ISLAND HOPPING MARITIME STYLE

Transcription

1 ISLAND HOPPING MARITIME STYLE

2 INTERNATIONAL VISITOR GATEWAY CITY SAINT JOHN Take an Island Hop around 4 majestic island locations in the Bay of Fundy and experience the vibrant community of Saint Andrews, regarded by many as the best seaside resort in the whole of Canada. Saint Andrews has a charm that has attracted the wealthy to summer there dating back to the 1880s. Today the resort town is still universally popular with domestic and international visitors, and with good reason! ONE Travel from the United Kingdom to Saint John (Evening Arrival) Collect hire car and transfer to hotel or inn for overnight accommodation with the option of dinner at a downtown location. Overnight in Saint John TWO Saint John to Saint Andrews (Driving Distance 64 miles) Breakfast at hotel and then a chance to get acquainted with a city rich in Maritime history; pay a visit to the New Brunswick Museum located right downtown. Learn more about the marine life in the Bay of Fundy at the Hall of the Great Whales and about the shipbuilding heritage of Saint John at the Wood, Wind & Sail gallery. After a lunch stop, drive south west to the charming seaside resort of Saint Andrews, a captivating town that came into prominence with the building of railways at the end of the 19th century. The desire of the rich to escape the summer heat and humidity often associated with eastern seaboard cities meant that Saint Andrews was a natural choice for development as a fashionable summer resort. Offshore waters kept cool by the giant tides of the Bay of Fundy, and a magnificent harbour and bay enhance the charm of the town. Saint Andrews has many chic restaurants and cafés and is home to the horticultural masterpiece, Kingsbrae Garden, a 27-acre public garden that is rated in the top 10 in Canada. Saint Andrews will be your base for 4 nights as you discover more about the heritage of this wonderful town. Dinner and overnight. Dinner and Overnight in Saint Andrews. 2

3 THREE Saint Andrews & Ministers Island (Driving Distance 3 miles round trip) Today gives you the opportunity to visit Ministers Island, located just off the shore of Saint Andrews. The 500-acre island is the former home of railway baron Sir William Cornelius Van Horne. Ministers Island is accessed by driving across a 1 kilometer sand bar exposed only at low tide, but as a rule of thumb in most cases you can spend up to 5 hours on this enchanting island. Van Horne started purchasing land on Ministers Island in 1890 where he would construct a 50 room summer home called Covenhoven. Van Horne was credited with bringing plenty of wealthy visitors to the Island to experience his lavish parties. Many of these people would later buy large properties in Saint Andrews. Van Horne s house contains many artifacts from the era and a visit to the bathhouse is a must. Based on the tide schedule you will spend the remainder of the time in Saint Andrews. Optional activities: cycling/whale watching/ Huntsman Marine Science Centre/golf/museums FOUR Campobello Island Day Trip Today is a visit to the first of the Fundy Isles. Stroll down to the dock and take the water taxi over to Campobello Island; the water taxi leaves at 09:30 am for a 30-minute journey over to Campobello Island. The island is stunningly beautiful and was granted to Welsh sea captain William Owen back in 1767 and would stay in the family for 4 generations. Sold latterly to wealthy American investors, the island would become a summer playground for well-to-do Americans including the Franklin D. Roosevelt family. On arrival at Campobello Island you will be met by a van and driver and given a 2 ½ hour guided tour of the island with its stunning trails and picturesque lighthouses. You will then return back to the Roosevelt Campobello International Park for lunch at own expense, with ample time to visit the Roosevelt Cottage and experience an enlightening hour over tea and biscuits at one of the on-site cottages. The expert park guides share their stories about Eleanor Roosevelt, her early years, and an inside look at her life on Campobello Island before and after the death of her husband Franklin D Roosevelt. Depart Roosevelt dock at 5:15 pm for return to Saint Andrews. Dinner and overnight in Saint Andrews. 3

4 FIVE Saint Andrews to Deer Island (Driving Distance 40 Miles) Leave Saint Andrews after breakfast and take the ferry from L Etete to Deer Island; this short ferry ride of just 3 miles is free of charge. Once on Deer Island head to Seascape Kayak Tours for a ½ day excursion. This is a guided paddle around the coastline of Deer Island and will present an opportunity to view porpoise, seals & bald eagles. The duration of the trip is 3 to 4 hours and includes a nutritious snack served on the beach. Suggestions for the afternoon include: Visiting The Old Sow, one of the largest tidal whirlpools in the world Exploring local craft shops & galleries on the island Hiking one of the 5 trails at Chocolate Cove Dinner and overnight on Deer Island. SIX Deer Island to Grand Manan Island (Driving Distance 60 Miles) After an early breakfast it s time to depart Deer Island by ferry to the mainland and then take a short drive around the coast to Blacks Harbour for the 9:30 am ferry to Grand Manan. The journey time is 1 ½ hours and will take you cruising by stunning coastal scenery. On arrival at Grand Manan either prior to, or post whale watching, pay a visit to the Whale & Seabird Research Station situated close by the Grand Manan ferry terminal. The research station was set up by former Bristol University graduate David Gaskin, and today his legacy continues in the form of many projects to help better understand more about our marine environment. Head out into the Bay of Fundy in search of whales, including the rarest of all - the North Atlantic Right Whale - with Sea Watch Tours whose vessel departs from Seal Cove Wharf. Currently estimated to be fewer than 500 left in the northern hemisphere, the Right Whales come to the bay every summer to feed and frolic in the waters off New Brunswick. Tour is 4 to 5 hours in length. Remainder of the day free to explore the island. Overnight dinner and hotel on Grand Manan. 4

5 SEVEN Grand Manan to Saint Andrews (Driving Distance 55 miles) After a leisurely breakfast, head back to the ferry terminal for the 11:30 am return crossing to Blacks Harbour. Once back on the mainland, it will only take about 40 minutes to drive to Saint Andrews for your last afternoon and evening at the seaside town. Time to check-off other activities in town before dinner and overnight in Saint Andrews. EIGHT Saint Andrews to Saint John (Driving Distance 79 miles) After breakfast visit Kingsbrae Garden, rated one of the top 10 gardens in Canada. This 27-acre horticultural masterpiece is located in an elevated position above the downtown core and celebrates the gardening heritage of the town with over 50,000 perennials on view, in many themed gardens. Immerse yourself in the stunning sculpture garden, and even enjoy a bite to eat at the Garden Café with menus prepared by multi-award winning chef Alex Haun. Following lunch, take a leisurely afternoon drive back to Saint John, before an early evening return flight to London. OR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Lindsay Champion FOR MORE INFORMATION, Media Relations, Tourism New Brunswick PLEASE CONTACT: Tel +44 (0) Lindsay Champion Mobile +44 (0) Media Relations, Tourism New Brunswick lindsaychampionis@gmail.com Tel +44 (0) Mobile +44 (0) lindsaychampionis@gmail.com 5