A Weekend Getaway to Saint Andrews by the Sea

Off on another trip to explore. This time staying closer to home in the spirit of getting to know the Maritimes. Saint Andrews by the Sea has been on my bucket list ever since I saw pictures of the stunning Algonquin Resort. I was so excited to finally make the trip!  We left PEI early in the morning to arrive in time to take in some of the sights before settling in for the night. The drive through southern New Brunswick is incredible!  I will never get over the sights of the amazing colours this time of year brings - it was the perfect backdrop for a road trip.

Algonquin Resort 

I was immediately amazed by the Algonquin Resort.  A spectacle to be seen, the Algonguin has been entertaining visitors in New Brunswick since 1889; where a room would cost you about $3-5 a night (bring back 1889 haha!). The rooms were an eloquent mix of historic decor and modern amenities. Everything you need to enjoy your stay in this historic town. I was amazed at all there was to do at the resort itself. I could have spent more time exploring the history of the building and taking in all the Algonquin has to offer. Featuring a 18-hole golf, spa, indoor pool area with waterslide (seriously the waterslide might have been the scariest but best part of staying here), heated outdoor pool, and plenty of common areas throughout the resort to relax with a drink.  Oh and did I mention that the entire place is licensed!  We were able to grab a glass of wine from the bar and explore the resort. Throughout our stay we enjoyed dinner at Braxton’s restaurant on site. The food was excellent but don’t forget to grab a reservation if you plan on going. They book up for dinner quickly! The breakfast was also a treat every morning.  Everything sounded so good on the breakfast menu one morning we ordered three breakfasts because we just couldn’t decide. My advice, don’t pass up the fish cake Benedict or the carrot cake pancakes! 

Wandering the Shops

I loved that the Algonquin resort was just a 10 minute walk to Water Street, the main street in town. We explored some of what the town had to offer our first night in. One of my favourite things about travelling to new areas is being able to connect with the locals. We stopped to chat with many shop owners to learn more about the town. We came across some incredible locally owned shops. Everyone was so friendly, passionate  and welcoming!  There was a strong sense of local pride and it showed.  Saint Andrews has small town vibes but it certainly packs a punch in talented local artisans. I was even able to grab some early Christmas presents to bring back home! We were lucky enough to stumble upon the opening night of an Objects Nonpareils exhibit at Sunbury Shores Art and Nature . This was a really cool experience to catch a glimpse of the downtown vibes in Saint Andrews.

Whale Watching

We set off Saturday morning to go on a zodiac whale watching tour with Jolly Breeze in downtown Saint Andrews. Although we had both been whale watching before, this trip quickly turned into one of the highlights of the stay. Starting from the Passamaquoddy Bay in Saint Andrews we made our way past a couple of islands off the coast, travelling closer to the island of Grand Manan. Within 20 minutes we spotted a pod of porpoises, as well as my favourite thing to photograph, lighthouses! Although none of this compared to what was about to come. The captain got word that there were a group humpback whales travelling together nearby, so we set off to go find them. As we got closer the entire boat was amazed as Raccoon and the rest of the humpbacks simultaneously breached the water in what seemed to be a choreographed performance! Even the captain himself said this was the best ‘show’ of the season, lucky us!  Sadly, I wasn’t able to snap a good photo of them breaching but it was definitely a memory to remember. The staff at Jolly breeze were amazing and operate from June to October.  Definitely check them out if you are in the area.

Ministers Island

Ministers Island is very unique in that it is only accessible at low-tide via a tidal sand bar.  We arrived around 9:00 am and immediately had to stop and for some pictures before heading across; neither of us had ever seen a pathway to an island quite like this. As we travelled along the ocean floor we were told at the other side we had until 11:00am to explore before the tide changed. The crossing times vary per day and month so it is very important to consult the tides schedule each time you visit the Island. 

The Island itself was the former Summer home of William Van Horne, an American made famous for his work on the Canadian Pacific Railway. It features the original estate, barn and other buildings from the era.  All with interpreters on site to explain the vast history of the island.  The house was breathtaking. Beautifully decorated to period and I fell in love with the style immediately. Featuring 17 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, it is pretty safe to say we would have gotten lost exploring if it weren’t for the arrows on the ground telling which way to go. We were cutting it pretty close on time after exploring the house and grounds. On multiple occasions, in a tone reminiscent of a Game of Thrones episode, we had been told that ‘the tide waits for no one’. Luckily I was still able to capture a few drone shots of the pathway to the mainland as we left.  It was pretty cool to see how it had changed in the time we were on the island. 

Pro tip - give yourself a few hours. We were there for 2 hours and it was not enough. This would be an excellent spot to spend a nice afternoon exploring the grounds, taking in the trails and enjoying a nice picnic next to the water. 

Kingsbrae Garden

Next on the itinerary was a visit to Kingsbrae Garden. This place is a photographer’s dream! An unexpected gem of the trip, Kingsbrae featuring 27 acres of diverse gardens, ponds and forests. What a great afternoon activity to connect with nature. The gardens themselves were incredible with each section having its own theme. My favourite was the sculpture garden. There are also animals everywhere! After a long walk we treated ourselves to lunch at the Kingsbrae Garden cafe located on site.  If you go, do yourself a favour and order one of the cocktails. They were amazing! The food there was also incredible. Kudos to chef Alex Haun.  If you love plants like I do this place is a must visit when in Saint Andrews!

I was truly blown away by how much I enjoyed myself during my time here. These were some of the highlights of why our visit to Saint Andrews was so wonderful.  But there were so many more small moments that made this trip magical. Walking along the boardwalk during a beautiful sunset, watching the local deer wander around the neighbourhood, Bentley the dog greeter at the Algonquin, patio beers with live music  or just the amazing hospitality of the town itself. This is definitely a gem in New Brunswick and I cannot wait to go back in a different season to explore more of what it has to offer.

RHR