Saint John, New Brunswick Your Host for a Fabulous Fundy Adventure 11 March, 2004
Discover the natural beauty of rugged coastlines on a hike through seaside parks, or kayak through salt marshes on the Bay of Fundy while keeping the convenience of a modern city close at hand. Saint John has all this to offer and more…
The Port of Saint John easily accommodates even the largest of cruise vessels a short walk from our uptown core. Proximity to attractions, boutiques, and restaurants is a major feature of the multi-use cruise facility being developed by Saint John Port Authority at the site of Pugsley A/B berth. Completion of the facility is expected in 2005, further enhancing the visitor experience in Saint John.
Founded in 1785, this community of 125,000 prides itself with a warm, welcoming hospitality encountered the moment a guest sets foot in the city and continues throughout the duration of their visit.
Saint John is the only place where the power of the Bay of Fundy turns a 450-mile long river backwards twice daily (Reversing Falls) and on the other extreme, Saint John is the home of Moosehead Breweries, Canada’s oldest independent brewery.
The diverse cultural heritage of this pioneering city is easily discovered during a visit to the New Brunswick Museum or a handful of smaller museums dedicated to remembering and interpreting a long and rich history. A special celebration commemorating the first recorded European colonization of the region will occur city in 2004 with the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain’s exploration of the region and naming of the St. John River.
On the way to museums and national historic sites, visitors enjoy exploring our historic streets in the Trinity Royal Preservation Area, recently awarded a prestigious Prince of Wales prize for heritage preservation and conservation. Within this 20-block area boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries are all a short walk from the cruise terminal. A historic walking tour map obtainable at the visitor information centre at Market Square will explain the history of Saint John and its growth as an important commercial centre and world-class port.
A short distance from the cruise terminal is the Old City Market, Canada’s oldest, continuing farmers market, a National Historic Site established in 1877. As visitors stroll through the Market they are encouraged to look up to see the ceiling which is in the shape of a ship’s hull, reflecting the importance of wooden shipbuilding to this port city.
Brunswick and Market Squares, both in the heart of the uptown, offer shopping, dinning and entertainment for cruise visitors. These two shopping centers are connected to the City Market via above or underground pedways spanning four blocks.
Harbour Passage, created in 2003 and expanding in 2004, is a system of pathways, green spaces and recreation areas beginning on the Boardwalk outside Market Square and continuing 2.4 kilometres (1.5 miles) along the waterfront.
New in 2004 are the Reversing Falls water taxi service which travels the distance from Market Slip (near the cruise terminal) to the Reversing Falls in a few short minutes, and Gray Line Trolley Tours, which will be available twice daily in July and August. These two options give visitors a chance to explore and discover the city and its attractions in a whole new way.
Outside the City of Saint John is the coastal community of St. Martins, New Brunswick. Here visitors will delight in exploring sea caves carved by Fundy’s tremendous tides or hiking/biking the11 kilometers of winding trails on the Fundy Trail Parkway. A suspension footbridge across the crystal clear waters of the Big Salmon River, cliffs, pristine beaches, and tumbling waterfalls are combined with historic interpretation in a re-creation of the bunkhouse which housed men who worked and lived in this once-thriving logging community.
From stunning coastal scenery to historic, shop-lined streetscapes, from the hospitality of our people to the adventure that awaits on our waterways, Saint John, New Brunswick is an experience, and a port, not to be missed!
