When I think of world travel, I don’t think of Canada. But after my trip to the province of New Brunswick, I’ve definitely changed my mind.
This is a sponsored post for the province of New Brunswick. But all opinions, images and amazing experiences are 100% my own.

When I first thought about visiting New Brunswick, I’m not sure what I expected. I knew I was going to eat well, and I knew the weather would be cooler than in Florida, that was a given. But what I didn’t expect was how much kindness and hospitality our neighbors to the north would show us.
Our adventure began onboard Air Canada (which is now my favorite airline) when we went old school and walked out on the tarmac to board our smaller jet to Moncton, New Brunswick. It had been years since I was treated to that experience! When we landed in Moncton at their regional international airport we were greeted by smiling faces and warm welcomes.
But the first real excitement on our trip came at the car rental counter when I told the agent we were going to Caraquet. Oh, be careful at night she told me…… what? Visions of gangs of Canadians in plaid carrying axes went through my head…… well, maybe not. Needless to say, I was intrigued and asked her why?
Then she told me to watch out for the deer and the moose. What? Now my mind heard what she said, but couldn’t really grasp the meaning and the only thing that made sense to me at that point was “watch out for the tiramisu” which I couldn’t imagine being a bad thing. But she was dead serious, and from what the locals tell me an incident in a moving vehicle with moose usually winds up as a fatality for both the passengers and the moose.
So we watched out for the deer and the moose (and the tiramisu).
Our first stop was in Miramichi (pronounced meera-ma-she) the largest city in Northern New Brunswick, situated at the mouth of the Miramichi River where it enters Miramichi Bay. We enjoyed the hospitality of the Rodd Miramichi River Resort, where we had our first meal in Canada.
We enjoyed a glass of sangria as we sat there thinking how lucky we were to be experiencing the beauty of New Brunswick.
The next morning we were on our way to Hotel Paulin in Caraquet. Our hosts Karen and Girard at Hotel Paulin were extremely kind and very helpful. Karen acted as our guide, sharing all the deliciousness that Caraquet had to offer.
Not only we did enjoy the local cuisine, but we also went out Kayaking in the bay to a sandbar to dig for local clams. We even cooked them up on the beach afterward enjoying a cold local brew and very fresh steamed clams!
One of the highlights of the trip was getting to meet Gaeton Dugas, a mixed-blood Acadian Oysterman. He was kind enough to take us out on his boat and share his family’s history and Oyster farming techniques. I’ll be sharing more about this in a video I shot while on his boat.
We also got to visit the Acadian Village where I had a cooking lesson from Ms. Savoie in her 19th-century kitchen. I’ll share more on that in my next post with the rest of our adventures in Caraquet!
After a scenic drive along the coast, we made our way to Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick. Our hotel, The Crowne Plaza Fredericton Lord Beaverbrook was perfectly situated for sightseeing and dining.
Did I mention dining in Fredericton? We had an amazing meal at 540 Kitchen and Bar Gastropub just 2 blocks from our hotel. I had an OMG delicious bowl of Tagliatelle with pulled Duck Breast in a Rosa Sauce with Boursin cheese. Wowser!
We didn’t get to spend a lot of time in Fredericton but we did get to the Beaverbrook Art Gallery and the Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market for coffee and scones. I had been told that even in blizzard conditions the market was open so the locals could get their Whitney Coffee, after tasting it found out why. Unfortunately, you can’t buy it online, but I did bring a bag home which I’m now enjoying.
The next stop on our tour of New Brunswick was St. Andrews by-the-Sea. This sleepy little community would be the perfect spot for our summer home…..sigh.
They have a saying in St. Andrews, the Bay of Fundy Starts here. And that means fishing, whale watching or just cruising in the bay for a glorious day on the water.
They have some of the freshest seafood you’ll ever taste in St. Andrews and we certainly did our best to sample as much as we could on our trip.
We also got to visit the Kingsbrae Garden, which is a must-visit if you’re in the area. And Ministers Island, where twice a day, you can drive across the ocean floor.
During our stay in St. Andrews by-the-Sea, we stayed at the Algonquin Resort, part of the Autograph Collection Hotels run by Marriott. There’s a lot of history at the Algonquin and some even say Stephen King started writing the Shining on one of his visits to this beautiful resort.
We couldn’t have been happier at the Algonquin and hated to leave. I could really get used to waking up to a view like this!
The next leg of our journey took us to Saint John or #SaintAwesome as the locals like to call it. And Awesome is an understatement! We arrived in Saint John and checked into the Delta Hotel by Marriott, which was located in the hub of the city, or Uptown as it’s referred to.
Our first stop was Saint John City Market, the oldest continuing farmer’s market in Canada. The roof is a traditional post and beam market roof that resembles the inverted hull of a ship. The Inside Connection (Saint John’s indoor walkway system) allows you to get around without setting foot outside. This would certainly come in handy during the winter months. The walkway let us walk from our hotel to the City Market and Market Square, home to the Saint John free public library and the New Brunswick Museum.
We were treated to a delicious dining selection with lunch at the Thandi Restaurant where we had an insanely delicious Red Pad Thai and got to spend some time chatting with the chef Ken Singh after lunch.
And dinner at Italian by night (which is a story for another post) where I had the best-fried calamari I’ve ever had!
Saint John has a unique flavor being a port city and is slowly becoming the culinary mecca of New Brunswick. It might feel like a blue-collar town, but they certainly know about fine dining and everything that goes along with it.
After leaving Saint John with our bellies full and well-rested from our night on the town, we had a short drive to the Village of Alma. This was the first breathtaking view of the day as we prepared to drive through Fundy National Park and it just kept getting better!
Our hotel The Parkland Village Inn was situated right at the docks of Alma where we had a spectacular view of the tides coming in and going out. Our third-floor room not only gave us a great view but let us enjoy the delightful breezes coming off the Bay of Fundy.
If you blink you might miss the Village of Alma, and that my friends would be a mistake! Have I mentioned lobster lately?
The fresh seafood in New Brunswick is plentiful and delicious and everyone in the province takes pride in serving up deliciousness for locals and visitors alike. This lobster roll I enjoyed at the Alma Lobster Shop was just a sampling of what we ate while we were there.
Our last night in New Brunswick would be spent in Moncton but on our way to Moncton, we had one very important stop to make. Lisa and I were going to walk on the Ocean Floor at low tide at Hopewell Rocks.
Since I didn’t stay for high tide later that day, I’ve borrowed an image from Hopewell Rocks Park to show you the same area underwater.
As we made our way to Moncton we stopped at various craft studios that were part of the Fundy Studio Tour, one of which was Norman Bradford Farm Life Studio. I got a beautiful print for my kitchen to remind me of my time in New Brunswick.
We arrived in Moncton later that day just in time for lunch! I know it’s a rough life….sigh. We had a great lunch at Gusto Italian Grill and Bar, where Lisa had this decadent stuffed Chicken Parm.
After lunch, we checked in at The Residence Inn by Marriott and went out exploring the city. Then it was back to the hotel for a quick nap before dinner.
Although we didn’t get a chance to see it for ourselves, Moncton is known for the Tidal Bore caused by the Bay of Fundy tides. The Tidal Bore occurs twice daily as the waters of the Petitcodiac River roll back upstream in one wave that can go up to 2 feet high. This phenomenon has turned into a surfers dream, where they can ride a wave for more than 2 hours.
Our last dinner in New Brunswick was at the Tide and Boar where we had the pleasure of dining with two of the New Brunswick Tourism representatives. And I had to have one last plate of delicious fresh oysters.
And I couldn’t have come to Canada and not had Poutine and it was love at first bite. Wild boar, cheese curds, caramelized onions, chicken gravy and house-made ketchup on a bed of hand-cut fries took this poutine to another level of deliciousness.
As we packed our bags in the morning for our flight back to Orlando, Lisa and I talked about all the things we had done and seen, the people we had met and all the glorious seafood we had consumed. It was indeed the trip of a lifetime.
New Brunswick is so familiar, yet so different. It’s truly a world away and yet so easily accessible, right across our border. Would I go back? In a heartbeat. With the world in turmoil and not everyone looking favorably on Americans, the Canadians welcome us with open arms and our dollar goes a long way. If you haven’t visited, it’s time you did. You’ll make memories that will last a lifetime.
Did you really think I’d visit Canada and not stop at Tim Hortons? This is the first in a series of posts about my adventure in New Brunswick, Canada.
Click on the link to read my second post about the Acadian way of life in Caraquet. And If you enjoyed my post about New Brunswick please leave a comment, I love hearing from you!
Brendan Shelton
I never knew that the farmers market was open even in blizzard conditions. My wife and I are planning a trip to Fredericton soon and we are trying to come up with some fun places to visit and good places to eat. We will keep your blog in mind as we make a plan to have an awesome vacation!
Zaidi
Thank you Dear ,Chef Dennis Littley for this fabulous sharing with these beautiful views, which excite all the sensations of joy, really, a province, which dazzles endlessly through its beauty and effects that excite and explode the sighs, vivacious of love that embrace these marvelous places and which transmits its powerful harmonization between these high flavors of sublime tastings and the magic of beauty., fabulous and even more, thank you again, love for you,
Charlie Ralph
Dennis:
I’m so glad that you enjoyed my New Brunswick!
I love it here.
If I had of known you were coming I would have invited you over. Would have loved meeting you and your wife.
Chef Dennis Littley
Thanks Charlie, that would have been nice! We did love New Brunswick and hope to get up again soon
Elena
I love Canada but I wouldn`t change it for FLorida. I used to live in Destin as an exchange student and I every time I hear something about Florida I feel so homesick.
David Elliott
That looks like it was such a great trip to New Brunswick. It would definitely be a lot different weather wise than Florida. I have actually wanted to go out there and visit before. I just haven’t been able to make it there yet. This definitely makes me want to consider it as a trip in the near future.
Chef Dennis Littley
We had an outstanding time David! And the weather was a much needed break from the Florida heat
sara lafountain
Fabulous photos Chef Dennis! We just spent the past week in Michigan and we could see Canada across the river. We are planning a visit very soon!
Chef Dennis Littley
Thanks Sara. I highly recommend visiting Canada its such a beautiful friendly country!
Candy Rachelle
I’ve never thought to visit New Brunswick. I’ve only had Montreal and Vancouver on my list. This looks more rugged than it’s sister cities. And the food looks absolutely scrumptious!!! Awesome photos!
Chef Dennis Littley
New Brunswick doesn’t get the press the bigger cities do, but its well worth the visit!
Cynthia
Lovely trip, the more I see about Canada the more I want to visit! Especially because everybody seems to agree that they are so kind! Did you get to see a moose? Looking forward to your post about the Acadian Village!
Chef Dennis Littley
hi Cynthia
it really was a great experience. We didn’t see a moose but we did see a mama bear and 3 cubs. That was pretty cool
jill conyers
Looks like a wonderful place to visit. And those scallops. Nothing beats fresh scallops.
Chef Dennis Littley
They really love their fresh local seafood Jill, it was amazing!
Liene
Looks like a great trip. Nature and food are so amazing as long as I can see in pictures. I would like to visit this place!
Chef Dennis Littley
You would love it Liene, its an amazing country!
JEANNINE DIPPENAAR
Dennis, this was such a great post, you sound like you had an awesome time. I did not know one could eat wild boar, that is something we don’t get in South Africa. By the way, your photos are great, if cooking doesn’t work out you could always think about a career in photography, (joking) your food is awesome
Chef Dennis Littley
Thank you Jeannine! Wild boar does appear on a lot of menus and there really over populating our country. Crazy huh? Its pretty much the same as pork but with a richer flavor.
Mary
Wow, what an amazing trip! I have so much of Canada to see, your photos have inspired me to visit very soon.
Chef Dennis Littley
I hope you get to visit Mary, New Brunswick and the Maritimes would be a great place to start!
Adriana Lopez Martn
Wow chef seems you are yoru wife have been having a lot of fun times! Never been to this area in Canada now I am inspired. My husband and I are planning a trip to Canada next year, thanks for the tips.
Chef Dennis Littley
You will love it Adriana! Especially the seafood!
torviewtoronto
Fabulous post lovely reading about your time in New Brunswick. We were there while ago it is such a lovely place. Happy to see you have enjoyed 🙂
Chef Dennis Littley
We had such a good time Akheela! I can’t wait to get back to Canada to see more of its natural beauty!
Mia Voss
Well, if I wasn’t excited for my Maritime Coastal Wonders tour coming up… I am certainly am now! Unfortunately I’ll only be in Saint Awesome, er, I mean St. John but obviously I’ll need to start planning another trip with a longer stint in NB!
Chef Dennis Littley
I’m sure every where you go in the Maritimes will be just as spectacular Mia! I can’t wait to hear about your experiences!
Kori
What an amazing experience!! And I love all of your images!!! How was Tim Horton’s? I’ve always wanted to try it!!!
Chef Dennis Littley
Thank you so much, I’m glad you enjoyed my post. And Tim Hortons was pretty darn good
Paige
After reading this, I have GOT to visit New Brunswick! It sounds like a fantastic trip, and I never would have thought to go there on vacation. Thanks for sharing about your trip with us!
Chef Dennis Littley
It really was a great trip. So much to see and so much to do. Happy that you enjoyed my post
Cara
Wow, what an incredible trip. The food and the scenery looked amazing, especially the lobster.
Chef Dennis Littley
Thanks Cara, it really was a fun trip and I have so much more to share about our adventure.
Carolyn Capern
I spent my childhood driving through New Brunswick on my way from Nova Scotia to New Hampshire and back on family vacations. It’s a beautiful province and you are making me want to go back to explore all these wonderful things! Glad you had a good trip to the Maritimes.
Chef Dennis Littley
We could live there (in the summertime) Carolyn, it really is a beautiful area!
Jenni
Dennis, wow! What an incredible trip!
Chef Dennis Littley
WE had such a good time Jenni! And the seafood was just spectacular!