5 Exciting Day Trips to Explore Fall Foliage in New Brunswick

Fall, or autumn if you prefer, is a popular season for hosting annual conventions and conference events. The last Sunday in September kicks off Fall Foliage Week and there is no better place to see the beautiful fall colours than here in New Brunswick. Each day this week, we featured a different trip idea on our social media channels. So, today’s post wraps up our virtual fall foliage tour with 5 exciting day trips or reasons you’ll want to host your next conference in beautiful New Brunswick.

1. 

   Walk the ocean floor Hopewell Rocks on the Bay of Fundy Coast

   From Moncton, head out on the Fundy Coastal Drive (Route 114) in your rental car and stop at Cinnamon Soul Café & Bakery for a delicious latte and breakfast to fuel your adventure. Check the tide times as you’ll want to walk the ocean floor or kayak around the flowerpot rocks at Hopewell Rocks. The Bay of Fundy is home to the world’s highest tides! For a thrill, visit Cape Enrage to rappel the 150’ cliffs to the Bay of Fundy or try the zipline before stopping for lunch at the historic Cape House Restaurant. Cape Enrage is part of the UNESCO Fundy Biosphere Reserve. A short drive away, you can visit the Waterside Winery and taste a sample before you buy. Continuing west on Route 915’s Scenic Drive brings you to the lobster fishing village of Alma. Stop at Kelly’s Bake Shop for their famous sticky buns before you hike Dickson Falls in Fundy National Park. Head back to Alma for a beer at Holy Whale Brewery. You can also get a fantastic macciato at this former church that started out as Buddha Bear Coffee Roasters. You probably built up quite an appetite and Alma has several delicious dinner options before you enjoy the beautiful fall foliage scenery back to Moncton once again.

2. 

   explore the sea caves at St. Martins along the Bay of Fundy Coast

   From Saint John, before you head out on the Fundy Coastal Drive (Route 111) stop at the uptown or east side Java Moose Coffee Roasters for a Red Eye or Pumpkin Spice Latte and some fresh biscotti bites. Check out the St. Martins sea caves at low tide or head out on a scenic coastline boat tour with Red Rock Adventure before you indulge in some fresh Atlantic seafood or world famous chowder. Continue your scenic drive on the spectacular Fundy Trail Parkway. This accessible drive has many breathtaking lookouts that rival the Amalfi Coast in my opinion! At the end of the Parkway, continue into Sussex to pick up some delicious Sussex Corner Golden Rum at the Sussex Craft Distillery or some local ales at Sussex Ale Works before grabbing dinner at Knocks Café. Enjoy the beautiful fall foliage scenery back to Saint John where Uncorked Tours and Tasting Room in the City Market awaits with your nightcap of all things local NB.

3. 

   enjoy an evening picnic at sunset over Washamedoak Lake

   From Fredericton, there are several delicious coffee shops to choose from, but we suggest Chess Piece Patisserie & Café for their amazing sweet and savoury pastries to pair with your Americano and fuel your scenic journey on the River Valley Scenic Drive along the beautiful St. John River. Drive along Route 102 to Gagetown Fruit Farm in the pretty Village of Gagetown. You can pick up some fresh fruit, jams, homemade baked goods for your picnic lunch, as well as apple pop, ciders and spirits from Gagetown Distilling & Cidery. Head to the Trans-Canada Hwy 2 east to cross the river to Route 715 on your way to Cambridge-Narrows. Make an appointment to visit Mott’s Landing Vineyard & Winery and pick up some of their delicious wines. Enjoy your picnic at the Pines Conservation Park, then relax along the shores of the beautiful Washademoak Lake. Travel back to Fredericton along the north side of the river (Route 105) for some more gorgeous fall foliage views before you stop at Picaroons Roundhouse for a pint of Man’s Best Friend English porter and a bite to eat overlooking the St. John River.

4. 

   Pick a bag of fresh local apples and some cider at Belliveau Orchard

   From Moncton, pop in to Duo Café on Main Street for your quick breakfast with fresh baked pastries and espresso before you head out to the Acadian Coastal Drive on Route 106. Stop at the beautiful Belliveau Orchard for a wagon ride to the apple orchard where you can pick the best Macintosh, Cortland and maybe even Honeycrisp apples around. After your apple-picking, head inside to their on-farm market and café for fresh apples, baked goods, ciders and wines. I recommend the Limited Edition ciders and Poire wine is also a must try! Craft beer lovers continue east to the Sackville Bagtown Boozy Market where you can pick up cans to go. Then hop on the Trans-Canada Hwy 2 east to Trueman Blueberry Farms in Aulac. Pick up the best homemade ice cream and baked goods to take with you in the sunflower maze featuring over 250,000 sunflowers over 6 acres! From Aulac, take Route 16 to Baie Verte where you can visit Winegarden Estate – New Brunswick’s oldest winery and distillery. Head north on Route 15 for the beautiful coastal drive along the Northumberland Strait back to Moncton.

5. 

   Hike a trail in one of the many parks in NB to see all the beautiful fall foliage

   From Moncton, pop into my favourite second office, Café Codiac on St. George Blvd., for your London Fog, healthy fresh-baked cookie and breakfast to fuel your journey on the Acadian Coastal Drive via Route 15. Stroll the 1-km boardwalk at the Bouctouche Dune before heading north to visit the Richibucto River Wine Estate. Not much further north, you’ll find a beautiful beach and hiking trails in Kouchibouquac National Park. Return south to the lobster capital of the world and visit Shediac where you can climb on a giant lobster after stopping for a delicious seafood lunch and board game at Bistro Le Moque-Tortue. Finally, craft beer lovers will enjoy a stop at CAVOK Brewing Company near the Greater Moncton International Airport in Dieppe where they have a vast tap list and selection of beers to go that are both brewed on site and by other guest breweries. CAVOK (pronounced kav-oh-kay) is an air traffic control term meaning Ceiling and Visibility Ok. The owners are air traffic controllers!

If we missed any of your favourite spots to explore New Brunswick’s fall foliage, let us know! Or share this post with anyone you know who might be looking for a great place to host their next conference! Then, check out this post if you’ll be needing a local event planner: When should I contact an event planner for best results?