New Brunswick: from breathtaking views to spectacular natural sites and preserved sanctuaries, there's a world of wonder waiting for you next door in new Brunswick, Canada!

Natural History, April, 2003

New Brunswick, Canada has so many wonders waiting to be experienced and explored! New Brunswick's Bay of Fundy is One of the Marine Wonders of the World. Twice a day the world's highest tides rise and fall almost 48 feet (that's equivalent to a four-story building!). Walk on the ocean floor and just six hours later, kayak above the very same spot! Paddle under the arch at the famous Hopewell Rocks ... towering rock formations carved by millions of years of surging Fundy tides! Set sail to see all kinds of whales. Playful Humpbacks, giant Finbacks, and even the rare Right Whale! Thrill at the sight of countless shorebirds reeling and diving, and explore the coast from the amazing Fundy Trail.

But the wonder doesn't stop there in New Brunswick! Take a pontoon boat tour between the towering cliffs of Grand Falls Gorge! Find new inspiration touring some of Earth's oldest mountains on New Brunswick's Appalachian Range Route! Or visit preserved sand' dunes such as the Irving Eco-Centre, La Dune de Bouctouche, for a tranquil tour through our one-of-a-kind natural wonders!

One thing is for certain in New Brunswick ... there's never a question of what you can do ... only what you can do next) The province is home to two of Canada's National Parks! Head to Kouchibouguac National Park and take a seaside stroll along its endless sandy stretches! In Fundy National Park you can hike and camp just moments away from this renowned natural phenomenon.

Got a day? Try our incredible Day Adventures! Kayak to see a sandbar full of seals, explore caves, learn to dip candles or how to catch and cook a lobster! There are also our amazing Top Attractions! From visiting the fictional village of Le Pays de la Sagouine to crossing the world's longest covered bridge in Hartland, it's the "A" list of everything there is to see and do in the province! And no stop would be complete without visiting the towns and villages that make up Hometown New Brunswick!

New Brunswick's landscape is a rich ethnic tapestry comprising Aboriginals, Brayonne, Irish, Scottish, Loyalist, and Acadian cultures! Experience Canada's oldest Irish Festival! Live like a Loyalist at Kings Landing Historical Settlement! Or discover the meaning of our famous French Acadian joie de vivre (joy of life) as you sing along to the dinner theater at the Village Historique Acadien!

Shop for unique local crafts like blown glass, pottery as well as sculptures and paintings by renowned Maritime artists! Visit distinctive Econo-museums like The Olivier Soapery, where you learn both the history and the art of making soap (the gift shop has a huge variety of products!).

Visitors from the United States are always amazed at how affordable it is to travel in New Brunswick! It's no wonder ... with such a favorable exchange rate, two US dollars can equal up to as much as three Canadian dollars! That means you can explore more for a lot less!

New Brunswick, Canada ... where so many wonders welcome you!

WEST VIRGINIA

In Wild and Wonderful West Virginia, nature is always nearby. Hike through rugged backcountry, canoe along meandering rivers, hook some trout in a cold and clear stream, or thrill to some of the best whitewater rafting east of the Colorado.

If birding is your pleasure, visit Monangahela National Forest (304-636-1800), a secluded getaway set in a sprawling 909,000 acres. It is home to 230 species of birds, including warblers, a variety of migratory hawks, and songbirds. Monangahela includes Cranberry Glades, whose unique plants are descended from seeds that took root more than 10,000 years ago. Watoga, West Virginia's largest state park, in the Allegheny highlands, attracts wetland birds such as woodcocks, wood ducks, and waterthrushes.

In Tucker County, Canaan Valley is a beautiful and rare treasure with significant wetlands and northern forest. Canaan's high altitude and moist climate support many unusual and rare plants and animals, including almost 600 plant species and nearly 300 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes.

West Virginia's varied terrain is criss-crossed with miles of trails. The popular Appalachian Trail becomes part of West Virginia in the Eastern Panhandle, and the Allegheny Trail winds over 300 miles, starting at the Mason-Dixon Line. Explore historic rail trails such as the Greenbrier River and the North Bend, the "trail of tunnels," which give a sense of the B & O Railroad and the towns it once connected.

NORWAY

With its wild, dramatic landscapes, Norway is a land of incomparable beauty. From serene fjords to immense forests, from meandering rivers to bursting waterfalls, the country has a spectacular range of scenery. Lovers of the outdoors can take a walk on a glacier, and on the same day, walk barefoot along a fine sandy beach. Or what about a deep-sea fishing trip in the morning and horseback riding along the fjords in the afternoon? You can ski or go reindeer-sledding in the summer, or for the less active, take a cruise on a transparently clear fjord.