very scenic), or even visit PEI for a day

Avoid at all costs Magnetic Hill, Reversing Falls or anything which is a campy tourist trap that sounds as boring as the dscription.

Magnetic hill is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. I went yesterday for the first time in my despite growing Up there and it had my blown away. I did the treck up and down the hill like 5 times.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Just as an FYI, if you are not used to humidity, it's humid as hell here. Even isn't says 22-23 on the temperature gauge, you will sweat your balls off if you aren't used to it. May want to consider into your packing. I'm dying here at my parents as they don't have AC and I'm no longer used to the humidity living in Calgary for the past decade.

[GreenLantern]

So it appears there is a Film Festival in Halifax the same time we want to go there, from the 15th-22nd, and every single hotel is booked up in the downtown. Might have to look at alternate locations, like PEI.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

So it appears there is a Film Festival in Halifax the same time we want to go there, from the 15th-22nd, and every single hotel is booked up in the downtown. Might have to look at alternate locations, like PEI.

Charlottetown has nice pubs and bars and really punched above its weight for Restaurants. I'm headed over tommorow.

Also, have you considered looking at waterfront hotels in Dartmouth if you can't get anything in Halifax? There's only a short ferry ride over and a cab fare isn't that bad. If you really want to see Halifax (which I would highly recommend), you could also go the Airbnb and VRBO route.

[Northendzone]

I thought there were a lot of donair shops in the east?

nothing wrong with eating donairs

[Ruttiger]

Shediac and Parlee Beach. It'll be quiet now that Labour Day has passed (might be a blessing?) but a really nice seaside spot. We got engaged on Parlee Beach on September 14, 2010 so it holds some charm for us.