New Brunswick/Cape Breton/Halifax for a week

[TimSJ]

If you are given the choice i would personally pick Saint John to Stay in instead of Moncton only a 40 min drive and better city i think than Moncton. Do not stay in Sussex if at all possible. Really nothing there

Great Restaurant and Arts scene in Saint John's uptown these days the city really has started to transform over the last number of years.

Sea Dogs QMJHL home opener is Sept 24th if you are still here.

Harvesting the Arts Festival is also the 24th at Kings Square in SJ

A night at the Algonquin in St Andrews is always great particularly if you want a round of golf.

Fundy Park and the Hopewell rocks are a must for sure.

If you need anything while you are here drop me a line.. Happy to help

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

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.

Yea it looks like everything is booked up, there are a few rooms left but they are like $300 a night for just a standard room at the ritzy hotels. But honestly I might just say screw it and pay, I am not sure when I will ever get a chance to see Halifax again and I hate to squander this chance. Airbnb is another option although with all our work laptops, ipad etc.. I like having a safe to throw everything in. I've had bad experiences using it in the past, although I know I am the minority in that.

I would prefer to stay in St. John but my wife Audits the mines and its like a 20 minute drive for her from Sussex or over a hour from St. John... plus her work picks where she stays as they are paying. At least until Wed night, then we can go where ever we want as her work is done for the week.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by TimSJ

If you are given the choice i would personally pick Saint John to Stay in instead of Moncton only a 40 min drive and better city i think than Moncton. Do not stay in Sussex if at all possible. Really nothing there

Great Restaurant and Arts scene in Saint John's uptown these days the city really has started to transform over the last number of years.

Sea Dogs QMJHL home opener is Sept 24th if you are still here.

Harvesting the Arts Festival is also the 24th at Kings Square in SJ

A night at the Algonquin in St Andrews is always great particularly if you want a round of golf.

Fundy Park and the Hopewell rocks are a must for sure.

If you need anything while you are here drop me a line.. Happy to help

I've never in my life heard anyone tell someone to pick Saint John over Moncton, than I saw the "SJ" at the end of your name

Honestly, both are pretty crap compared to Halifax though. Halifax and PEI is where I tell everyone to go from Out West. I think they'd be pretty disappointed in both Moncton and Saint John if they had to spend more than a night there. When my parents leave this world, I will never step foot in New Brunswick again. Will definitely come back and visit NS and PEI, but NB is out of the question. If you ever watched that show "Just Passing Through", NB truly is the arsehole of the Maritimes. Saddens me to say it being from NB, but NS and PEI just have so much more to offer tourists.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

If Halifax is booked .... Fortress of Louisburg

That's your day.

Bring a sweater.

Keep in mind it's only 1/3 done.

Eat the bread and drink the rum.

[puffnstuff]

I had to stay in Sussex for a week for work a couple of years ago. There is nothing to do there. Drove to SJ for dinner a couple of nights. Did find a decent lunch diner, if I remember right its north of town, north side of the highway.
Thats all I got.

[FireGilbert]

I have spent a total of 8 hours in New Brunswick. Went to Fundy National park at low tide and it was amazing.

[moncton golden flames]

if i were you, i would make the venture to grand manan island.
https://goo.gl/maps/s6izQg1hzAt

[GreenLantern]

Hrmm it appears that the park closes at 5 for the Hopewell Rocks, so we won't get a chance to see them. September 06 – October 10 09h00 – 17h00

Any other suggestions for a night trip in the area between Saint John and Moncton? Fundy trail might be neat for a few hours of daylight?

Edit: Ok wait I am reading this wrong, the park hours close but apparently you can still access the rocks. This table shows me that we can walk the beach up until 8 on the Tuesday the 13th.

http://www.thehopewellrocks.ca/wp-co...ember-2016.pdf

I called the place, apparently if you come after hours you just park outside the gate and walk in. Just pay attention to the tide tables if you're planning to walk the beach. So they charge up until 5, but if you come at 5:01 you just walk in? Seems weird. I guess there are other amenities available during the business hours.

[Fuzz]

Oh, you are driving at night? That road is not all that wide and fairly windy(could be animal danger?) and I seam to remember most of it in the trees so I'm not sure you would see a lot.

[GreenLantern]

We're planning to do the Hopewell Rocks at night, before sunset obviously, if we leave right after work we can be there by 5:30 which gives us about 2 hours before sunset. The cabot trail we will be doing during the day.

[Fuzz]

Ah, OK. That's cool you can get in for free, I don't think you miss anything other than the info centre/cafeteria. You will want to give yourself some time as it is a bit of a walk. bring a flashlight in case you walk back in the dark.

[Fuzz]

Looking at the map:
http://www.thehopewellrocks.ca/wp-co...llRocksMap.pdf
You may just be able to go to the North Beach parking lot and go straight to staircase cove, the only way down.

[GreenLantern]

Hrmm yes that appears to be much faster than walking all the way around from the other parking lot, the shuttle trail would save some time I guess as well.

I did not realize it was such a big deal, I thought I would just drive up to a beach and some rocks would be there lol.

[shane_c]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Any other suggestions for a night trip in the area between Saint John and Moncton?

Fredericton is a nice little city. I lived there from 2000-2004 and really enjoyed it. If you're there on a Saturday you can go to the market, walking along the St. John River and over the old train bridge is a nice way to spend some time. Odell Park is also very near downtown and nice for a walk in the woods. Beaverbrook Art Gallery is nice too.

[Fuzz]

Ha, ya that's what I thought too. I think it's a 15 minute walk from the main gate, but if you go to the viewpoints probably 30 min. You don't want to get their to early anyway, or the water will be to high and you can't get down. Oh, it' also freakin muddy(as you might expect). They have a wash station at the top of the stairs, but it may be turned off if the park is closed, so ya, be prepared for that...

[GreenLantern]

Alright so I ended up flying into Moncton and went to the Pumphouse while I waited for my wife to get off work and drive in to get me, the beer was good, not great but good. Then we went and did the touristy things like Magnetic Hill which was pretty neat and watched the tidal bore while an elderly fellow played a song on his accordion, which again was pretty neat. Then we went to the Tide and Board (get it?) pub and drank some great beer (Big Axe and Celtic something Hopicide) and ate some New Brunswick oysters and fish and chips, all three were delicious. It was a very nice evening in the city of Moncton, there are some very nice houses up in the forested hills that reminded me of being in Canmore. Total time spent was around 5 hours and I think that was about all we needed, although the Zoo looked pretty cool. I was impressed with how clean and well kept the city is and it is very, very green and forested. I wish we were about a week later to see all the leaves changed though.

Trying to figure out if we want try for the Hopewell Rocks tonight or try and hit a smaller coastal town like Alma or St. Martin to experience the coast or head into Saint John. Tomorrow night we drive to Cape Breton.

[Fuzz]

If you go through Port Hood on Cape Bretton be sure to get a picture by the "home of Al MacInnis" sign!
https://goo.gl/maps/5tHU4UjYAMT2

[JonDuke]

If you go to Fundy, stop at the little bakery right before the park entrance. Get the "sticky buns". You can thank me later.

[GreenLantern]

Ahh see I was between Alma and St. Martins, but St. Martins won because its closer to Saint John. Tonight we will drive to St. Martins, check out the sea caves, have a bite to eat and take a quick tour around the town. Then drive in to Saint John to try some more local brews.

The Hopewell rocks are 1.5 hours from Sussex, we wouldn't get there until 6:30-7 by the time we are done work and grab a bite to eat.. and then have around 10 minutes of daylight left by the time we actually get anywhere inside the closed park. Then find our way back in the dark. Just not meant to be this time around. Sea caves should be a neat alternative though. Edit: and according to her facebook page that bakery closes at 5 anyway :/

[moncton golden flames]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Alright so I ended up flying into Moncton and went to the Pumphouse while I waited for my wife to get off work and drive in to get me, the beer was good, not great but good. Then we went and did the touristy things like Magnetic Hill which was pretty neat and watched the tidal bore while an elderly fellow played a song on his accordion, which again was pretty neat. Then we went to the Tide and Board (get it?) pub and drank some great beer (Big Axe and Celtic something Hopicide) and ate some New Brunswick oysters and fish and chips, all three were delicious. It was a very nice evening in the city of Moncton, there are some very nice houses up in the forested hills that reminded me of being in Canmore. Total time spent was around 5 hours and I think that was about all we needed, although the Zoo looked pretty cool. I was impressed with how clean and well kept the city is and it is very, very green and forested. I wish we were about a week later to see all the leaves changed though.

Trying to figure out if we want try for the Hopewell Rocks tonight or try and hit a smaller coastal town like Alma or St. Martin to experience the coast or head into Saint John. Tomorrow night we drive to Cape Breton.

For Pete's sake, if you do go to the rocks after hours, be very cautious and do not get trapped by the incoming tide. It comes in very fast and catches many people off guard.

Personally, I would skip the rocks and drive towards Alma, with a detour. From Moncton you drive south on 114 thru Hillsborough and past Hopewell Cape. When you come to Riverside-Albert, take route 915 thru New Horton and towards Cape Enrage. At Cape Enrage, drive up to the lighthouse and walk around. Beautiful views and a great spot for a picnic.

From Cape Enrage, continue on 915 to Alma. On the way is Dennis Beach, a Unesco Fundy Biosphere Reserve. Really beautiful spot.

Once in Alma, go directly to Kelly's bakeshop for sticky buns. If you get there too late in the day, they may be sold out. Always best to call a day ahead!

If you are interested in spending the night down in that area, look inside Fundy National Park. Check out Fundy Highlands Motel & Chalets. Amazing elevated views over the Bay of Fundy. We used to bring lobster back up to the motel, sit outside on the picnic tables and look out over the Bay. Great way to kick back at the end of a day.

I grew up closer to Hillsborough, but Fundy was basically our back yard, so I know the area well, I really hope you enjoy Albert County!