‘This little-known destination is the lobster capital of the world – it was the best I’d ever eaten’

The Canadian state of New Brunswick is known for its stunning landscapes and unthinkable seafood, with the world's biggest lobster festival taking spot each year

With a whopping 85% of Canada's New Brunswick being untouched forest, there's an abundance of stunning landscapes to observe – thing we recovered retired firsthand during our travel astir this breathtaking state connected the Atlantic coast.

Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park is 1 of the astir unsocial spots to cheque out, wherever tremendous rocks person been moulded by the Bay of Fundy's tides. These tides are immoderate of the highest globally the quality betwixt debased and precocious tide present tin surge up to 50ft. We strolled astir the rocks astatine debased tide with our well-informed usher Joe, who enlightened america astir the area's past and highlighted distinctive formations similar the Jay Leno stone – it genuinely does lucifer him! When the tide is high, visitors tin kayak on the aforesaid path, reports OK!.

My proposal is to get determination aboriginal if the tide permits. We got determination astatine 8.15am and lone had to stock the water level with a fewer canine walkers. By the clip we departed astatine 10am, hordes of tourists had arrived, which doesn't marque for the champion photos!

After our aboriginal start, we grabbed sandwiches and the renowned sticky buns from Kelly's Bake Shop successful the charming lobster sportfishing colony of Alma, earlier savouring our picnic successful the Fundy Trail Provincial Park. There's nary amended spot to soak successful the park's awe-inspiring views than astatine the reflection platform overlooking Walton Glen Gorge, a magnificent earthy stone enactment besides known arsenic the Grand Canyon of New Brunswick.

The portion is brimming with stunning parks, each 1 arsenic breathtaking arsenic the next. We besides took a pit halt astatine Kouchibouguac National Park to soak up immoderate prima connected the soil dunes astatine Kellys Beach, earlier embarking connected a kayaking escapade into the lagoon.

'The lobster superior of the world'

Shediac municipality proudly declares itself arsenic the lobster superior of the world. This assertion is symbolised by the world's largest lobster statue situated connected Main Street – it's intolerable to miss.

The yearly Shediac Lobster Festival, scheduled for 5-13 July adjacent year, attracts implicit 40,000 attendees some locals and tourists who devour 2,000 pounds of lobster during the festivities.

Our festival travel began with the Corks and Claws event, wherever 8 section eateries served up a tiny lobster crockery paired with an perfect wine. The chefs' inventiveness was limitless, with dishes ranging from lobster dips to croissant lobster rolls. It's an fantabulous accidental to illustration immoderate of the apical restaurants successful the country erstwhile you're pressed for time. The introduction summons besides grants entree to the main tent, wherever festival-goers tin bask performances by section musicians.

The pursuing evening, we joined La Grande Table for a lobster banquet, an lawsuit that accommodates 700 guests astatine a azygous elongated array extending the full magnitude of Main Street. Initially, the tremendous full lobsters placed earlier america were somewhat daunting, but the locals of New Brunswick (potentially immoderate of the friendliest radical connected the planet) graciously guided america beginners done the cracking process to savour the tasty rewards of the caller catch.

Food and portion successful New Brunswick

While lobster is intelligibly the main attraction here, the state boasts a wealthiness of further culinary treasures for tourists to relish. Anyone visiting Saint John, a metropolis affluent successful past and distinctive architecture, should reserve an Uncorked Tour, which offers a sampling of New Brunswick's finest wines, beers, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages portion exploring the city's attractions.

Our usher was the jovial and amiable Gilliane, who established Uncorked with her sister Nathalie. We started our circuit astatine the Saint John City Market (Canada's oldest farmers' market) with a tasting of section wines, including a chaotic blueberry variety. These wines were dissimilar immoderate I'd antecedently sampled, chiefly due to the fact that they're produced with hybrid grapes exclusive to the area. These vines indispensable beryllium resilient to acold and rainfall to past the harsh winters.

As we continued our circuit astir the vibrant streets of Saint John, we indulged successful a cocktail astatine the softly lit Port City Royal edifice earlier trying a brew formation astatine the well-liked section brewery, Bigtide.

Whale watching

Up to 12 antithetic whale taxon tin beryllium spotted successful the Bay of Fundy during summer, making it an perfect determination for whale watching. The bay serves arsenic a feeding crushed for these whales, who feast connected the abundant krill, squid, herring, pollock and mackerel brought successful by the almighty Fundy tides.

From the scenic municipality of Saint Andrews, we embarked connected a two-and-a-half-hour vessel travel with Jolly Breeze Whale Adventures.

Whale watching has agelong been connected my bucket list, and New Brunswick seemed the cleanable spot to yet bash it. Of course, whether oregon not the whales take to amusement up is wholly unpredictable, truthful we felt incredibly fortunate to spot respective minke whales, including a calf.

The vessel was soundless arsenic we each held our breath, waiting for the adjacent whale breach. It was a genuinely magical acquisition to witnesser these majestic animals successful their earthy environment, a representation I won't soon forget. Thanks to our sharp-eyed captain, we besides saw harbour porpoises, oversea lions and adjacent a bald eagle conscionable a fewer of the creatures that telephone the Bay of Fundy home.

* For much accusation connected the area, sojourn Atlantic Canada and Tourism New Brunswick.