Saint Andrews
A stop in Saint Andrews, a charming and historic coastal New Brunswick town with a population of about 2000, is a must on a Bay of Fundy vacation. To get to Saint Andrews leave NB highway 1 and take 127 to easily reach Saint Andrews as you drive between the USA border and Saint John.
Recently USA Today named Saint Andrews NB the top Canadian destination, great praise indeed considering all that Canada has to offer from coast to coast to coast. No matter your tourism interests, Saint Andrews offers something. For those seeking to learn about the ecology and marine wildlife of the area, Huntsman Marine Centre Museum and Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre providing family friendly places to learn about the Bay of Fundy.
Saint Andrews offers a rich educational setting with the Huntsman Marine Centre Museum and Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre providing family friendly places to learn about the Bay of Fundy. The children's 'touch pool' at Hunstman is a popular spot for the young ones. Several whale watching tour companies operate out of the town.
For history buffs, Saint Andrews is a well preserved town more than 200 years old (it was founded in 1783 shortly after the American Revolution by loyalists, some of whom floated homes from Maine to Saint Andrews). Many historic homes and other properties have been maintained. Wander along Water Street and simply feel the history.
If seeking first class accommodation, fine dining or excellent seaside golf, The Algonquin Resort is the place. It was opened in 1889 and delightfully combines top quality resort with historical preservation (it re-opened in 2014 after a two year, $30 million renovation and restoration). The Canadian Pacific Railway purchased the hotel in 1903 and in a brochure described it this way: "an incomparable resting-place and retreat from the cares of business and the heat and dust and bustle of the city." Some things don't change.
Kingsbrae Horticultural Garden thinks outside the box in providing a diverse and enriching horticultural experience. For example, with advice from the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) it created a Scents and Sensitivity Garden designed for the visually impaired. At Kingsbrae you can walk along an Acadian forest, through a cedar maze or visit an edible garden. There are daily children's activities in the summer. Kingsbrae was recognized as a Canada 150 Garden destination. It is just a few blocks from the downtown area of Saint Andrews.
Saint Andrews boasts many famous residents and former residents, including Sir William van Horne. He started working on the railway at age 14 and became President of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1888. He made Ministers Island near Saint Andrews his summer home. You can walk or drive to this island at low tide (or take a boat at high tide). The official website for Ministers Island provides details on how to visit and what is happening.
There are numerous outside murals in Saint Andrews, and the area is rich in artistic talent and activity. A number of galleries, studios and craft shops feature locally produced arts and crafts. Take home something from Saint Andrews to help you remember your Bay of Fundy vacation.
Wikipedia provides a balanced and complete account of the attractions in the town and area, which you can use to supplement the resources provided here. If your visit to Saint Andrews includes a summer Thursday morning, do stop in at the local farmers market.
This page last updated July 15, 2017. Material ©2017 R.L. Hawkes. Contact us for permission to reprint. You may freely link to this page and site without explicit permission. Material in linked pages is owned and managed by the operators of those pages.