Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business St. Andrews, often marketed as St. Andrews by-the-Sea, is a small Loyalist town on the tip of a peninsula in Passamaquoddy Bay. Its grid of historic streets, seaside gardens and tidal island make it one of the most charming stops on the Bay of Fundy coast of New Brunswick, with enough variety for a relaxed two or three days.
Ross Memorial Museum
Pendlebury Lighthouse
Ministers Island
Katy's Cove
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United Empire Loyalists settled here in 1783, and some of their houses were reportedly floated across from New England by barge. The street grid they laid out survives, and the historic town is recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada.
In the late 1800s the town became Canada's first seaside resort, drawing summer visitors from Montreal and Boston. That resort heritage still shapes it today, from grand estates and gardens to a waterfront lined with galleries and cafes.
Water Street follows the harbour and is the main stretch for shops, galleries and casual dining. Cross streets are named for governors and for the children of King George III, so a walk uphill becomes a small history lesson. Allow an easy hour or two for browsing and for photos at the wharf.
Completed in 1840, the courthouse is considered one of the best preserved examples of a mid-19th century Maritime courthouse. The nearby Old Charlotte County Gaol houses the county archives, and seasonal tours cover the cells and courthouse. Check the schedule before you go.
This 1824 house once belonged to Harris Hatch, a Loyalist. It now displays the collection of a traveling American couple, with furniture by 19th century New Brunswick cabinetmakers, handknotted carpets and souvenirs from their journeys. It is a good rainy-day stop.
The Ross Memorial Museum occupies an 1824 house associated with a Loyalist family. Photo: John Robert McPherson, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Built in 1833 at the tip of the peninsula, this lighthouse was deactivated in 1938 and later restored. A walk out to the point gives open views over the bay and is quiet in the evening.
Pendlebury Lighthouse was built in 1833 at the north point of the St. Andrews peninsula. Photo: Gordon Leggett, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The hilltop resort on Adolphus Street opened in 1889 and became Canada's first seaside resort. It burned in 1914 and was rebuilt a year later, and its grounds and views are worth a short stroll even if you are not staying there. At the other end of town, a shell midden built up over about 2,000 years of Passamaquoddy life is now a provincial heritage site.
This 27-acre garden is just up King Street from the waterfront and is open from mid-May to mid-October. It has themed beds with tens of thousands of perennials, a cedar maze, a Dutch windmill, sculpture and a tea house. Allow at least two hours, and see the festival of lights in November and December if you visit in winter.
Founded in 1969, the centre runs a public aquarium with a display showing the scale of Bay of Fundy tides, plus harbour seals, sturgeon and seahorses. It is a good fit for families and is typically open from mid-May to mid-October.
In nearby Chamcook, this centre has an underground chamber for viewing Atlantic salmon, displays on their life history and easy walking trails along Chamcook Stream. It is a pleasant detour by car.
Next door to the Huntsman centre, this federal marine research facility was established in 1908 and underlines how important science has been to the town. It is mainly a working lab, so see it as context for the aquarium visit rather than a separate attraction. Ask at the aquarium about any public programs.
This 200-hectare tidal island can be reached by car across a gravel bar at low tide only. It was the summer home of Sir William Van Horne, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, who built a sandstone mansion and farm here. Plan your visit around the tide table and arrive back before the water rises.
Ministers Island was the summer estate of Sir William Van Horne, a president of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Photo: Quiet kiai, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
A small, sheltered beach on the edge of town, Katy's Cove is a simple place to spend a sunny afternoon. The North Atlantic water is cold, so expect to wade rather than swim.
Katy's Cove is a sheltered beach at the edge of St. Andrews. Photo: Quiet kiai, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Boat tours depart from the wharf in the warmer months and explore Passamaquoddy Bay and the Bay of Fundy. Wildlife varies by season and operator, so confirm schedules and dress warmly for the water.
Passamaquoddy Bay is the setting for boat and wildlife tours leaving the St. Andrews wharf. Photo: Irene Steeves from Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Seafood is the focus. Lobster chowder is a staple on menus along Water Street, alongside fish and chips and lobster rolls. Scallops from the Bay of Fundy region are another favorite, served pan-seared or in chowders.
Look for dulse, a red seaweed eaten as a salty snack and long associated with the Fundy coast. In nearby St. Stephen, Ganong Bros., founded in 1873, is the oldest company in the Canadian confectionery industry, and Ganong chocolates are a classic New Brunswick souvenir.
Water Street is the place to browse, with a mix of cafes, pubs and seafood restaurants. Many places close or shorten their hours outside summer, so check ahead.
Popular dishes to try in St. Andrews
Water Street is the most convenient base, with guesthouses and inns within a short walk of restaurants, galleries and the wharf. It suits travelers who want to leave the car parked and explore on foot.
Adolphus Street climbs to the historic resort area overlooking the town, where visitors have stayed since the late 19th century. It suits those who want a classic seaside resort with golf and views.
Chamcook, just outside town, offers a quieter, more rural setting near the Atlantic Salmon Interpretive Centre and woodland walks. It suits families and nature lovers who are happy to drive into town.
Where to stay in St. Andrews
Summer is the main season, when Kingsbrae Garden, the aquarium and boat tours are open and Water Street is busy. Early fall can be calmer and cooler, with fewer crowds. Many attractions close from mid-October, and some restaurants and shops reduce their hours.
The town has festive events in late fall, including the Season of Lights and Wonder at Kingsbrae in November and December. Winters are quiet, and the sea is cold year round. Always check opening dates in advance, and pack layers for coastal wind at any time.
St. Andrews is in the southwest corner of New Brunswick, off Highway 1. It is about 30 minutes east of the border crossing at St. Stephen and Calais, Maine, and about 65 minutes west of Saint John. Route 127 is the only road into town, and it meets Highway 1 at both ends.
The nearest larger airports are in Saint John and Fredericton, and a rental car is the easiest way to reach Chamcook, the Atlantic Salmon Interpretive Centre and Ministers Island. A ferry connects Deer Island with the mainland nearby.
Downtown is compact, walkable and laid out in a grid, so you can park once and explore Water Street, the courthouse, Kingsbrae Garden and the waterfront on foot.
Walk Water Street in the morning, then visit the Charlotte County Courthouse and the Ross Memorial Museum. After lunch, spend a few hours at Kingsbrae Garden and finish at the wharf.
Visit the Huntsman Marine Science Centre in the morning, then cross to Ministers Island at low tide. End the day with a walk to Pendlebury Lighthouse.
Join a boat tour on Passamaquoddy Bay, drive to the Atlantic Salmon Interpretive Centre in Chamcook, and relax at Katy's Cove before dinner. If you have extra time, add a second pass through Water Street for galleries and souvenirs, or drive toward St. Stephen to see where Ganong chocolates are made.
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