The Avid Cruiser - Fall 2007 - (Page 22)

tial Bay of Fundy experiences: a lobster bake, much appreciated after a morning of mild exertion. Where The Wild Things Are For the active cruiser or the nature-lover, Saint John and the surrounding area are astoundingly rich in what they offer. If you can imagine an outdoor activity, it’s probably offered here. Spread over 2,200 acres, Rockwood Park alone features 13 lakes, trails, an exotic animal zoo, swimming areas and more. You can golf here at the 18-hole public golf course. Cruise ship shore excursions also visit Irving Nature Park, where you can learn more about the marine eco-system and stretch your legs on a walk at Taylor Island. Farther afield, you can bicycle down quiet roads on a tour of the many turn-of-the-century covered bridges in the area. Some on our cruise had opted for learning more about whales, and because the feeding grounds of Bay of Fundy are teeming with plankton and fish, more than 15 species of whales come to feed and breed. The 40-foot skeletal remains of a 30-ton Right Whale affectionately known as Delilah that hangs in the New Brunswick Museum, situated in historic uptown Saint John. There, we met fellow cruise ship passengers who were on an excursion that allowed them to become marine biologists for the day. There were no live whales here, but there were exhibits and guided exploration with museum educators. 14,000 British Loyalists fled the American Colonies and settled in Saint John. As you might expect in such an old city, Saint John boasts an architectural heritage that ranges from Gothic-style churches to Victorian-era homes. Many of the excursions take cruisers into the heart of the city, and we were happy to have time after kayaking to browse Canada’s oldest City Market. The market was colorful and convivial, and we enjoyed not only browsing the eclectic stalls but also talking with the local vendors. We listened to story-tellers and musicians, browsed the lobsters and fish, and even sampled the local dried “dulse,” the nutrient-rich seaweed found in Bay of Fundy. I also got to sample Moosehead beer, a local favorite produced in Saint John at Canada’s oldest independent brewery. The Moose was loose, as the locals say. We were just three of the 140,000 cruise visitors that City Life came to Saint John in 2007. That’s not a lot, when comSaint John also has a rich city life. No, you won’t mistake the city for New York. Saint John is a quaint and charming pared to some ports in the Caribbean, and Saint John is still a relatively undiscovered destination. Cruise lines are Canadian maritime city. Founded in 1604 and established in 1785, Saint John committing more ships to the region, and my recommenis Canada’s oldest incorporated city. Its long legacy imbues dation is to get there before the crowds do. Cruising to Saint John is a perfect long weekend getaway for families it with a rich historical heritage, dating from pre-Revoluand individuals alike. We had such a good time that I like tionary War times, when French explorers sailed into the region, to post-Revolutionary War times, when more than to think back to it as one big “Bay of Fun Day.” 22 Avid Cruiser FALL 2007

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Avid Cruiser - Fall 2007

The Avid Cruiser - Fall 2007 Contents The Poop Deck Cruising, Back to Back At The Piazza SeaDream Yacht Club Regent’s Seven Seas Voyager The ‘New’ Crystal Symphony Bay of FUNdy Long Weekend Getaway Silversea Cruises: Silver Whisper Cruising Southeast Asia ‘Awesome’ Alaska Sacred Moments In South Georgia Two Years With A Princess Of Days Gone By

The Avid Cruiser - Fall 2007

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