An Acadian city in the south-east of the Province of New Brunswick, Moncton is at the end of the narrow estuary of the Petitcodiac, one of the tips of the Bay of Fundy, famed for having the world's highest tides.
Often hailed as the capital of Acadia, Moncton is an important east Canadian road and rail junction, as well as having a French-speaking university.
The French settled in the northern end of the Bay of Fundy in 1638, but the English destroyed their settlement a few years later and the inhabitants were abducted.
German settlers, previously from Pennsylvania, arrived here in the second half of the 18th C.
The east Canadian city owes its name to Robert Moncton, the British commander who took the nearby Fort Beauséjour in 1755.
Moncton today has a strong cultural scene with many visual and performing arts, as well galleries and fine dining. In the vicinity there are also a number of golf courses, parks, and even ziplining adventures.
Magnetic Hill gives the illusion that one is moving up hill when in fact you are actually traveling down hill. This is a prominent tourist attraction in the area with shops and restaurants.
Twice a day the high tide of the Atlantic Ocean flows through the Bay of Fundy and sweeps into the Petitcodiac estuary, swelling its trickle into a broad lake and covering the mudflats and salt-marsh all around.
The giant waterchutes of Magic Mountain Water Park in Moncton, and its many other attractions make it very popular with visitors, especially in the summer.
Some of the highlights include slides, a wave pool, tubing, and mini golf.
Moncton Coliseum is one of the biggest venues of its kind in eastern Canada, staging big sporting events as well as gala balls, rock concerts and regional fairs.
Located in Centennial Park in Moncton is a ziplining adventure called TreeGo. TreeGo offers a variety of activities for both children and adults with different levels of difficulty. Ropes, swings, high walkways form different courses that get you up close to different levels of the forest.
Université de Moncton was founded in 1963 and with French as its primary language, the university provides the Acadian community with its own academic institution.
Hopewell Cape is known for the rock formations called "flowerpots", which have been created by erosion from the incredible tides, for which the area is famous.
Shediac's Parlee Beach Provincial Park is reckoned to have the finest sandy beach on Canada's Atlantic coast, and in summer the relatively shallow water here can get as warm as 20°C (68°F).
The park has campsites as well as picnic areas and changing facilities.
Cape Jourimain Nature Centre offers impressive views of Jourimain and Trenholm Islands, hiking trails, a beach and observation tower. An exhibit hall offers geological displays and a collection of hand-carved birds. Within Cape Jourimain is a wildlife area featuring diverse habitats and a popular destination for migratory birds.
Address: Cape Jourimain Nature Centre, 5039 Route 16, Bayfield, NB E4M3Z8, Canada
Phone: 1 (506) 538-2220, Fax: 1 (506) 538-2226
Cape Enrage is the site of a 1838 lighthouse that still remains in operation. The project began with six students and their teacher in 1993. Some of the activities available when visiting Cape Enrage include caving, rappelling and kayaking.
The view from Cape Enrage is magnificent from the towering cliffs or light station.
Cap-Pelé, 60km (37mi) north-east of Moncton, is a picturesque Acadian fishing village dating from 1780. It also has a lovely beach and the well-stocked fish market is particularly worth a visit.
Cap-Pelé's history dates to the late 18th Century but today is known largely for the smoked herring it exports. The fishing boats and wharfs along with the 'smoke houses' all add to the atmosphere this little Acadian village.
Address: Village de Cap-Pelé, 33 ch. St-André, Cap-Pelé, NB E4N1Z4, Canada
Phone: 1 (506) 577-2030, Fax: 1 (506) 577-2035
The Crystal Palace Amusement Park in Dieppe features numerous attractions sure to please children. Some of the highlights include rides, a climbing wall, arcade, tree house, carousel, and more.
Hours:
June 11 to September 9: 10am-10pm
September 10 to June 11: 12pm-8pm; Sun:10am-8pm; Fri:12pm-9pm; Sat:10am-9pm
Tips: Price are four four persons. Additional person costs $12.50
New Brunswick's South-east Shore stretches north-east of Moncton along the Northumberland Strait, part of the Gulf of St Lawrence, and strung out along it are Canadian Atlantic seaside resorts where the bold actually venture into the water, mainly when summer is at its height.
Shediac, on the Acadian "Costa del Sol" about 18km (11mi) north-east of Moncton, is very popular with visitors in the summer months, priding itself on being the lobster capital of the world.
St Martin in the Wood, Shediac's Anglican church, built of Canadian red fir in 1821, is worth seeing.
The town has lots of restaurants, where sea food is usually the specialty, as well as numerous shops and galleries. There is ample accommodation in Shediac, including numerous Bed and Breakfasts.
Address: Town of Shediac, 290, Main Street Unit 300 , Shediac, NB E4P2E3, Canada
Phone: 1 (506) 532-7000, Fax: 1 (506) 532-6156
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