One Day, One Itinerary

Photo by: Kiana Guzman

Butter or mayo? I’ll take both.

There is a lobster shack near the cave and the parking lot called “The Caves Restaurant.” I ordered the butter and mayo lobster roll, and I sat in the outdoor seating area. The view outside is where you want to sit and enjoy your lobster roll and take some food Instagram pictures.

If you are not into butter, the restaurant also offers a mayo-based lobster roll, but I prefer the butter one. So pick what you choose because eating a lobster roll is a staple piece to try in Canada. Once you have your lobster roll grab a seat and enjoy. Since the trip was unexpected, we only saw the sunset, but I think the timing was perfect.

There was a small number of tourists, but there seemed to be many locals in the area, especially in the lobster shack. I saw local policemen ordering while talking to local citizens about their workday. Alike the largest ax stop,  the cave and the lobster shack are tucked away.

Also, Canada being an English-speaking country is another reason to go to New Brunswick. There were a few subtle differences, like French road signs and the bathroom being called a washroom. Mostly everything is in English, so that is wonderful for American tourists. You do not have to struggle to learn how to order in a different language or how to read a menu.

According to CBC, many New Brunswick citizens are bilingual and speak French and English. Knowing simple French terms will help you for this trip. However, according to the United Language Group, there are a few differences between French and Canadian French.

Sources:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g499184-d981441-Reviews-The_Caves_Restaurant-St_Martins_New_Brunswick.html

Photo by: Kiana Guzman

I caved in and stopped at Saint Martins sea caves.

My friends and I were driving away from the Saint Johns Town Center when we noticed the bay to the side of us. As we went straight, we saw a parking lot to the right of us near a cave. We all questioned where we were, so we all opened Maps on our phones. We stumbled upon this as well as the ax, and I am constantly pondering that adventure.

That was the last stop of the day. We all walked slow and watched the scene. The sun was setting, and the sky was golden. We noticed that people were walking towards the cave, so being tourist, we followed, and the trip to the cave was oddly humorous.

You have to watch your step. After all, you will be walking on wet, somewhat slippery rocks and beware because some of the rocks were actually snails. My advice would be to wear closed-toe shoes.

I was unprepared, and I wore flip-flops. Always check when the tide rises if you plan to walk inside the cave. According to Trip Advisor, checking the tide chart is essential when deciding when to go. The cave has many photo opportunities, so bring a pair of sunglasses.

According to a BBC article, the caves at Hopewell Rocks are among the most popular spots to stop. If you plan on going during the summer months, I recommend bug spray as I saw more bugs the closer you were to the cave.

One day, I plan to go back during the winter months when the location is not so busy due to tourists. While I was there, it was not that busy since I went later during the evening. If you can, I think to consider this stop the last one of the day.

Sources:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g499184-d2315517-r487491217-St_Martins_Sea_Caves-St_Martins_New_Brunswick.html

Photo by: Kiana Guzman

Grab a snack and a coffee from Tim Hortons.

Next stop, pull over and grab something from Tim Hortons. In America, I think the equivalent would be Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts. However, in my opinion, Tim Hortons is elite as they offer a variety of food.

The first time I tried Tim Hortons was when I was in Toronto. I instantly fell in love, and I made sure to grab some on our way back to our hotel on the New York side. Although the options are limited on the American side, I think it is still worth it.

Tim Hortons offers coffee, doughnuts, sandwiches and my favorite potato wedges.  According to Fast Food Nutrition, the English muffin sandwich is the most ordered item on the menu. Be sure to grab your English muffin before noon, though.

According to Cultural Trip, you would most likely call Tim Hortons as "Timmies" if you are a true Canadian. You also would not be shy to reference doughnut holes as "Timbits." Another reason to grab Timmies is that Justin Bieber is a fan since he is from Canada. In 2011, Justin tweeted about how he missed Tim Hortons.

Whenever I travel to Canada, I must grab Timmies to feel Canada's whole experience. Download the app before you go to join the loyalty program. Their app is similar to Starbucks or Dunkin'. Earn some points while you are there, and then maybe next time you have a free reward.

Tim Hortons is top-notch, and their doughnuts are delicious, especially the jelly doughnuts. Grab a dozen and a cup of coffee, and continue your trip. Do not forget the Timbits.

Sources: 

https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/canada/articles/how-to-speak-like-a-torontonian/

https://twitter.com/justinbieber/status/127143190213033984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E127143190213033984%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.ca%2F2016%2F05%2F16%2Fjustin-bieber-tim-hortons-montreal_n_9994740.html

Photo by: Kiana Guzman

Stop at the world's largest ax.

I "axe-identally" stumbled upon this location during my last trip, and I went through the Canadian Belleville border near the Houlton International Airport in Maine. The drive from the border to World's Largest Ax can be around a 45-50 minute drive. Stay on Route 2 so that you be on a somewhat scenic route to the first site.

Eventually, you will arrive at the town of Nackawic, where the world's largest ax. The ax's location is in a public park, so the site is open 24 hours for tourists. This stop is more like a rest stop that you can get out and stretch your legs while watching the monumental ax. Also, pack a lunch so you can have a picnic.

According to Guinness World Records, the ax stands at 15 meters. In May of 1991, the ax was given to the town to celebrate its forest industry.

My friend posted a picture on Instagram of us near the ax, and a few months later, we were contacted by a journalist. Since my friend tagged the location, that was how the journalist found our picture. The journalist wanted to ask for photo rights to use the picture of an article she was working on. Being that we are both student journalists, we said yes, and we were so excited.

The journalist featured the image on a tourism humor piece called "11 Hilariously Huge Canadian Landmarks To Visit for A Fall Road Trip Like No Other," on the Narcity website. Being used for an article, I felt inspired to travel more and talk about my experiences.

The location is tucked into the town, and there is not much around it. However, going here can be a shortstop that will get you tons of photo opportunities. Take your time and just relax during this stop. 

Sources: 

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/67237-largest-axe

Photo by: Kiana Guzman

Going through the Canadian border. 

Before the pandemic, my best friend and I would always go to Canada once a year because she had family in New York. Since my friend and I are college students, we do not mind driving because it can be cheaper to travel. Also, having an expired passport and my friend not even having one, we knew Canada was our best shot to travel outside the United States. Having the chance to take an adventurous day trip to Canada was our motivation.

So over time, we have gotten better at timing trips efficiently, knowing we would have one day. Also, being an army brat and constantly moving during my childhood initiated my hunger to travel. Going through the Canadian border is usually smooth and effortless; however, going back to America can sometimes be irritating. Regardless of which Canadian border you go through, the enjoyment of the trip is worth it.The factor of knowing your trip is going to fly by is a thrilling experience, and it makes you want to take advantage of every moment. 

New Brunswick is an eastern province, so I would recommend traveling during the summer months if you are not into colder weather. However, if you are a college student and spring break is your only time, you will most likely see some beautiful snow.

Whichever season you prefer to travel, Canada never disappoints with its beautiful landscape. Just check the weather before your trip since all provinces tend to have different climate rates.

In my opinion, going to the New Brunswick area is like going to the countryside of Canada, especially near the Bay of Fundy. The ambiance is similar to in the book Anne of Green Gables. The closer you are to the bay, you will see caves and beautiful bayside scenes.