New Brunswick Cottages and Hotels-Hiking, Camping, Birding

Fundy National Park is situated on the southwestern end of the Bay of Fundy. It is New Brunswick's first National Park and is across the Bay from Nova Scotia, near Moncton and Saint John. Park activities include hiking, camping, birdwatching or swimming along the coast or in the inland lakes. Your choice of activities is virtually endless. Birding or birdwatching is a big deal here as birders literally flock to the area to the Peregrine Falcons, recently re-introduced back into the environment after a lengthy absence. Another favorite species is the shoreline plover. You will find the plover while hiking along the beaches or some of the nearby woodland pathways A nine hole golf course is located on Point Wolfe Road, along with a heated swimming pool, and a covered bridge. Point Wolfe Road winds around the coast ending up at Point Wolfe, New Brunswick. It is from this roadway that you can see and explore the high tides that give this area its notoriety.

Or take Highway 114 which runs through the middle of the Park and leads to overnight campgrounds, with inland lakes nearby ripe for swimming, picnic, fish, canoe or go kayaking at Bennett Lake. Don't worry if you didn't bring your own canoe, there are plenty of places to rent one, if you choose. Park headquarters are located in Alma, as are the best birding beaches. In addition to the aforementioned Falcons and plovers, you can watch the skittish sandpipers dance across the sand.

Hiking trails cover about 100km, the longest of which is called the Fundy Circuit. The Fundy Circuit is a 45km trail that loops the park. There are also a number of smaller hiking trails including one popular one named the Copper-mine Trail. Day trips will take you to Cape Enrage, the Hopewell Rocks and to a place where you can view the action of the Bay of Fundy tides.

The best time to visit is summertime for the most reliable weather conditions. Bear in mind that summer is also the busiest time to visit, so it is necessary to make reservations as early and as quickly as possible.