(about Moncton, NB Canada, last edited on Nov 23, 2007)
Moncton is a popular destination for all kinds of people from business men to families with children. There’s something for everybody. The city makes for a good weekend outing and you can choose to make it any time of the year as throughout the year, Moncton is alive and thriving, a city with a multi-lingual and vibrant cultural community.
There’s plenty of action for families that can offer their kids a great time at the Magnetic Hill and Crystal Palace. Magnetic Hill is a kind of gravity hill offering an optical illusion created by rising and descending terrain. It also includes a zoo which is much favored by the children. Crystal Palace has thrilling rides, an indoor roller coaster, 18-hole miniature golf, children's play park, video games and much, much more.
To make your visit suit you and to be sure you will get to visit all the sights that appeal to you, some handy information can be found in the "Historic Walking Tour" brochure or the one that gives the schedule for the group bike rides which you can get form the visitor center. You can choose to visit the city on foot, downtown is really a walkable area or you can ride your way through the city. The streets are free of traffic jams and parking is not such a big problem so driving your car around Moncton is ok.
To be in the middle of things you have to be on Main Street which runs 1.6 kilometers in length through the downtown, from Vaughan Harvey Blvd. on the west to King Street on the east and it is the most active part of the city with most attractions. It is full of unique shops, excellent services, restaurants, hotels, cafes and other places you can stroll by or try out. Highfield Square is a shopper’s paradise and it has about 60 shops under one roof.
Downtown is vibrant, attractive and shows the city’s prosperity and the fact that it is a major business city where lots of investments have been made.
All there’s to be visited in the city can be done in one or two days but if you want to linger longer around it can also make a good base for the exploring the Kouchibouguac National Park which lies between Moncton and Miramichi off Route 11. It is open from mid-May to mid-October and offers a great number of outdoor activities like: biking, hiking, and beach going or just plain relaxation opportunities. You can organize your day just the way you want walk around and enjoy the view of the spectacular and varied ecosystems including sandy barrier islands or take up some action. For this it is better to check up on the weather forecast as there’ll be little to do if you’ll get a rainy day.
One of the most loved activities around is biking and the park has well-groomed bike trails. You can practically visit the whole park on your bike and there’s no need for your car. Everything is set to make your ride delightful and problem free. Another just as loved way to spend your time is walking and hiking and there’s no shortage of trails for this purpose.
Whether you have just one day at your disposal or more, Kouchibouguac National Park is definitely a must. Of course to be able to explore everything you’ll need more that a day and people usually come here for at least a couple of days as the place is actually a camper’s paradise.
Whatever your budget or style, there’s the culture, urban amenities, outdoor experiences and spectacular natural beauty to make your next vacation truly unforgettable in Moncton.
