Issue link: http://read.canadatravelguides.ca/i/651528
TRAVEL GUIDE TO CANADA Straddling the muddy Petitcodiac River, Greater Moncton has surpassed Saint John to become the province's most populous urban centre. Originally nick- named the "Hub City" by virtue of its central location, it now doubles as a hub of tourist activity because Greater Moncton is home to attractions like the Magic Mountain Water Park, Casino New Brunswick—the province's only such venue—and Magnetic Hill which, in addition to the eponymous hill, boasts a zoo plus an amphitheatre that hosts big-name musical acts ( www.tourism. moncton.ca). THE GREAT OUTDOORS New Brunswick is blessed with superlative natural attractions: the world's highest tides, some of the oldest mountains, and second biggest whirlpool. These sites are, quite literally, phenomenal. Yet what makes the outdoors truly "great" is that it has something for everyone. The Fundy Trail—known for its precipitous cliffs, aromatic evergreens and sublime views— is a case in point. Über-fi t hikers can spend days traversing this part of the Trans Canada Trail. But, thanks to an adjacent parkway, key portions are accessible to children and the physically challenged, too. Equally important is the fact that nature in New Brunswick is always close at hand, even in urban areas. Visitors to Saint John can splash out in Rockwood Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the country, or go wild by the seaside in the Irving Nature Park without leaving the city limits. Fresh air afi cionados in Fredericton, similarly, can stroll, bike and rollerblade on a riverfront path dubbed "The Green" or get out on the water by boat. Moncton, meanwhile, puts sand connoisseurs in reach of both the delicate Bouctouche dunes and bustling Parlee Beach. HERITAGE AND CULTURE Occupied by Aboriginals for more than 3,000 years, New Brunswick inherited two other cultures from its early French and English settlers. Indoor/outdoor venues such as the Metepenagiag Heritage Park, Village Historique Acadien and Kings Landing Historical Settlement—celebrat- ing Mi'kmaqs, Acadians and Loyalists respectively—help establish the historical context, as does the engaging New Brunswick Museum in Saint John. Local culture here, however, is a living entity that survives outside museum-like settings. Eclectic artisans, many of them concen- trated around Fredericton, put a contempo- rary spin on age-old crafts. Poets and playwrights uphold a rich literary tradition, performing in coffee houses and theatres. Musicians thrive as well, which explains why, along with almost every imaginable form of modern music, you can hear hypnotic First Nations drumbeats, British folk songs and Cajun-style fi ddles in pubs and at concerts or festivals province-wide. MUST SEE, MUST DO Hopewell Cape's tree-tufted islands always look lovely, but their full beauty is only revealed when the tide ebbs, transforming them into megaliths looming above the bare ocean fl oor (www.thehopewell rocks.ca). For fl ower fans, Kingsbrae Garden is reason enough to visit prim, trim St. Andrews by-the-Sea. Created from several old estates, the 11-ha (27-acre) property has over 20 themed zones (www.kingsbrae garden.com). Kouchibouguac National Park has an array of ecosystems and recreational options. You can swim, bike, boat, fi sh, or QUICK FACT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE FAMOUS "FLOWERPOT" ROCKS AT HOPEWELL CAPE WERE GIVEN THEIR NICKNAME BY ROBERT RIPLEY. SPECIAL EVENTS FEBRUARY • Winterfesthiver, fredericton • World Pond Hockey Championships, Plaster rock JUNE • St. Mary's (Sitansisk) first nation Powwow, fredericton JUNE Ÿ JULY • Campbellton Salmon festival JULY • Buskers on the Boardwalk, Saint John • Canada's irish festival, Miramichi • La foire Brayonne, edmundston • Lamèque international Baroque Music festival • new Brunswick Highland Games festival, fredericton • Shediac Lobster festival AUGUST • Chocolate fest, St. Stephen • festival acadien de Caraquet • Miramichi folksong festival SEPTEMBER • atlantic international Balloon fiesta, Sussex • Harvest Jazz & Blues festival, fredericton OCTOBER • thanksgiving festival, Kings Landing www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca/Do/ FestivalsAndEvents.aspx fort BeaUSÉJoUr • ParKS CanaDa NEW BRUNSWICK