Winter is the perfect time to kick back and reconnect with loved ones in New Brunswick! Whether you’re looking for an adrenaline pumping fresh-air adventure, or wanting to relax by the cozy hotel lobby fireplace, the ultimate family getaway awaits you this season in NB.
Family Fun in the Capital
When visiting the Capital Region of Fredericton, stay at one of the many family-friendly hotels including the Delta Fredericton, the Crowne Plaza Fredericton-Lord Beaverbrook or the Hilton Garden Inn to name a few. Check out the Stay a Night & Dinner’s On Us deal for featured packages from participating hotels, motels, or B&Bs to receive a bonus of $50 in Downtown Fredericton or Business Fredericton North dollars.
Winter is a special time to be outside and what better way to enjoy the crisp air and the fresh snow than at nearby Crabbe Mountain. It boasts the largest vertical in NB and has 34 trails, lessons for kids of all ages, and a nice lodge to warm up in with delectable food and drink.
If downhill is not for you, you don’t have to go far in Fredericton before you come across a trail to cross-country ski or snowshoe. Head to Odell Park, Killarney Lake Park or the Kingswood and UNB Woodlot trails. Just a half-hour drive from downtown Fredericton, Mactaquac Provincial Park has groomed trails for cross-country skiing, fat biking and snowshoeing, a rink on the pond for skating, a charming ice trail for forest skating, as well as tube, fat bike, cross-country ski and snowshoe rentals. The local cross-country ski club, Wostawea, has many activities. You can even borrow snowshoes at the public library. If you’ve brought your skates along, check out the many outdoor and indoor rinks you can choose from. You really can’t go wrong with a winter family vacation in Fredericton.
Family Getaways in Saint John
Saint John is chock-full of family-friendly spots to explore this winter! Every trip here should start with a visit to the historic Saint John City Market to try the local specialties. (Dulse anyone?) Five minutes down the street you’ll find the Freak Lunchbox. Be sure to stop in to get a sweet treat for the kids, (and one for the kids-at-heart, of course!). If you’re game for some indoor activities, go for a winter swim at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre or some trampoline fun at Oasis Trampoline Park or try family escapism at Breakout Saint John. And if you’d like to take in Canada’s favourite sport, you’ve got to head to a Saint John Sea Dogs Game.
For some fresh air adventure in Saint John, head to Rockwood Park. It offers hiking, skating on the lake, snowshoeing (and snowshoes rental at Inside Out Nature Centre), and geocaching, topped off with hot chocolate and yummy treats (inside) at Lily’s Lakeside Casual Dining.
Set up camp for your family getaway at one of Saint John’s go-to accommodations that are sure to tick all your boxes. The Delta and the Hilton, located right in the heart of all the uptown magic, both have top rated pools.
If you’re on the search for downhill skiing, Poley Mountain is less than an hour away and it’s the perfect spot for your family to hit the slopes together with trails for all skill levels. While in the Sussex area, TimberTop Zip Tours at Snider Mountain Ranch is a must! Fly above the snow covered forest floor on a dozen of incredible zip lines, then enjoy homemade cookies and hot chocolate as you warm up by a crackling campfire. All this fresh air will work up an appetite, so hit the town of Sussex for some delicious food at one of the local favourites, like the Taste and See Restaurant, Knocks Cafe or the All Seasons Inn & Restaurant.
Experience Winter Family Joy in Moncton and Dieppe
For food, laughter, and celebration, head to Moncton-Dieppe to experience true family fun. Stay a night and enjoy a dip in the pool at the modern Hyatt Place or Hilton Garden Inn, or the water slides at the Delta Hotels Beausejour and Hampton Inn & Suites. Indulge in some fantastic food via room service or a restaurant such as Gusto Italian Grill, Café Archibald, Tony's Bistro, Classic Burger or the Homestead (a family restaurant just across the river in Riverview), then go see the cats roar at a Moncton Wildcats hockey game.
Discover Moncton’s history with a side of creativity and science by heading to Resurgo Place. If outdoor fun is more your speed, go for a skate at the Ian Fowler Oval outside of the Avenir Centre or the Place 1604 Skating Oval by Dieppe's City Hall. For some awesome urban trails, you can head to Centennial Park to snowshoe or cross-country ski or Mapleton Park for some fat biking or snowshoeing (rentals available at both locations). The same winter activities are available at Dieppe's Rotary Saint-Anselme Park, plus sleigh rides on Sundays and a sliding hill.
Looking for a full day of activities? Go to Broadleaf Ranch, a 40-minute drive from Moncton. It’s ready to welcome you for a fun-filled winter experience with an abundance of winter activities available such as horseback riding, sleigh rides, the Adventure Barn, tobogganing & sliding, skating, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. It’s the perfect spot to disconnect from the hustle and bustle, and spend the time connecting with the ones you love.
Unwind and Reconnect in Saint Andrews
If you’re searching for a slower-paced getaway with your family, head to the Algonquin Resort in Saint Andrews. From an epic water slide at their indoor pool, to unforgettable dining experiences, to a splurge-worthy spa, you’ll be guaranteed to have a relaxing, classic family getaway. While you’re there, don’t forget to explore the town. You’ll find boutique shops, local eateries, and you’ll be sure to spot a deer along the way.
Family Adventures in Chaleur
If you and your family are looking for an activity that you’ve never done before, then look no further! At Birch Bark Adventures, you can try ice fishing, go on a guided snowshoe adventure, or experience the thrill of dog sledding with an expert guide and adorable, hard-working dogs leading you along forest trails. You'll find plenty of other family activities in the Chaleur region, including fat biking, cross-country skiing at Snow Bears Club, indoor climbing at Chaleur Climbing Club or indoor skating in Bathurst, Beresford and Petit-Rocher. More than one day is needed to fit in all those activities. Thankfully, the region has a variety of hotel options (with indoor pools) such as Atlantic Host or Best Western Plus.
Fresh Air Fun in Edmundston and Grand Falls
For a one-stop-shop for outdoor fun, head to Edmundston's Centre Plein Air Mont Farlagne. Tucked away in the snowy northwestern corner of the province, this outdoor centre is not only famous for its ski and snowboard slopes, but also for snow tubing, fat biking, and snowshoe trails. Ski and lodging packages make your getaway easy as pie. When the sun sets on your daytime fun, you'll find apres-ski options aplenty - from the cafeteria at Mont Farlagne, to famous Pizza le Patrimoine downtown, to great seafood options at Le Pirate de la mer. Check out all that Edmundston's got to offer this winter season.
A 40-minute drive south in Grand Falls, just behind the E.P. Sénéchal Center, Kahoutek Club has cross-country ski, snowshoeing and fat bike trails. One stand-out is Grand Tube, an outdoor tube slide on a snow slope with a mechanical lift. Make sure to stop by the falls and gorge, spectacular in the winter with its dramatic rock formations covered in ice and illuminated at night. For a bite to eat, Jack Fries and Pizza Boy definitely are family favourites!
Appalachian adventures with the family
If your kids have lots of energy to burn, look no further than the Restigouche region. Sugarloaf Provincial Park has fantastic downhill skiing and snowboarding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails. For some indoor fun, head out to the Memorial Regional Civic Centre in Campbellton. There you can swim in the semi-Olympic size pool that has a water slide and kiddies pool, or hit the ice of the two Olympic ice surfaces. For a family getaway in the heart of nature, book a log cabin at Chalets Restigouche and go snowshoeing or snow tubing in the Appalachian winter wonderland around Kedgwick, or venture further afield to Mount Carleton Provincial Park.
Seaside winter fun in the Acadian Peninsula
Discover the Acadian Peninsula in its true winter spirit. Enjoy a variety of outdoor activities at Sureau Blanc ski club and Les Gailurons outdoor centre in Tracadie, Club plein air in Caraquet, Arpents de neige in Shippagan, Aca-Ski in Lamèque, and more. See the Village historique acadien under a blanket of snow as you explore the historical site's walking and fat biking trails. And when it comes to winter celebrations, Shippagan's Ice Carnival and the March Break Week in Caraquet are a must for families!
Wintertime fun in the Valley
Whether you want to watch a game at the famous World Pond Hockey Championships in Plaster Rock, enjoy a horse-drawn sleigh ride near Hartland or get a treat at Creek Village Gallery & Café or at the Farm & Craft Market in Woodstock, the Saint John River Valley has great winter options for families. Plan an overnight stay in a castle-inspired manor at Pathsaala Inn in Perth-Andover (explore nearby trails then take a dip in their indoor pool). In Florenceville-Bristol, you can take an art class with the kids at the Andrew and Laura McCain Art Gallery, cross-country ski at the Valley Outdoor Centre, then spend the night in a train car at the Shamrock Train Inn. West NB really shines in winter!
Ready for your next adventure? Find the perfect place to stay, pack up the family and discover everything New Brunswick has to offer this winter.
