Situated within the Petitcodiac River Valley in New Brunswick, Canada, town of Moncton is a geographical hub of the Maritimes and the largest metropolis within the province.
Moncton provides a true style of Atlantic Canada, combining the facilities of the massive metropolis with a small-town vibe. Surrounded by nature and the highly effective Bay of Fundy, Moncton is on the coronary heart of common locations in New Brunswick.
It was a beautiful place that stunned us essentially the most on our current Atlantic Canada Highway Journey, due to its combine of outside actions and concrete experiences. From nice meals and wine to the spectacular Fundy Tides, vibrant murals, and implausible day journeys – Moncton provides plenty of enjoyable issues for the entire household to do.
Because of its central location, Moncton serves as a excellent spot to base your self whereas exploring lots of the high points of interest in New Brunswick. Whether or not you might be passing via Moncton en route to a different vacation spot within the Maritimes or basing your self right here as you discover the pure wonders of New Brunswick, we hope this information will show you how to profit from your keep within the metropolis.
Downtown Moncton
How To Get To Moncton
Moncton is situated on Route 2 of the Trans-Canada Freeway within the province of New Brunswick in Atlantic Canada. You possibly can arrive in Moncton by aircraft, practice, bus or automotive.
Higher Moncton Roméo LeBlanc Worldwide Airport (YQM), situated simply 10 minutes from Downtown Moncton, connects Moncton with quite a lot of locations inside Canada. Halifax Stanfield Worldwide Airport (YHZ), situated solely 2 hours away in Nova Scotia, provides many extra direct and continuous flights to different cities in Canada, in addition to the USA and Europe.
Moncton By way of Rail Station, situated on the town on Foremost Road, provides connections to Halifax and Montréal. Maritime Bus connects Moncton to locations in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.
Arriving in Moncton by automotive from different components of Canada continues to be the most well-liked approach to arrive within the area. Moncton is situated 2 hours away from Nova Scotia, 2 hours from Charlottetown, PEI, 7.5 hours from Quebec Metropolis, and over 14 hours away from Toronto.
Downtown Moncton
How To Get Round Moncton
Moncton’s public transit is well-suited for these desirous to discover town with no automotive. Codiac Transit serves the higher Moncton space 7 days every week and provides guests a chance to discover nicely past the Downtown core.
Moncton can be a really bike-friendly metropolis. There are a selection of parks and inexperienced areas with simply accessible biking trails all through town. Strolling is one other simple and environmentally acutely aware approach to get round city. Moncton Downtown provides loads of sights and points of interest inside a brief radius.
Finest Time To Go to Moncton
Whereas Moncton doesn’t have essentially the most intense winters, summer season is one of the best time to go to Moncton. Whereas it will possibly get fairly sizzling now and again, common summer season temperatures hover round 25°C, and when you may see a wet day or two, it received’t be extreme.
Spring and Fall generally is a bit unpredictable, due to its shut proximity to the ocean. Fall colors in Moncton and the encircling areas could make visiting New Brunswick throughout this time of the 12 months notably interesting.
Winter in Moncton can get fairly chilly! Temperatures can ceaselessly attain -10°C, and rainfall is widespread. Being largely an out of doors vacation spot, Moncton is unquestionably finest visited in hotter months.
Issues To Do In Moncton, NB
Whether or not you might be stopping in Moncton for a number of days or spending a number of weeks within the area, there’s heaps to do in and across the metropolis for each sort of traveler. Listed here are the highest Moncton points of interest so as to add to your checklist!
Discover Downtown Moncton
Downtown Moncton is a wonderful place to start out any go to to Moncton. There are a selection of occasions and festivals held right here all year long, and the murals and sculptures round city imply that simply strolling across the neighbourhood is a well-liked factor to do in Moncton.
Take a stroll alongside Foremost Road, seize a chew at one of many eating places, or a craft beer at a neighborhood pub. That is additionally the place you’ll discover a number of the finest Moncton purchasing choices.
Downtown Moncton
Search For Road Artwork
Moncton is dwelling to some unbelievable road artwork, so remember to spend a number of hours looking for murals as you discover town. There are over 50 artwork murals by native and worldwide artists, so wander the streets of Downtown Moncton, and also you’ll come throughout every thing from vibrant summary designs to portraits of native celebrities. The murals are consistently altering and evolving, so there’s all the time one thing new to see.
One of the best ways to see all the gorgeous road artwork in Moncton is by taking a self-guided mural tour. You possibly can select your individual tempo, and select to drive, bike, or stroll across the metropolis to find the items.
Road artwork within the making in Downtown Moncton
One of many many murals in downtown Moncton
Tidal Bore
The Fundy Tidal Bore is a distinctive phenomenon occurring in Moncton twice each day. Head to the aptly named Tidal Bore Park in Downtown Moncton to witness the rise and fall of the world’s highest tides on the Bay of Fundy.
The park is one of the best place to see this pure phenomenon. Test the low tides/excessive tides schedule and plan to reach 10-Quarter-hour earlier than the indicated time to discover a spot and get your digital camera prepared for one of many best nature exhibits in New Brunswick.
Tidal Bore in Moncton, NB
Magnetic Hill
Magnetic Hill, a roughly one-kilometre stretch of gravel highway on the base of Lutes Mountain, might be some of the distinctive issues to do in Moncton. Because of a naturally occurring optical phantasm generally known as a ‘gravity hill,’ you’ll be able to witness automobiles roll uphill. This is without doubt one of the unusual issues to see in Moncton, and regardless of our hesitation, it was a bucket checklist exercise value doing.
The novelty of it makes it considered one of Moncton’s hottest vacationer points of interest, with automobiles driving up the hill to expertise the “magnetic subject” firsthand. Remember to learn the directions on the signal upon arrival and comply with the proper steps as you strategy the hill.
There may be an entry payment of $5 per automotive throughout working hours, and there are a selection of different points of interest within the Magnetic Hill space, together with Magnetic Hill Zoo, Magnetic Hill Wharf Village, Magic Mountain Amusement Park, Magic Mountain Water Park, and Magnetic Hill Vineyard.
Magnetic Hill, Moncton
Magnetic Hill Vineyard
Situated in an outdated property from the 1860s, the gorgeous Magnetic Hill Vineyard is a worthy cease in Moncton. The vineyard has been open since 2005, though the wine cellar and restaurant have not too long ago been renovated and now function a brand new New York-style loft design.
The tasting room is open day by day in the summertime, from midday to 10:00 PM, providing a style of their award-winning wines. The vineyard can be booked for excursions or occasions.
Magnetic Hill Vineyard, Moncton
Riverfront Park
Named after the Petitcodiac River, Riverfront Park is a well-liked vacation spot for guests and vacationers year-round. Together with the mountaineering and biking trails and the pure options, there are additionally varied monuments, sports activities fields, and a skateboard park. Should you’re right here in the summertime, you may also get to expertise one of many summer season festivals held within the park.
Riverfront Park, Moncton
Centennial Park
Centennial Park is a well-liked spot for locals and guests alike within the hotter months. The park options a man-made seashore, a waterpark, a playground, tennis courts, and garden bowling. Within the winter, the park involves life with a skating rink, cross-country snowboarding trails, and snowshoeing trails.
Mapleton Park
Mapleton Park provides hectares of strolling trails via forests, open land, lagoons, and marshes, so there’s something to do right here all 12 months spherical. Within the winter, whereas some paths are sanded for strolling, there are additionally paths left lined in snow for snowshoeing. Ice skating can be obtainable within the winter, and the paths are accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.
Irishtown Nature Park
On the north finish of Moncton, you’ll discover Irishtown Nature Park, one of many largest city parks in Canada, with forests, marshlands, and a lake. The character trails are simply accessible for strollers and wheelchairs, and the varied path techniques provide loads of choices for strolling, mountaineering, or biking. It’s a well-liked vacation spot for locals seeking to get out of town and get into nature. On high of that, it’s additionally an important place for birdwatching.
Moncton Museums
Museums aren’t actually our cup of tea, as we choose to spend our time outside, however there are a selection of museums in Moncton that could be value a go to.
The Moncton Museum is a superb place to study extra concerning the historical past of town when it started as a conventional Acadian fishing group. It incorporates a everlasting exhibit on the historical past of Moncton in addition to touring reveals. Entry is freed from cost.
The Acadian Museum is situated on the College de Moncton and is targeted on the Acadian historical past of the realm. Admission is free. The Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum is situated in Dieppe and focuses on the historical past of aviation in Atlantic Canada. Admission can be free.
Marche Moncton Market
This weekly farmers market options recent produce from native farmers, finely crafted artisanal items, and freshly ready meals. Situated in downtown Moncton, this market is open each Saturday from 8am to 2pm.
Whereas the farmers market solely runs on Saturdays, you’ll be able to seize lunch on the Marche Moncton Market Meals Courtroom, which is open Monday via Friday from 10am – 4pm. After you discover the downtown space, you’ll be able to pop into the meals court docket and pattern made-from-scratch dishes from everywhere in the world.
Day Journeys From Moncton, NB
Shediac & Parlee Seashore Provincial Park
Simply 30 minutes outdoors of Moncton, Shediac is an enthralling city finest recognized for its lobster festival, which takes place each summer season.
The city, generally known as the lobster capital of New Brunswick, can be dwelling to quite a lot of different festivals all year long, in addition to Parlee Seashore Provincial Park, the most well-liked seashore in New Brunswick, and the World’s Largest Lobster sculpture.
We actually loved our time in Shediac and notably our afternoon at Parlee Seashore. The nice and cozy, calm waters make it an important spot to spend a day with little ones. The seashore was packed once we visited in July, as anticipated, however with loads of picnic areas and a protracted sandy seashore, it didn’t really feel too crowded or disagreeable. It’s positively a worthy day journey from Moncton!
Parlee Seashore, Shediac
Sundown Parlee Seashore, Shediac
Large Lobster statue in Shediac
Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park
Situated about an hour south of Moncton, Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park is one other common spot to go to throughout a keep in Moncton. Residence to a collection of tidal rock formations generally known as sea stacks, Hopewell Rocks is often visited on the flip of the tide.
These distinctive rock formations are situated alongside the coast of the Bay of Fundy and might be reached by strolling on the ocean flooring at low tide. Time your go to to coincide with low tide and plan to remain for a number of hours, so you’ll be able to see the ocean stacks from the ground at low tide and respect the change of surroundings because the water comes ups with the rise of tides.
Excessive tide at Hopewell Rocks
Low tide at Hopewell Rocks
Fundy Path Parkway
Situated between the cities of St. Martin’s and Alma on the coast of the Bay of Fundy, the Fundy Path Parkway makes for a enjoyable day journey from Moncton. The parkway provides superb surroundings and lookouts to understand it, kilometres of biking and mountaineering trails, a canyon, and loads of different points of interest. It’s not an all-seasons attraction, although; it’s open from mid-Might to mid-October, but it surely closes for the winter.
Hairpin flip alongside the Fundy Path Parkway
At Walton Glen Gorge alongside Fundy Path Parkway
Fundy Nationwide Park
Open year-round and with cheap entry charges (kids get in free of charge), Fundy Nationwide Park is unquestionably amongst the good locations to go to whereas in Moncton. With kilometres of mountaineering trails, historic websites, seashore entry, and campsites, there’s loads to make sure your entire household is having enjoyable.
The park is situated simply an hour outdoors of Moncton, so it’s attainable to drive on the market for a day of mountaineering and out of doors adventures whereas staying within the metropolis.
Among the finest methods to see Fundy Nationwide Park is from the water. You possibly can paddle independently or as a part of a kayak tour on the Bay of Fundy, taking in views of the craggy cliffs, sea caves, and the rising tide because it rolls in. Excursions begin within the village of Alma, and in case you choose an impartial paddle, you’ve got the choice of renting a kayak, canoe, SUP, or hydro bike.
Fundy Nationwide Park, New Brunswick
La Dune de Bouctouche
Situated about an hour north of Moncton is the Irving Ecological Centre, dwelling to La Dune de Bouctouche. Stretching 12 kilometres throughout Bouctouche Bay, this nice sand dune is continually altering due to the wind, tides, and sea currents. The dune is dwelling to a wealthy number of wildlife and is a superb spot to look at migratory birds.
Guests can stroll the 800-metre boardwalk that stretches alongside the dune, which is elevated to keep away from endangering the delicate ecosystems right here. The Irving Eco-Centre provides excursions and interpretive shows for guests, in addition to free interactive instructional applications.
Cape Enrage
Should you already plan to go to Fundy Nationwide Park, one other nice vacation spot so as to add to the itinerary is Cape Enrage. Situated about 20 minutes east of Fundy Nationwide Park, Cape Enrage is dwelling to a historic lighthouse, stunning seashores, and gorgeous geology.
There are many alternatives for adventures right here, like zip lining, rappelling down cliffs, and guided fossil excursions. While you work up an urge for food, you’ll be able to seize lunch or dinner on the Cape Home Restaurant, which appears over the Bay of Fundy. For souvenirs, The Gallery on the Cape has quite a lot of domestically made artwork, crafts, and different items like maple merchandise and jams.
Services are open from mid-Might to late September, and hours fluctuate barely. Admission is CAD $7.50 per individual, and is legitimate for 2 consecutive days.
Accommodations In Moncton
Hilton Backyard Inn Moncton Downtown is centrally situated, and only a fast stroll away from Riverfront Park, Tidal Bore Park, and Foremost Road. There are additionally 5 bus stops inside 350 metres of the resort.
Company have entry to the resort’s heated indoor saltwater mineral pool, and there’s an onsite bar and restaurant. All rooms function a non-public toilet, mini fridge, espresso maker, and a microwave upon request.
Hyatt Place Moncton-Downtown is situated proper off of Foremost Road, and in the course of all of the motion. Company are simply steps away from theatres, retailers, common eating spots, and parks.
All 120 rooms are spacious and geared up with fashionable facilities like minifridges, espresso makers, and safes for valuables. Every room has its personal non-public toilet as nicely. Company are supplied free breakfast, a 24/7 Espresso Bar, and the onsite restaurant provides pub fare and drinks from 4pm-9:30pm.
Finest Eating places In Moncton
There aren’t any shortages of locations to seize a fast chew, have a full meal, or seize a drink in Moncton, New Brunswick. Whether or not you’re within the temper for advantageous eating, searching for a nightcap, or simply feeling a bit peckish after a busy day, you’ll discover loads of nice eating places and eating choices within the metropolis of Moncton. These are our beneficial spots to eat out whereas in Moncton!
Atelier Tony
Atelier Tony is without doubt one of the finest eating places in Moncton, providing a complicated tackle locals’ favorite dishes. The restaurant works with native producers and suppliers utilizing farm-to-table ideas to serve you the bounty of the Maritimes in recent, artistic methods. The restaurant has an important brunch menu however can be open for lunch and dinner. Attempt their oysters or a lobster roll – it’s well worth the worth!
Inside Atelier Tony
Magnetic Hill Vineyard
Should you’re a fan of wine, then the Magnetic Hill Vineyard is the right spot on the checklist of issues to do in Moncton. Their award-winning wines embody glowing wines, dessert ports, and non-grape-based wines, like strawberry, cranberry, and rhubarb. Whether or not you like crimson or white, dry or candy, you’ll be capable of discover one thing to fit your tastes.
Photograph credit: Vacation spot NB/Nicole Rawlines-LeBlanc
Tire Shack Brewery
In case your tastes lean extra in the direction of beer, then Tire Shack Brewery will more than likely be extra your type. They’ve a spread of drinks on provide, together with unique sours, arduous seltzers, eclectic stouts, and quite a lot of IPAs.
Photograph credit: New Brunswick Tourism
Tide And Boar
For a relaxed meal, the Tide and Boar Gastropub is the place to go. It’s considered one of Canada’s High 50 Eating places and considered one of Canada’s Favorite Bars, so it has the pedigree to show itself. The meals is made with native components, and the drink menu contains quite a lot of beers on faucet or in cans, in addition to cocktails, wine, and extra.
Tide and Boar. Photograph credit: New Brunswick Tourism/Emilie Iggiotti
Pump Home Brewpub
If you end up wanting some unbelievable pizza or finger meals when you’re in New Brunswick, then the Pump Home Brewpub is precisely what you’re searching for. They’ve been a staple of Downtown Moncton since 1999, they usually brew quite a lot of common native beers whereas providing an intensive menu of burgers, pizzas, and luxury meals must-haves. A fantastic informal spot that grew to become our go-to throughout our keep in Moncton.
Scrumptious pizza at Pump Home Brewery in Moncton
Calactus
Should you’re a vegetarian in Moncton, then Calactus is ideal for you. Situated on Saint George Road, this common restaurant provides moderately priced vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices. The menu is easy, however they take a ‘high quality over amount’ strategy to their meals, so that you’re certain to be happy with the choice.
St. James Gate
Should you’re in Downtown Moncton and searching for one thing elegant, then you definitely’ll respect St. James Gate. With a wealthy menu that makes even the mac ‘n’ cheese luxurious and an intensive wine checklist, a meal right here is bound to go away you impressed. The restaurant is situated contained in the resort of the identical identify.
Les Brumes Du Coude
Taking ‘cut back, reuse, recycle in a barely new course, Les Brumes du Coude is in an outdated Aberdeen faculty classroom. Named for the Acadian identify for the realm and for the elbow grease that goes into every thing, the French bistro-style meals are harking back to old-fashioned eating. You’ll really feel such as you had been invited to the household desk to share a meal – a real style of Acadian tradition!
Gusto Italian Grill & Bar
If the identify didn’t already give it away, Gusto Italian Grill & Bar is a superb Italian spot in Moncton. With brick partitions, wooden finishes, an open kitchen, and a wood-fired range, Gusto is a country retreat in the course of Downtown Moncton. They take satisfaction of their meals and provide quite a lot of dishes starting from pasta to hand-thrown pizzas and genuine Italian desserts.
Little Louis’ Oyster Bar And High-quality Delicacies
Should you’re craving some superb seafood, then Little Louis’ Oyster Bar and High-quality Delicacies provides you with what you’re searching for. At Little Louis’, meals and artwork are principally the identical issues, they usually take satisfaction of their award-winning menu and their wine checklist. After all, there are additionally non-seafood choices on the menu, so that you don’t want to fret in case you’re the one turf lover in a bunch of surf lovers.
Monk10 Taproom & High-quality Eatery
For a complicated meal and a very good drink, Monk10 Taproom & High-quality Eatery is the place to go. The meals is freshly ready with one of the best components. The drink menu is fastidiously curated, whether or not you’re trying on the native choices or in any other case. There are additionally vegetarian choices on the menu, so there’s no purpose to stress in case you stick with a specific food regimen.
Cinta Ria Malaysian Restaurant
For one thing a bit totally different, head to Cinta Ria Malaysian Restaurant – the right alternative for a hefty menu of appetizers, sides, combos, and entrees. Whereas consuming on the restaurant is all the time an possibility, they’re additionally recognized for supply providers, so that they’re an important alternative for these nights if you’re drained from a day of taking part in vacationer and simply need to take your sneakers off.