Why is eco-tourism such a big deal in New Brunswick?
Because we have an abundance of unspoiled woodland, mountains and valleys, ideal for hiking, backpacking and nature walks; over 2,000 km of rich and varied coastline ranging from glorious sandy beaches to craggy cliffs and mysterious coves, and pristine forest-bound rivers fishermen flock to from around the world. And because we have more than 100 exciting Day Adventures that make outdoor activities so enticing and convenient. That's why!

I want an active vacation. How do I find out about what I can do and where I can do it?
That information will be all around you. Adventure Outlets and Adventure Stations are strategically located throughout the province. Our Day Adventure Program is a hot item in New Brunswick. All totalled, there are now over 100 packaged activity and experience adventures ranging from rappelling at Cape Enrage and hiking through the last stretch of undeveloped coastline on the Atlantic seaboard to whale-watching in the Bay of Fundy or a horseback adventure through the wooded hills of Albert County. And that's just the beginning.

If you want to go it alone, just call or e-mail us at to get the specific information you want on your favourite vacation activity.

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How can I be sure of my accommodations?
Your New Brunswick travel information package will include a complete list of all graded properties-from one to five star. It's all part of the Canada Select program, assuring you of the type of lodging you are looking for. Choose from hotels, motels, campgrounds, bed & breakfasts, heritage inns, resorts and outfitters.

I'm a beach person and so are my children... are beaches hard to find and just how equipped are they? Will it mean a lot of driving?
Well, you and your family are definitely looking at the right place for your vacation. New Brunswick is bound on three sides by water. And some of the warmest saltwater beaches north of Virginia are located along the Northumberland Strait. Whether it's rock collecting and cave exploring in the Bay of Fundy at St. Martins Beach, or bird-watching, sun bathing and swimming in the warm waters at Kellys Beach in Kouchibouguac National Park, there's a beach to suit everyone's taste. Most have a variety of accommodation within minutes - campgrounds, heritage inns, hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts. And we've put a lot of effort into making sure our beaches are everything they can be.

Can I speak English in New Brunswick?
Certainly! But in New Brunswick, you have the advantage of getting to know two distinct cultures: English and French. In fact, we are Canada's only officially bilingual province. As welcome as you'll feel in our English communities, we promise you'll be equally pampered in our French areas.

I'm tired of traffic jams and neon lights ... can you lower my blood pressure and keep me stimulated at the same time?
Absolutely! Perhaps a trip back in time is what the doctor ordered. New Brunswick's heritage is a vital part of everyday life - take our covered bridges, for example. There are 66 of them dotted around the province, many of them in Kings County. An afternoon drive can take you through 16 bridges in the Sussex area alone. Travel to Hartland to see the world's longest covered bridge spanning the St. John River. Two historic villages - Kings Landing Historical Settlement and the Acadian Historical Village - depict life as it was over 100 years ago - in two entirely separate cultures. Activities, demonstrations, and villagers living as they once did provide interest and fun for all members of the family. And for natural history fans, there's the Reversing Falls at Saint John, where you can watch as the Bay of Fundy tries to push the river backwards. And at Hopewell Cape, the flowerpot rocks demonstrate just how powerful tidal force can be.

What are drive times like in New Brunswick?
You can travel from one corner of the province to the farthest reach in just over six hours. And if you want to travel from city to city, the longest drive you'll have is three hours, with plenty of interesting towns and villages in between.

They say food is 50 per cent of any vacation... do you have anything special to offer?
We thought you'd never ask! Just about everyone knows about New Brunswick lobster. In fact, Shediac, on our east coast, claims to be the lobster capital of the world. And to celebrate, they stage an annual lobster festival, serving over 90 tons in one week, to people from all over the globe. And maybe you would be interested in other forms of our fabulous seafood...mussels, clams, crab, oysters, scallops, halibut just to get you started. But you may not know about our fiddleheads. As young ostrich ferns, they grow along the banks of our rivers, immersed in the spring freshet, then pop through the ground as the river retreats. The annual harvest takes place in May, before they have a chance to unfurl. In Acadian kitchens you'll find the chefs serving up a little Acadian culture. Try rappie pie or fricot aux coques. And there's nothing like a plate of fiddleheads served with our fresh Atlantic salmon. We can even arrange for you to catch your own, if fishing is your bag. Other gastronomic delights abound. We invented the chocolate bar in St. Stephen, and Ganongs is still able to satisfy even the sweetest tooth. We export our blueberries all over the world. Our potatoes are the back-bone of the McCain's international french fry empire, and our fresh dairy products add wholesome flavour to any meal.

Where can I find out more about New Brunswick?
Just check out our New Brunswick government . There's lots more detail there. If you like the feel of paper between your fingers, you can request a variety of tourism publications. White Gold, a glossy multi-page brochure, lists a whole range of winter activity packages including snowmobiling trips along some of the 9,000 km of groomed trails and over 1,000 km of cross-country ski trails. Our popular Day Adventure publication includes a host of hands-on opportunities -trout fishing, hiking, bird-watching, sea kayaking, whale-watching - it's all there with contact names, directions and reasonable prices. And to help you get organized, ask us for a copy of our all inclusive 2000 Travel Planner.

To order your copies or to find out more about travelling in New Brunswick:

• Call
• Order Online
• or E-mail us at .

Additional Questions.........

What special events/festivals are taking place at any given time in any given area?
There's always something going on in New Brunswick! You can sample seafood at the Lobster Festival in Shediac, dance an Irish jig in the Miramichi, or watch the world-famous Festival by the Sea in Saint John, "The Fundy City". Whatever you decide to do, be prepared for fun, adventure and some fantastic memories.

• Looking for a particular event? Search for the event.
• Call for information on New Brunswick's Calendar of events.
• Stop by any one of our Provincial Visitor Information Centres.

What are the fishing/hunting regulations/seasons?
The Department of Natural Resources and Energy annually publishes the Fish New Brunswick booklet. Available from the Fish and Wildlife branch, it describes the various species of fish, their fishing seasons, and bag and possession regulations. It also outlines fishing areas by region. The New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources and Energy also publishes information pamphlets on hunting zones and regulations. Licences are required for most species. Planning your hunting excursion well in advance is a must. For detailed information and/or to obtain information pamphlets free of charge, contact the of DNRE or Tourism New Brunswick. Information sources that may be of interest to fishing and hunting enthusiasts are:

Fish and Wildlife Branch
Dept. of Natural Resources and Energy
PO Box 6000
Fredericton NB  E3B 5H1
Canada

New Brunswick Outfitters Association
820 Main Street, Unit#2
Woodstock NB  E7M 2E8
(USA)
(Canada)
Web:

Tourism New Brunswick
PO Box 12345
Campbellton NB  E3N 3T6
Canada

Web: NB Tourism Web Site
Email:

 

What is the tide schedule (for the Rocks, Reversing Falls and Tidal Bore)?
Over one hundred billion tons of water charge up the Bay of Fundy daily. That's more water than the combined 24-hour flow of all the rivers in the world! Visitors to New Brunswick should definitely be equipped with a tide schedule available at provincial Visitor Information Centres. Our Tourism Operators also have daily tide schedules. Call them toll-free at and they will tell you the best times to see the most powerful tides in the world.

Do national parks accept reservations at their campgrounds?
New Brunswick's two national parks do accept reservations. The toll-free line is (North America) (effective April 27 to October 12).

Is a passport necessary for Americans to gain entrance into Canada?
No, a passport is not necessary for Americans to gain entrance into Canada but identification is needed. A passport is an indisputable picture ID that could come in handy in any emergency situation.

Who offers bus tours in New Brunswick?
Most cities in New Brunswick have bus companies offering step-on guide service and city tours. Professional guides will take you on a tour of discovery and show you everything from the historic to the quirky. Here is a short list of companies that offer step-on guide services and city tours:

For more detailed information, call the New Brunswick Tourism hotline at .

What about train and bus travel in New Brunswick?
SMT Eastern's passenger coaches and wheelchair accessible Accessobus run all over New Brunswick. To find out the prices and schedules, call:

• 1 within New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island)
• 1 (outside these regions)

ViaRail runs passenger trains through Sackville, Moncton, Miramichi, Petit-Rocher, Charlo, Campbellton, Jacquet River, Bathurst, and Rogersville, with connections coming in from all over Canada. For detailed information and for international departure, check out .

Where can you rent a vehicle?
Almost anywhere! Avis, Budget, Hertz and Tilden have franchises in most cities in New Brunswick. There are also a wide variety of smaller, non-franchised car rental businesses to choose from. Here are some phone numbers so you can do some price-checking:

New Brunswick's Tourism Hotline operators can give you some numbers for smaller, non-franchised car rental services in many cities.
Call .

What are the ferry schedules and fares in New Brunswick?
Ferries are an integral part of life in the Maritimes, so while you're visiting, make sure to sample this fun and exciting way to travel. Just point & click to get schedules and fares.

Ferry services in New Brunswick
Saint John, NB — Digby, NS
Grand Manan Island — Blacks Harbour, NB
Grand Manan Island — Whitehead Island (toll-free)
Deer Island — Letete, NB
Campobello Island — Eastport, Me., and Deer Island

Keep your eyes open for whale and porpoise sightings during your crossing! New Brunswick also boasts several toll-free river ferries, a unique way to cross from bank to bank on the St. John River — the most picturesque river in Atlantic Canada.

Where are the airports in New Brunswick?
With seven major airports served by two international airlines and their local affiliates, it's no wonder New Brunswick is Atlantic Canada's most accessible province!

Use the following guide to help plan your flight path to New Brunswick.

For detailed scheduling information, try the following sites. Enter your New Brunswick destination along with your point of origin and departure date, and these sites will provide you with the flight information you need. And with Air Canada, you can even make a reservation on-line!

What is the weather like in New Brunswick?
New Brunswick's maritime climate gives us the best of all seasons. In summer, you'll appreciate some of the warmest saltwater beaches north of Virginia. Autumn brings spectacular colours, as hunters and harvesters begin their annual rituals. New Brunswick winters are pure White Gold, with blankets of snow to zoom, mush, whoosh, or glide across. And springtime in New Brunswick is a canoeist's paradise.

Click if you'd like to know what today's weather and the extended forecast are like across New Brunswick.

Where can I golf in New Brunswick?
There is challenging (and rewarding) golf terrain in New Brunswick. With 42 member clubs of the New Brunswick Golf Association, the province is peppered with courses designed for all levels of play. Here are some of the jewels guaranteed to please even the pros.

Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club in Bathurst, N.B.
Semi-private, non-member walk-ons available
Gowan Brae is located on the North Shore of New Brunswick, along the scenic Chaleur Bay. Designed by Robbie Robinson, the 6577 yard layout is a challenge for one and all. The lush green fairways and large, sloping greens are always in perfect shape thanks to a great watering system. Ask for some tips on how to manage the back nine (especially the treacherous 13th) from pro, Eric St.-George.

Mactaquac Provincial Park in Fredericton, N.B.
Public course, non-member tee bookings available
Site of the 1992 Canadian Tour Atlantic Classic, Mactaquac Golf Course is one of the best in the East. Located just 25 kilometres outside of Fredericton, wide fairways and enormous bunkers keep golfers coming back again and again. Take a camera...you may want some snaps of the deer that occasionally accompany golfers on their round.

Algonquin Golf Club in St. Andrews By-the-Sea, N.B.
Public course, non-member tee bookings available
Host of the 1989 Canadian Club Professionals Championship, this 6451 yard Donald Ross course is a genuine treat. Nestled in the historic resort town of St. Andrews by-the-Sea, the course is just a stone's throw from the famous and the beautiful Passamaquoddy Bay. The Algonquin is a mature, sophisticated layout that leaves you satisfied no matter what your score.

 

What is the phone number for various accommodations in New Brunswick?
While there is no single phone number for all accommodations in New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Travel Planner has a comprehensive list of accommodations by region including Canada Select ratings, addresses, phone numbers, facilities and prices.

To get your copy of the Travel Planner, call NB Tourism's toll-free hotline at or fill out our Online Form.

The Travel Planner also lists some fantastic vacation packages — from romantic retreats for two to weekends of fun and adventure for the entire family!

What are the major attractions?
We've put together a list of New Brunswick's Top Attractions. Wait till you see what we have to offer!

• Top Attractions
• Check out our Welcome to New Brunswick guide, available at any New Brunswick Visitor Information Centre.

What is Magnetic Hill all about?
Magnetic Hill is a popular theme park in Moncton centred around one of Canada's most extraordinary natural attractions. People from all across Canada and indeed the world, put their cars in neutral at the end of a narrow, unassuming dirt road and watch in amazement as they proceed to roll backwards up the hill! Even the water rolls uphill. Don't miss the place that would make even Einstein scratch his head.

Canada's third most visited natural attraction has more than just the gravity-defying hill to offer. The famous Magic Mountain Water Theme Park and zoo will keep the family busy all day long. You can meet the challenge of the Kamikaze waterslide then slow down the pace with a scenic train ride around the park. There's something for everyone at Magnetic Hill.

For more information about Magnetic Hill, its water theme park or its zoo, please call .

Where can I get lobster in New Brunswick?
Lobster is a staple food in New Brunswick! Many restaurants will serve this delectable seafood year-round. However, there are some sure bets when searching for this crafty crustacean! Shediac, the Lobster Capital of the World, holds an annual Lobster Festival where lobster-lovers gather for five days of feasting. When you get tired of eating it (if that's possible), you can visit the town centrepiece, the largest lobster in the world — 10.7 m (35 feet) long and 4.9 m (16 feet) wide, this gigantic creature weighs more than 81 metric tonnes (90 imperial tons).

To find out more about the Shediac Lobster Festival, call .

If you feel like preparing a tasty feast for yourself, you can get your seafood ingredients from one of New Brunswick's many fish markets. The prices are usually a bit lower and the selection is always fantastic. To find the best markets in the region you're visiting, your best bet is to ask the locals. New Brunswickers know their seafood!