St. Andrews, New Brunswick…just Magical!!
There’s a certain magic to maritime coastal towns that seems to soften the edges of time. Nowhere in Atlantic Canada is this truer than in St. Andrews, New Brunswick—or as the postcards lovingly call it, St. Andrews-by-the-Sea. Tucked along the Passamaquoddy Bay off the Bay of Fundy, this isn’t just a destination; it’s a feeling…a step back in time to simpler, quieter lifestyles.
Our 3 days spent here were amazing and if you’re looking for a blend of history, breathtaking nature, and pure, unadulterated coastal charm, then St. Andrews needs to be on your list.
A Step Back in Time
We booked ourselves into The Carriage House on Montague AirB&B for our visit to St Andrews. As the name implies these are suites are built into a charming old carriage house, which was built as part of the Meadow Lodge estate between 1909 and 1910. The suites are beautiful and the its old time character blends right in with the whole feel of St. Andrews!
Carriage House on Montague AirB&B
What was truly remarkable about our stay in St Andrews is, except for one excursion, we never used the car. We could comfortably walk everywhere from our AirB&B. In fact, although it is open to traffic, you could literally walk down the center of Water St, the main shopping district in St Andrews, anytime of day or night and not have to dodge a moving vehicle!
A very quiet Water Street
Water Street
St. Andrews was founded in 1783 by United Empire Loyalists escaping the aftermath of the American Revolution. The main street, Water St, isn’t just any main street; it’s a living timeline. Lined with beautifully preserved Loyalist homes and buildings—many dating back to the 18th century—a simple stroll feels like walking through an open-air museum. In fact, some of these structures were built by Loyalists who literally dismantled their homes in Maine and floated them across the border to reassemble them here!
Water Street
Today, these historic buildings house inviting gift shops, art galleries, cozy cafes, and restaurants. Pop into a shop for locally made pottery or jewellery, grab an ice cream or coffee, or just simply soak in the atmosphere of this quaint seaside town.
Water St
A stroll through Market Square on the waterfront
The Crown Jewel: Kingsbrae Garden
Even if you’re not a dedicated gardener, Kingsbrae Garden is an unmissable experience. This 27-acre horticultural masterpiece is a symphony of colour, texture, and fragrance. From the vibrant formal gardens to the serene woodland trails and the adorable alpacas, every turn offers a new delight. It’s a place designed for slow wandering, for getting lost in the beauty of a single flower or finding a quiet bench to just be.
Kingsbrae Gardens
Key Highlights of Kingsbrae Gardens:
- Features over 50,000 plants in more than 2,500 varieties, creatively arranged into themed gardens. The experience blends vibrant displays of flora with art, nature, and whimsy.
Kingsbrae Gardens
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The space is a tapestry of different styles, including a vibrant Cottage Garden, a serene Japanese Garden, a fragrant Rose Garden, a unique Garden of the Senses, a productive Edible Garden and the enchanting Fairy Dell.
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The garden is enhanced by sculpture installations, charming bridges, and water features and even a Cedar Maze, perfect for families. Don’t miss Harold the Hippo, a sculpture located in one of the ponds.
There are lots of amazing scutptures, including an entire sculpture garden!
Harold the Hippo
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Home to friendly pygmy goats, alpacas and ducks & geese that roam freely, adding a lively interactive element.
Overall Vibe: More than just a botanical collection, Kingsbrae is an immersive and tranquil experience. It’s designed for leisurely strolls, inspiration, and connection with nature, offering beautiful vistas at every turn. It’s consistently rated as a must-visit attraction in Atlantic Canada for its beauty, creativity, and peaceful atmosphere.
Quiet woods path
Lots of quiet places to “just be”
Location: On King Street in St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, within the town’s historic residential area, and yes, we just walked there!
The Algonquin Resort
No visit is complete without seeing the Algonquin Resort. Its iconic Tudor-style turrets dominate the skyline, offering a fairy-tale grandeur. Even if you’re not staying the night, it’s worth walking the grounds or popping in for a drink at the lobby bar, which is exactly what we did and enjoyed a tasty beverage while enjoying the wonderful patio.
Algonquin Resort
Enjoying cocktails on the deck at the Algonquin Resort!
Description
Algonquin Resort’s iconic red-roofed gables, white stucco walls, and dark timber framing make it a visually stunning landmark, often referred to as a “castle by the sea.” The resort offers a classic, upscale experience with modern amenities, including a luxury spa, a heated outdoor saltwater pool, a seaside golf course, fine dining, and extensive walking trails on its 200-acre property. It perfectly blends historic charm with contemporary comfort, serving as a central hub for tourism in the region.
Algonquin Resor
History
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1889: The hotel’s origins began with the Algonquin Hotel Company, formed by a group of American businessmen and local patrons (including Sir William Van Horne of the CPR) who envisioned a world-class resort to attract tourists to the Maritimes via the new railway lines. In June 1889 The original wooden Algonquin Hotel opened, but tragically burnrt to the ground just over a month later in a spectacular fire.
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1914-1915: Undeterred, the owners rebuild on a grander scale. The new fire-proof Tudor Revival masterpiece opened in 1915. It quickly became a premier summer destination for wealthy Canadians and Americans, including actors, politicians, and business magnates.
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2014: A devastating fire severely damaged the original 1915 main building, including the iconic cupola. In a testament to its importance, an exacting $20+ million reconstruction was immediately undertaken to restore it to its original glory, using historic photos and plans.
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Today: The fully restored Algonquin stands as a symbol of resilience and historic preservation. It operates year-round as a Marriott Autograph Collection property, blending its storied past with modern luxury, continuing to be the crown jewel of St. Andrews and a must-see landmark in Atlantic Canada.
An Evening on the Waterfront
Evening is a wonderful time to explore waterfront, especially if you can catch the ‘Golden Hour’. That magical time when the sun is setting, the skies are displaying a rich variety of colours from yellow and orange to deep vibrant blue. The street lights are coming on and the whole town takes on a magical aura!
Sunset on the waterfront
the sun setting on waterfront
Magic hour on Water St
There are many wonderful restaurants along Water Street, some of them with patios right on the water. There is even a brewpub. There is no better place to be with good friends and family when the sun is going down!
Enjoying beer and good company at the St Andrews Brewing Co
A Walk on the Waterfront
A short walk from downtown on Water Street will bring to the scenic Pendlebury Lighthouse, situated near the entrance to harbour. Continuing around the point you will eventually run into Pagan Point Nature Rerserve. From here you can see Minister’s Island in the distance.
Low tide on St Andrews waterfront with Pendlebury Lighthouse in the distance
St Andres Waterfront and Pendlebury Lighthouse
Minister’s Island is a unique 500-acre tidal island located just off the coast of St. Andrews in Passamaquoddy Bay. It is only accessible by a 1-km sandbar road for approximately three hours during low tide. The island is an adventure in itself, requiring careful timing of the tides to visit there.
MInister’s Island
Its most famous feature is Covenhoven, the 50-room summer estate of Sir William Van Horne (1843-1915), the mastermind behind the Canadian Pacific Railway. The estate, a National Historic Site, includes the massive sandstone house, a unique circular bathhouse, a working farm with distinctive Dutch-style barns, and Canada’s first concrete silo.
Beyond the Van Horne estate, the island is a natural sanctuary with forests, fields, wetlands, and beaches, offering beautiful hiking trails and wildlife viewing.
A Short Drive Away
Our only excursion by car during our stay in St Andrews was to go and check out a very historic spot, St. Croix Island International Historic Site.
St. Croix Island is a small, uninhabited island in the St. Croix River, on the border between Maine (USA) and New Brunswick (Canada). It is primarily accessed via a short interpretive trail and viewing area just a few kilometers outside of town.
Its profound significance lies in its role as the site of the first French attempt at a permanent settlement in North America (1604), led by explorers Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons, and Samuel de Champlain. The settlement failed catastrophically during the brutal winter of 1604-05, when nearly half of the 79 colonists died of scurvy and cold.
This pivotal failure directly led the survivors, including Champlain, to relocate and establish the Habitation at Port-Royal in present-day Nova Scotia the following year, which became the first successful French settlement and the seed of Acadia.
Today, the island itself is protected and closed to public landing to preserve its archaeological integrity. It is commemorated as a U.S. National Historic Site and a Canadian National Historic Site, with powerful interpretive panels and wood sculpture in the shape of a building at the mainland viewing area telling the story of hardship, survival, and the enduring French presence in North America.
St. Croix Island International Historic Site
Huntsman Aquarium
On our way back to town, we stopped by the Huntsman Marine Science Centre Aquarium & Museum (often called the Huntsman Aquarium) is a renowned public education facility and a gateway to the Bay of Fundy’s marine world. Sadly, it was closed when we arrived so it will have to be something for another visit.
Located on Brandy Cove Road, it is operated by the adjacent Huntsman Marine Science Centre, a non-profit research and education institution. Unlike large commercial aquariums, its focus is on local ecology, conservation, and hands-on learning.
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It showcases the incredible biodiversity of the Passamaquoddy Bay and Bay of Fundy, featuring local species like skates, wolf fish, lumpfish, seals, and sturgeon.
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Its most famous exhibit is the large, open-air Atlantic Salmon tank.
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It offers unique interactive experiences, notably the touch tanks where visitors can handle sea stars, urchins, and crabs.
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The facility includes a museum with marine artifacts and a marine mammal rescue focus, often caring for seals.
Giant Sculpin sculpture at the Huntsman Aquarium
St. Andrews Blockhouse
On our way back to town, we stopped by another historic site at the edge of town. The St. Andrews Blockhouse is a National Historic Site and one of the best-preserved examples of its kind in Canada. Built hastily in 1813 during the War of 1812, it was one of twelve such structures erected in the area to defend against possible American attack.
Its simple, robust design features a two-story wooden fortification with overhanging second-story loopholes (for firing down on attackers) and thick timber walls. It was armed with cannons and garrisoned by local militia, though it never saw actual combat.
St Andrews Blockhouse
Located at the end of Water Street in Centennial Park, it sits on the original shoreline overlooking Passamaquoddy Bay. Today, it serves as a popular museum operated by Parks Canada, offering visitors a tangible link to the town’s wartime history and the tense era when the U.S.-Canada border was a potential battleground.
Canon that protected St Andrews at the St Andrews Blockhouse
Looking back at the wharf from the blockhouse
The Verdict? Go.
St. Andrews-by-the-Sea is more than a checklist of attractions. It’s the feeling of peace as you watch the fishing boats bob in the harbour. It’s the taste of perfectly battered fish and chips. It’s the warmth of a small town that has been welcoming visitors for centuries.
It’s a reminder to slow down, breathe deeply, and appreciate the simple, timeless beauty of a life by the sea.
Have you visited St. Andrews? Share your favourite memory in the comments below!
Photos
To see more photos or to purchase images of this amazing area, check out this gallery on our sister website: St Andrews
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