Top 8 Reasons Why You Need To See New Brunswick, Canada’s Hidden Gem – Atlantic Ocean
Saint John Port, New Brunswick, Canada
Handling about 27 million tons of cargo a year, Saint John Port is not only the largest port in New Brunswick but plays a major role for the province’s petroleum, aquaculture, timber and potash industries. It occupies about 120 hectares along the entrance of Saint John River and is administered by the Saint John Port Authority.
This is Canada‘s 3rd largest port by tonnage with a cargo base that includes dry and liquid bulk, break bulk, containers and cruise. Irving Oil Refinery, Canada‘s 2nd largest oil refinery is located in Saint John.
An Overview on New Brunswick:
Considered as the oldest province in Canada, the first settlers were the Iroquoian and Alganquia (Indians) peoples who arrived in 1000 A.D. In 1604 Acadia, colony of New France was established but in 1775-1764 the British drove them out from the territory, said event to be remembered as the Great Upheaval. New Brunswick joined Canada in 1867 and it is the country’s ONLY official bilingual province with French and English having an equal status.
In the far, east coast of Canada, on its border with Maine, USA lies New Brunswick. This province bears Acadian traditions, centuries old, where cars roll uphill and rivers flow backwards. I saw a huge strip of the province through Saint John Port on May 1998 aboard M/T Knock Muir, a place to get lost in virgin wilderness and let’s take a look on the top reasons why you need to see New Brunswick, here in Canada.
1. Step back in time at the Village Historique Acadien Provincial Park.
This is an open-air museum and a top reason why you need to see Village Historique Acadien Provincial Park (Acadian Historical Village), the ancestral domain of French colonists that settled in Canada in the 1600s-1700s. Located in Bertrand, New Brunswick this is a historical reconstruction that brings to life the culture of the Acadians between 1770-1949 as portrayed by actors.
2. Birthplace of the ice cream cone.
In Sussex, New Brunswick circa 1913, a baker named Walter Donelly has made a mistake with his dough and was wondering what to do with the crispy pastry. And so he ran next door, at an ice cream shop to fill up the pastry with ice cream. Thus the birth of the ice cream cone, and a top reason why you need to see Sussex, New Brunswick, the Dairy Capital of Canada.
3. Walk at the world’s longest covered bridge.
In the 19th century, most bridges in North America were covered to protect the bridge’s timber trusses and decks from snow and rain preventing decay and rot. New Brunswick built several bridges with this kind and the one in Hartland built in 1921 is the longest covered bridge in the world. An opportunity to walk on this historic bridge which up to this time is still a reliable travel route is a top reason why you need to see Hartland‘s major tourism icon.
4. Discover how an early British pioneer in New Brunswick lived at King’s Landing Historical Settlement.
And of course, learning New Brunswick history is not complete without exploring how the early English settlers lived in the area, same way as that of Village Historique Acadien Provincial Park. King’s Landing Historical Settlement near Fredericton, N.B. fits this historical role and a top reason why you need to see the area as you will be transported back in time to 200 years, of what life in the area was during the 19th century.
5. Home of the longest natural sandbar in North America.
A top reason why you need to see New Brunswick, the Bay of Chaleur which is situated between Quebec and New Brunswick has the longest natural sandbar in North America. The sandbar has freshwater on one side coming from the Eel River coastal drive and saltwater from the Bay of Chaleur on the other side. This bay is also home to an unusual visual phenomenon, the Fireship of Chaleur (or Phantom of Chaleur Bay) which takes the form of an arc of light usually seen before a storm that resembles like a ship on fire.
6. Where the first chocolate bar in the world was born.
Arthur Ganong, son of the founder of Ganongs Chocolates of St. Stephen in New Brunswick would never leave home without a handful of their chocolates in his pocket. In 1910, while he became tired of cleaning the mess, he wrapped the chocolates with an aluminum foil which he eventually made individually-wrapped bars of the sweets and sold them for a nickel each. This is how the first chocolate bar in the world came into being, it started in St. Stephen at the Ganong’s Chocolate Museum and a top reason why you need to see New Brunswick.
7. Famous for being the lobster capital of the world.
In the town of Shediac, the largest lobsters in the world are found here, a top reason why you need to see New Brunswick. Known as the lobster capital of the world, gain a unique experience here when you join the locals to sit at the world’s longest lobster dinner table.
8. Home of the Old Sow, largest ocean whirlpool in the western hemisphere.
Located in the area is the largest ocean whirlpool found in the western hemisphere called Old Sow due to the sound it produces, like a sow and a top reason why you need to see New Brunswick. A whirlpool is a rotating body of water produced by opposing currents.
Immerse yourself in the vastness of New Brunswick, this underrated magical landscape, far in the east-central region of Canada. When you’re there, you will never want to leave. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, give yourself this chance to enjoy a small-town feel where everybody knows everybody.
Reference: Wikipedia