The only city on the Bay of Fundy
Walk narrow streets of well-preserved, 19th-century architecture; linger in the historic Saint John City Market and adjacent King’s Square; spend time relaxing in a café or microbrewery. There’s no other place in the Maritimes where the urban charms of a vibrant, historic city nestle up against the grand, natural allure of a world-famous bay.
Canada’s oldest incorporated city begs to be explored on foot. Uptown Saint John (read: downtown) is a delightful mélange of narrow, steep streets leading to the bay, beautiful old architecture, and every reason to stop for a rest. These charming old buildings house excellent restaurants, funky cafés, creative galleries and shops, theatres, museums, and more. Make a point of stopping in the famous City Market (with a roof that resembles an inverted ship’s hull), and strolling Prince William Street, recognized as having the most continuous collection of Italianate and 2nd Empire buildings in Canada.
Situated where the Saint John River meets the Bay of Fundy, the city of Saint John is a haven for nature lovers. Even within the city itself, you’ll fall in love with King’s Square, a charming urban park with a historic bandstand overlooking uptown. The Irving Nature Park is massive, with 11 km (7 mi.) of trails to explore. And Rockwood Park is one of North America’s largest urban parks. Of course, you’ll also want to make a stop at the famous Reversing Falls Rapids, where the tides of the Bay of Fundy actually force the water at the mouth of the Saint John River to reverse its flow.
