Don’t be put off by the industrial edges of New Brunswick’s largest city. Once past the few factory smokestacks, the overbuilt overpasses, and the busy docks, you’ll find a surprisingly rich array of natural attractions, and a small but charming “uptown” with more than 80 bars and restaurants, numerous boutiques, and a thriving arts scene. The central downtown district—once you find it—is laid out in grid-like blocks and squares, good for walks waiting for the ferry to Digby, bites to eat, and a pint of beer. Take your time strolling through the streets to observe the mix of architectural styles—Canada’s largest incorporated city has one of the best kept collections of historical buildings in the country. Elaborate Victorian flourishes mark many commercial buildings (look high along the cornices to appreciate the intricate brickwork.) A few impressive mansions are tucked into the side streets, their interiors featuring intricate wood carving--appropriately so, since timber barons built most of those.
Rockwood Park, one of Canada’s largest municipal parks, offers 2,200 acres of unspoiled natural beauty, with 13 lakes, 55 trails and footpaths, and am 18-hole golf course. It was designed by the same team of architects behind New York City’s Central Park and operates as a four-season adventure zone with rock climbing, kayaking, cross-country skiing and skating among the many activities on offer. Harbour Passage, a series of interconnected waterfront park and heritage sites, links past and present; the Reversing Rapids provides opportunity for thrill seekers through providing a daily, front seat view of nature’s tug-of-war. In fact, Saint John is at the center of Stonehammer Geopark, North America’s first global geopark, a UNESCO site that has exceptional geological heritage.
Down at the harbor, cruise ships almost outnumber cargo vessels, bringing a festive air.
The Area 506 Waterfront Container Village (pictured) at 85 Water St. brings Saint John’s waterfront to life with a vibrant mix of live performances, local art, retail shops, food trucks, and pop-up activities. More than 40 local vendors showcase their wares in colorful, modified shipping containers and close to 500,000 visitors pass through the gates every season. Shopping, dining, artisans, entertainment, and history also come together at or near Market Square.
And throughout the steep streets in the brick-clad uptown area, more often than not fog rolls in off the Bay of Fundy, lending the city a mysterious air and even a softness. As one vendor at the wonderful Saint John City Market (the oldest continuous farmers market in Canada) put it, “The fog here is like kissing the clouds.”
Streets often bustle with skateboarders, merchants, carousers, out-for-the-weekenders, and local old-timers casing the public market for bargains.
Rockwood Park, one of Canada’s largest municipal parks, offers 2,200 acres of unspoiled natural beauty, with 13 lakes, 55 trails and footpaths, and am 18-hole golf course. It was designed by the same team of architects behind New York City’s Central Park and operates as a four-season adventure zone with rock climbing, kayaking, cross-country skiing and skating among the many activities on offer. Harbour Passage, a series of interconnected waterfront park and heritage sites, links past and present; the Reversing Rapids provides opportunity for thrill seekers through providing a daily, front seat view of nature’s tug-of-war. In fact, Saint John is at the center of Stonehammer Geopark, North America’s first global geopark, a UNESCO site that has exceptional geological heritage.
Down at the harbor, cruise ships almost outnumber cargo vessels, bringing a festive air.
The Area 506 Waterfront Container Village (pictured) at 85 Water St. brings Saint John’s waterfront to life with a vibrant mix of live performances, local art, retail shops, food trucks, and pop-up activities. More than 40 local vendors showcase their wares in colorful, modified shipping containers and close to 500,000 visitors pass through the gates every season. Shopping, dining, artisans, entertainment, and history also come together at or near Market Square.
And throughout the steep streets in the brick-clad uptown area, more often than not fog rolls in off the Bay of Fundy, lending the city a mysterious air and even a softness. As one vendor at the wonderful Saint John City Market (the oldest continuous farmers market in Canada) put it, “The fog here is like kissing the clouds.”
Streets often bustle with skateboarders, merchants, carousers, out-for-the-weekenders, and local old-timers casing the public market for bargains.
Note that Saint John is always spelled out, just as I have done in this sentence. It's never abbreviated as "St. John," mostly so that mail -- and airplane travelers -- destined for St. John's, Newfoundland, don't end up here by mistake.
