What’s the vibe in New Brunswick?

While Toronto might be the Canadian city with the ultimate vibe, sometimes a change of scenery is needed to refresh ourselves and recharge our batteries. At this time of year, there are few places more beautiful destinations than those found when heading out to New Brunswick. Undoubtedly, you will find a very different vibe in this laid-back, easterly seaboard province, making it a great place for a vacation.

Why New Brunswick?

Home to around three-quarters of a million people, the province is home to unspoiled nature, and forests cover most of its land mass. There are also any number of coastal islands.

The largest city is St John, and Fredericton is the provincial capital. Compared to Toronto’s two-million seven-hundred and thirty-odd thousand people, New Brunswick is sparsely populated even by Canadian standards. While average incomes for New Brunswick families are among the lowest in the county, the relatively low cost of living means people can have an affordable, comfortable life. That low cost of living also makes it an attractive destination for Canadians who like their holiday budget to stretch a little further. 

A unique place

New Brunswick has plenty of unique features, but one that makes it really stand is that it is the only constitutionally bilingual province in the county. Over thirty percent of the population have French as a first language and seventy percent English. 

Being the setting down point for European settlers, it was one of the first places in Canada to be explored. Frenchman Jacques Cartier first arrived here in 1534, and seventy years later, the French returned and created the settlement known as Acadia. Along with French colonists from places like Louisana, these were the ancestors of the province’s Francophone people.

New Brunswick was one of the first areas of Canada to be explored and settled by Europeans. French Explorer Jacques Cartier first arrived in the area that now makes up New Brunswick in 1534. French settlers would return about 70 years later to create the colony which would become known as Acadia. These settlers and other French colonists who came to the region from such places as Louisiana are the ancestors of New Brunswick’s present-day Francophone population. 

The English-speaking population descended from people who fled north at the end of the American Revolutionary War. Many of these refugees were of British origin, but German and Dutch immigrants were also among them. Their descendants form a significant portion of New Brunswick’s current population. And, of course, a language barrier did not stop the different groups from mixing and marrying and breaking down barriers between the various communities.

New Brunswick culture

This mashup of cultures has produced top artists, thinkers and academic institutions. New Brunswick has a rich cultural heritage from both its Francophone and Anglophone communities, along with the contributions of generations of immigrants from all over the world.  The Acadian community retains its unique culture and dialect and has produced some notable poets and writers, including poet, philosopher, and musician Raymond Guy LeBlanc.

Overall, the vibe is traditional, friendly and rural. Rural communities rub along just fine with modern cities. The province boasts vibrant festivals, cities with world-class culture and hometown hospitality. So, if that sounds like something you would like to experience, here are some ideas for winter holiday attractions. 

Crabbe Mountains

Crabbe Mountain offers skiers a winter wonderland and is home to the highest vertical drop in the Maritimes.  Access is easy, the views are scenic and there is an enormous choice of terrains and parks. Located in Central Hainesville, the resort features eleven glades and twenty-three Alpine trails that cater to all skill levels. It also has a fully equipped ski rental shop. The cool thing here is night skiing every Thursday, Friday and Saturday throughout the season. And the apres-ski is excellent, too, with pubs and restaurants featuring that unique New Brunswick twist.

Crabbe Mountain Inn

The Crabbe Mountain is a warm, cozy, chalet-inspired bed and breakfast just three minutes from the slopes. In a beautiful setting, the vibe is warm and welcoming and the perfect base for any outdoor winter activity, from alpine ski to snowshoe, cross country ski or snowmobile.  Its Tongue and Groove Bar, Grill and Music Room offer some of the East Coast’s finest food and weekly live music. If you fancy a flutter while you are away, you do not even need to venture out, as there is easy access to the best online casinos in New Brunswick from the comfort of your home-like room.

Dumfries Maples

The vibe here is most definitely ‘sweet spot’. During the maple syrup season, visitors can take part in the traditional Canadian winter activity of harvesting maple syrup. You can tour through the sugar bus, try fresh taffy and watch the magic of maple syrup production. Dumfries Maple’s cedar log cookhouse has a comforting, welcoming, cozy buzz and serves fresh breakfast pancakes all day long. Snowshoe rental is available to allow you to explore the site and its numerous nature trails. Don’t forget to take a bottle of the maple syrup home with you!

Big Axe Brewery

The Big Axe Brewery brews award-winning craft beers from locally sourced hops and the best quality grain. Nestled along the Destination Nackawic waterfront, it is just three minutes from the Trans Canada highway. The brewery is easily accessible by car or snowmobile, and brewery tours offer an enlightening and entertaining indoor experience and a welcome break from the cold winter weather outside.

River Run Resort

If your vibe is chilled, relaxed and super memorable then River Run Resorts glamping domes are going to give you a holiday experience like no other. The domes are fully furnished and feature steaming hot, private hot tubs. This resort is the perfect location for winter glamping, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing, and it is a must-visit place for snowmobile fanatics.

Arcadia in Acadia

New Brunswick makes for the perfect winter holiday vibe and is a favourite with Ontarians who can find their own Arcadia in Acadia and the surrounding area.