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Travel

9 things not to miss in Saint Andrews, N.B.

Where to eat, play and stay in the seaside resort

Published Mar 23, 2018
Updated Oct 07, 2022
523 words
3 minutes

By Harry Wilson

A shore view of historic and tranquil Saint Andrews-by-the-Sea. (Photo: Tom Mason/Can Geo Photo Club)

It started out as a quintessentially prim and proper late-18th-century Loyalist settlement on the shore of Passamaquoddy Bay, but today Saint Andrews, N.B., is arguably Canada’s prettiest — and most interesting — seaside resort town. From the grand old dame of the province’s luxury hotels to a superb garden to whale watching on a tall ship, here are nine photos that will give you a head start on planning your stay.

1. The Algonquin Resort

The Algonquin Resort. (Photo courtesy Tourism New Brunswick)

“An incomparable resting-place and retreat from the cares of business and the heat and dust and bustle of the city.” This paean to the Algonquin Resort is from a 1902 Canadian Pacific Railway brochure singing the hotel’s praises, but the sentiment remains true 116 years later. Lavishly refurbished to the tune of $30 million and reopened in 2014, a stay at this Tudor-style marvel is worth every penny.

2. Oysters at the Algonquin

The only thing better than the oysters at the Algonquin is enjoying them on the patio with a pint of Picaroons. (Photo: Harry Wilson/Canadian Geographic Travel)

Fine seafood abounds in Saint Andrews (see #9 below), but you shouldn’t miss parking yourself on the Algonquin Resort’s patio and sluicing down Malpeque Bay oysters and a pint of Picaroons’ Timber Hog stout.

3. Kingsbrae Garden

The entrance to Kingsbrae Garden. (Photo courtesy Kingsbrae Garden)

The most magnificent garden in the Atlantic provinces is in its 20th year of beguiling visitors, and you can easily lose a few hours wandering its 11 hectares of gardens-within-a-garden.

4. Alpacas!

An alpaca at Kingsbrae Garden. (Photo courtesy Kingsbrae Garden)

Kingsbrae isn’t just about plants, of course. The garden’s 11 alpacas are a big draw, too, and you can see them being paraded on the front lawn of the cafe daily from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., weather permitting.

5. Fundy Discovery Aquarium

The Fundy Discovery Aquarium is home to two harbour seals. (Photo: Cindy Kohler)

Good things come in small packages, as the Fundy Discovery Aquarium well knows. Perched on cliff above the St. Croix River, the modestly sized facility has exhibits — including Loki and Snorkel, the two acrobatic resident harbour seals — that will captivate adults and children alike.

6. Whale watching

Explore the Bay of Fundy aboard the 22-metre-long Jolly Breeze and learn about the local wildlife from a marine biologist. (Photo courtesy Tourism New Brunswick)

Slice through the waters of the Bay of Fundy on the 22-metre-long Jolly Breeze while the ship’s crew and marine biologists keep up a steady informative patter about the bay’s ecology and history. Keep your eyes peeled for seals, porpoise, white-sided dolphins and minke, finback and humpback whales — and the chance to capture shots like this.

7. Look at art

Artwork on display at the Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre. (Photo courtesy Finley Fotography)

Saint Andrews is a hotbed of artistic talent and one of the best places to see some of that prowess on display is at the Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre. Its two galleries host rotating exhibitions of work by Canadian and international artists, including New Brunswick’s Travis Melanson and Sheryl Crowley.

8. Make art

People painting along the windswept shores of Passamaquoddy Bay. (Photo courtesy Sunbury Shores)

Sunbury Shores also offers courses for children or adults, including painting, pottery, printing and drawing. What better place to summon your muse than on the windswept shores of Passamaquoddy Bay?

9. Niger Reef Tea House

Enjoy fresh seafood in a 92-year-old log cabin at the Niger Reef Tea House. (Photo courtesy Niger Reef Tea House)

Set at the periphery of downtown Saint Andrews in a 92-year-old log cabin overlooking the water, David Peterson’s restaurant might look a tad weathered, but the food is fresh and fantastic. Recommendations? The fishcakes, pan-seared halibut and (if Peterson has prepped them as a special) the barbecued beef ribs.

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