St. Andrews is such a beautiful destination to visit for a day trip while in New Brunswick, Canada. We discovered so many things to do in the area after spending time in Saint John.
Thanks again to Tourism NB for hosting our visit. All opinions are my own. This article contains affiliate links.
St. Andrews Blockhouse National Historic Site
23 Joes Point Rd, St. Andrews, NB E5B 2J7
The St. Andrews Blockhouse was built between 1812 and 1813 during the War of 1812 by townspeople to protect them from American military and privateers.
This is a nice area for a scenic picnic with views of Passamaquoddy Bay, an inlet in the Bay of Fundy.
During low tide, you can walk across the tidal flats. There are two high tides and two low tides each day.
Visit the Fundy Discovery Aquarium at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre
1 Lower Campus Road, St. Andrews, NB E5B 2L7, Canada
The Huntsman Marine Science Centre is a great place to learn about the marine animals in the Bay of Fundy and the local ecology.
Guests are greeted with a life-size model of a North Atlantic right whale. (Keep the image above in mind for a later reference)
Fun fact: The Fundy Discovery Aquarium is the highest-visited non-government tourist attraction in New Brunswick.
Plan ahead because it’s open to the public from mid-May to early October.
During your visit, you’ll learn more about the highest tides in the world in the Bay of Fundy from the two-story tidal tank, the area’s unique ecology, local marine life, and coastal heritage.
I found the rare albino and blue lobsters fascinating to see in person.
Their harbour seal is also a highlight for guests of all ages.
Explore Water Street
There is an assortment of pubs, restaurants, and shops along the waterfront on Water Street.
There are plenty of local shops where you can find a souvenir, decor, art, or apparel.
- Drewhaven Town & Country
- Boutique La Baleine
- Trinity Galleries
- Maree
- Serendipin Art
- Cottage Chic
- Kit and Kaboodle
- Mermaid Tales Specialty and Gift Shops
- Garden by the Sea
- Great Canadian North Art Galleries
If you love architecture you’ll enjoy admiring all of the buildings downtown.
Established in 1783, Saint Andrews is home to the largest collection of authenticated heritage buildings in the country, dating back to the 18th century.
Dine With a View at Seasons by the Sea Bistro
209 Water St, Saint Andrews, NB
We enjoyed lunch at Seasons by the Sea Bistro before our whale-watching tour.
Guests can opt for indoor dining or outside on the deck.
They serve craft Gahan beer on tap made in Prince Edward Island, local cider, and mocktails.
We opted for outdoor dining with a view, and thankfully, they had blankets available for guests.
We started with the lobster bisque served with toasted house bread.
We shared their Lobster Mornay Flatbread made with Atlantic lobster, mornay sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, pickled fennel, dill, and lemon served on their housemade flatbread.
Caffeinate at Honeybeans Coffee, Tea, and Treats
180 Water St, Saint Andrews, NB E5B 1B2, Canada
This cozy coffee shop is a great stop for a hot or cold drink and a sweet treat.
We opted for lattes and splitting a cookie. They make their own bagels and offer a variety of baked goods, including gluten-free options.
Char and Chowder
182 Water St, Saint Andrews, NB E5B 1B2, Canada
We needed to get back to our hotel, but we would have liked to have checked out Char and Chowder if we had more time.
The unique building with open-air seating definitely caught our attention from the sidewalk.
Char and Chowder is open for lunch and dinner. Their menu features locally sourced ingredients from local farmers and fishermen, including burgers, char wood-fired pizza, and of course, chowder.
Take a Whale-watching Tour with Quoddy Link Marine Whale and Wildlife Cruises
20 King St, Saint Andrews, NB E5B 1Y2, Canada
We enjoyed an incredible whale-watching cruise with Quoddy Link Marine Whale and Wildlife Cruises.
The vessel is wheelchair accessible and offers guests both indoor and outdoor areas for viewing wildlife.
Keep in mind that it’s a lot colder out on the water. You’ll want to bring some extra layers to wear during the cruise, even if it’s warm during your visit.
We visited in early October, and I was grateful that we brought heavy coats to use on our cruise, even though the temperatures while walking downtown felt much warmer.
It’s better to bring a heavier coat and not need it than to be freezing for the duration of your tour.
Bring binoculars if you have them because the boat has to remain a safe distance from the whales.
I’d also recommend videoing the whales instead of trying to take pictures because it happens so fast. I took screenshots from my videos.
There are only 350 North Atlantic Right Whales left in the world, and during our whale-watching cruise, we saw 3 of them! This was extremely rare, and we were so honored to witness it.
We also saw a Minke whale during our cruise.
Guests are allowed to bring non-alcoholic beverages and snacks on the cruise because there isn’t a snack bar. We were treated to a hot chocolate and a cookie during our cruise, which was a nice touch.
Staff shared more about marine life and provided opportunities for us to take a closer look and touch crabs and starfish.
There are 2 guides and 1 captain for your cruise, and the vessel holds 46 passengers, even though there is room for 70, so that everyone has plenty of room for viewing wildlife.
There is a restroom onboard for guests, too.
On our way back to the dock, we saw a lot of marine life basking on the rocks.
We also learned more about Pendlebury Lighthouse, the oldest remaining mainland lighthouse in New Brunswick, which was constructed in 1833.
Captains determine if the weather conditions are safe 30 minutes before each tour because the weather can change quickly in the area.
I’m including a few more pictures to show the low tide.
Water levels can change up to 28 feet high, which is so wild!
Save on Accommodations in Saint Andrews, New Brunswick
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