Saint John, New Brunswick
Making Memories in New England & Canada
Sometimes what makes an excursion memorable isn’t one huge attraction; it’s all the little stories and experiences woven through the day.
That’s exactly how our day in Saint John, New Brunswick, felt.
Our guide, Jane LeBlanc with Aquila Tours, had a real gift for storytelling. She was dressed in a Loyalist-style costume, a nod to the Americans who remained loyal to Britain during the Revolution and later settled in Saint John. She didn’t just point things out as we passed them — she gave us the stories behind what we were seeing, and that made the whole day more memorable.
Our first stop was Reversing Rapids, where the Saint John River meets the Bay of Fundy and the powerful tides can actually reverse the direction of the river. We saw it early in the day, when the water was moving one way, and Jane told us we’d come back later so we could see what the Bay of Fundy tides had done while we were gone. Joe and I even picked out a fixed spot along the water so we could compare it when we returned.
From there, we headed toward St. Martins. One of our stops was a beautiful beach right along the Bay of Fundy, with the restaurant just steps away. After lunch, Jane had us searching the shore for white-banded wishing rocks — rocks with a white line that circles all the way around them. Of course, Joe and I had to find a few. ❤️
We also stopped in the little village of St. Martins, where we saw the covered bridge, heard a bagpiper playing nearby, and wandered through a small local shop. Jane had given us a sample of maple candy earlier in the day, and I liked it enough that I bought some there to take back to my students. They were considerably less impressed — several of them ended up spitting it out. Guess it’s an acquired taste. 🤣
We also stopped in the little village of St. Martins, where we saw the covered bridge, heard a bagpiper playing nearby, and wandered through a small local shop. Jane had given us a sample of maple candy earlier in the day, and I liked it enough that I bought some there to take back to my students. They were considerably less impressed — several of them ended up spitting it out. Guess it’s an acquired taste. 🤣
Later, we stopped at Saint John City Market. I probably would have walked right under the ceiling without thinking much about it, but Jane pointed out that it was designed to resemble the upside-down hull of a ship — a reminder of Saint John’s shipbuilding history. It was another one of those little details that I remember because she took the time to tell us the story behind it.
At the end of the day, we went back to Reversing Rapids. This time, the water was moving the opposite direction, just like Jane had told us it would. Joe and I looked back at the same fixed spot we had picked out that morning, and the change was easy to see. After hearing about those powerful Bay of Fundy tides all day, actually seeing what they had done made it all click.
Saint John was just one stop on our New England and Canada cruise aboard Liberty of the Seas, but it ended up being one of those port days that stayed with me. Not because of one big attraction, but because of all the little stories, places and moments Jane helped bring to life along the way.
Want to come along on another New England & Canada adventure? Explore More New England & Canada Memories and see where our travels took us next!
💙 Until next time… keep making memories.
— Mel
Dreaming of Your Own New England & Canada Adventure? 🍁
New England and Canada have a special way of bringing history, beautiful scenery, and memorable experiences together. Whether you're exploring a city or discovering a charming coastal town, I'd love to help you make some memories of your own!
Hi, I'm Mel!
I'm the travel advisor behind Making Memories with Mel!
I love sharing the memories Joe and I have made along the way, but nothing makes me happier than helping someone create wonderful travel memories of their own.
