 Moncton
is a city in southeast New Brunswick, Canada. It is located inland of the
Bay of Fundy and Acadian Coast. Moncton has a population of 60,126, with a
metropolitan population of about 126,086. The City of Moncton is the only
officially bilingual city in Canada. All venues provide services in both
official languages. It was also the site of a Rolling Stones Concert.Get
in
By car
From the US:
I-95 to the Transcanada Route 2, through Fredericton to Moncton
Route 9 (US) to Route 1 (Canada) through St. Stephen, Saint John
and up to Moncton.
From Quebec:
Route 185 to Edmundston down the Trans-Canada Route 2 to Moncton
By air
Moncton International Airport
located on the route 15 to Shediac in the Dieppe Industrial park.
WestJet - Canada's discount airline flies into Moncton
International Airport Daily.
By train
The Moncton Via Rail Station is located on Main Street near the
intersection with Vaughn Harvey Blvd, beside Highfield Square. Rail service
runs 6 days a week to Halifax and Montrιal.
Get around
Moncton is pretty easy to get around. There are 2 main ways to get around
Moncton, the Trans-Canada and the Wheeler blvd, connecting both ends of
town. Main street and downtown Moncton are equally easy to navigate, signs
are posted to all the main attractions.
Attractions
Things to see in Moncton are quite limited, most attractions are located
at a few minute drive:
Magnetic Hill Optical Illusion, Located in Magnetic Hill
attraction Park. $5 per car entry.
Moncton Museum
Moncton Acadian Museum, Located at the University de Moncton
Tidal Bore Park, Located on Main Street, Downtown Moncton.
The tidal bore happens when the Bay of Fundy rising tide brings water
counter to the normal flow of Petitcodiac river. The once-famous thundering
flow has been reduced to a 6-inch ripple by nearby hydroelectric dams, but
still an unusual sight. The folks at the city's information booth on Main
St, can tell you when to see this phenomena.
Hopewell Rocks, Walk on the Ocean floor thanks to the Bay of
Fundy``s High tides (Second Highest in the world.) Truly a fabulous
sight--bring your camera. Get there within three hours on either side of low
tide to see the islands best (kayaking is also available if the tide's
high). A nice 10-minute walk thru the woods takes you to a large stairwell
to the ocean floor, where you can easily walk among a half-dozen enormous
(30-meters+ high) columns of fir tree-topped sandstone islands. A golf-cart
shuttle can whisk you back to the park information facility, which features
a good explanation of how the islands came to be, a snack bar and gift shop.
The ride from Moncton is about 45 minutes. Entrance to Fundy National Park
is another 30 minutes but definitely worthwhile in good weather.
Activities
Crystal Palace Amusement Park, Located beside the
Champlain Mall on Paul Street in Dieppe
Sandspit, Located in Shediac
Parlee Beach, Beautiful Beach located in Shediac on the
Northumberland Straight boasting the warmest water temperatures in the
country.
Plage Aboiteau Beach, Located in Shediac
Magnetic Hill Zoo, Located at the Magnetic Hill Attraction
Park
Magic Mountain, Water Park located in the Magnetic Hill
Attraction Park
Poley Mountain, Biking in the Summer, Skiing and
Snowboarding in the Winter located in Sussex, a 50 minute drive from Moncton
Lakeside Golf Club, Located on Shediac Road
Magnetic Hill Golf Club, Located on Mountain Road across
from McDonalds
Capitol Theatre, Catch a show at the oldest theatre in New
Brunswick. Located on Main Street
Empress Theatre, Located on Main Street
MacSweeny's Dinner Theatre, Located on Main Street above
Club Cosmo
Irishtown Nature Park, Largest urban nature park (2200
acre). Drive north on Elmwood Drive
Shopping
Trinity Power Centre, Off Wheeler Blvd at Mountain Road
Champlain Mall. Largest single-story mall in the world. Located in
Dieppe on Paul Street
North West Center, Located on Mountain Road (formerly - Moncton
Mall)
Downtown Moncton, Main Street boasts many boutiques and shops
Highfield Square, Located on Main Street across from the
Howard-Johnson Hotel
Dining
Moncton boasts some of the finest cuisine in Atlantic Canada:
Pastalli Ristorante, 611 Main St., Italian Cuisine, grill
your own gourmet garlic bread.
Bogarts, Main Street
Graffiti, Greek Cuisine on Main Street
Pump House Brewery, 5 Orange Lane off Main Street
(Microbrewery -- try the Muddy River Stout!) Not to miss: brick oven pizza
(crust is infused with beer).
Cafe Archibald, 221 Mountain Rd. (Archibald intersection)
Intimate cafe with great service where meal and dessert crκpes are a
specialty.
Juste Poutines, 346 Acadia Ave, Dieppe. Try the Acadian local dish
called Poutine. Ball of grated potatoes with pork center, boiled until
cooked. Don't be fooled by the texture, this is a must try. Some eat it with
ketchup, gravy, or even brown sugar. |
