Our Sweet summer in Canada series explores vacation destinations across the country that report the highest levels of life satisfaction. This month, we’re exploring some popular vacation destinations in the province that reported the third-highest levels of life satisfaction: New Brunswick. In the first quarter of 2024, 52.6% of New Brunswick’s population reported a high level of life satisfaction (8, 9 or 10 on a scale of 1 to 10).
From saltwater beaches, to locally caught seafood and incredible wonders of nature, let’s dive into some of our top picks when it comes to vacationing in New Brunswick.
Canada’s warmest saltwater beaches
Calling all beach bums! If you’re on the hunt for beaches to visit this summer, New Brunswick is the place to go for a vacation by the ocean in Canada.
New Brunswick is home to Canada’s warmest saltwater beaches. New Brunswick has 2,732 kilometres of coastline, and in 2016, 32% of the province’s population lived within 10 kilometres of the coastline.
Some of the most popular saltwater beaches in New Brunswick are located in provincial and national parks, including Kouchibouguac National Park, Parlee Beach Provincial Park and Murray Beach Provincial Park.
Although summer seems to fly by, many people in Canada make time for a beach getaway. From July to September 2021, there were 11.6 million visits to beaches in Canada reported by Canadian residents while on a domestic trip.
When visiting New Brunswick’s beaches, you may even meet some friendly locals. In 2021, one-quarter (25%) of households in New Brunswick reported swimming, going to the beach, surfing, scuba diving or snorkelling.
The Bay of Fundy: Home of flowerpot rocks
The Bay of Fundy is located between the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and is known for having the highest tidal range in the world. The tides in the Bay of Fundy can rise up to 16 metres and send 160 billion tonnes of seawater in and out of the bay twice a day.
One of the best places to experience the rising tides is Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park, where thousands of years of high and low tides have created the famous flowerpot rocks.
The flowerpot rocks are distinctive sandstone formations, completely visible at low tide, when you can walk along the ocean floor and admire their beauty. Once the tides have risen, you can kayak around the rocks to get a closer look at the trees and vegetation growing on top.
In 2021, more than 1 in 10 households (16%) in New Brunswick reported boating, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, rowing, dragon boating or seadooing.
When visiting New Brunswick, the flowerpot rocks are a spectacle you don’t want to miss. Fundy National Park is also located along the Bay of Fundy and offers over 30 trails where you’ll witness stunning coastal views of high tides and Acadian forest.
Discover charm and history in Saint John
Where the Saint John River meets the Bay of Fundy, is the only city located on the Bay of Fundy: Saint John, New Brunswick. Witness the rising tides of the Bay of Fundy at the Reversing Falls Rapids or walk along the beautiful streets of Saint John to discover 19th-century architecture, theatres, museums and restaurants.
The city of Saint John has a land area of 315.59 square kilometres and was home to 69,895 people in 2021, up 3.4% from 2016. The average age of the population living in Saint John was 43.3 years.
Be sure to stop by the Saint John City Market, a designated National Historic Site of Canada. The Saint John City Market is open Monday through Saturday year-round, and offers a little something for everyone to enjoy, from art installations and community events to local and international food stalls.
Locally caught fish and seafood such as salmon, lobster, crab, oysters and shrimp are a must if you’re looking for the best food to try when visiting this seaside city.
In 2021, the employment rate in Saint John was 54.1%. Among those 15 years and older in the labour force, 7.3% worked in accommodation and food services, while 1.4% worked in the arts, recreation and entertainment sector.
To discover more of everything that New Brunswick has to offer, check out New Brunswick’s tourism website.
Stay tuned: New Brunswick is the third province that we’re exploring as part of our summer vacation destinations series. Over the summer months, we will be featuring summer vacation spots across more Canadian regions.
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