Anne-Charlotte PasseraGoing on a long road trip with the family to reach Alma in New Brunswick is worth the constant question: are we there yet?
As you make your way down Route 114E through the Fundy National Park to reach Alma, you’ll see a giant cotton ball hovering above the bay. It’s definitely not a sight to be missed.
Alma is located in the Bay of Fundy, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean shared between the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
The bay is known for its fast running tides which are considered to be the highest in the world. In Alma, there are two low and high tides per day.
Nestled in a little cove, the town of Alma is surrounded by shorelines of forests with a tie-dye of earthy tones that create a spectacular rock formation.
From an overdose of seafood, to scenic vistas and refreshing waterfalls, Alma provides a full array of family activities that will make your trip a memorable one.
How to get there
From Montreal, it is about a 10 hour drive. While it is doable in one day, it might less be so when you have kids and dogs in tow.
There are some beautiful spots along the way in New Brunswick which you can stop at.
In this article we tell you about the ones we checked out.
Also, Alma is a gorgeous place to stop at on your way to Nova Scotia. The sheer beauty of the Bay of Fundy in Alma is just an appetizer of what lies ahead.
Dine on seafood
Alma is not only known as the gateway to the National Park of Fundy but for lobster and scallop fishing.
Unsurprisingly, driven by the sheer number of tourists that pass though daily, it has many restaurants to munch on freshly fished seafood.
Since we were visiting Alma with two (big) dogs, we wanted a place that was spacious enough to accommodate us all.
There are a couple places to pick from that allow dogs on their patio:
- Muddy Rudder Bar & Grill – 8598 Main Street
- Holy Whale Brewery – 8576 Main Street
Since these places were pretty crowded outside as it what a gorgeous sunny day, we decided to try the popular yet discreet restaurant: Alma Lobster Shop.
Aside from serving food, they sell seafood, notably lobsters. You’ll have to go inside the shop to place your order and then pick a table on the patio or, like we did, a picnic table by the beach.
The most popular item on the menu is the Lobster roll and clam chowder. I hadn’t had a clam chowder in years, but it was by far the best one I ever had. It wasn’t watered down, and had so much inside that I was barely able to finish my lobster roll. To hose it down, I also tried their homemade lemonade. It wasn’t as good as my son’s but it was close enough.
The cost: $26 (does not include lemonade, taxes or tip)
Afterward, you can take a walk down the pebble beach if it is low tide.
Fundy National Park
More often than not, the reason why people go to Alma is to visit Fundy National Park.
In 1948 an 80-square-mile section of shore and stream-riven hills in New Brunswick was set aside as Fundy National Park. (Source: Britannica)
There is a daily access fee, but if you buy the annual pass, after 7 visits, the pass is paid for. Entrance to the park is free for kids under 17.
One of the park’s main entrance is located on the door step of Alma. For a family, it is a great area to explore.
Relatively close to the entrance you’ll find a campground, a pool and beach access. Heck, there even is a golf course!
This is also where you can access the East Coast Trail which is a 6km round-trip (about 2 hours). It isn’t completely painless but it ends and starts at the Herring Cove which during low tide is a great place to refresh yourself in semi-salted waters with a breathtaking view of the bay.
If you are looking for waterfalls, the park offers two trails:
- Dickson (1.1km)
- Laverty (4.5km)
The Laverty Falls are more inland and closer to the other park entrance. You’ll need to spot the Laverty sign which will lead you onto a dirt road. Since we were only passing through, we did not get a chance to do that hike.
All trails are pet-friendly on a leash.
Cap Enragé
If you are staying a day or two in Alma, there are other sights and activities you can do nearby with the family.
Take the 915 scenic route and follow the signs for Cap Enragé. It usually opens around 9:30 and is closed on Wednesdays.
Aside from admiring its little lighthouse and feeling dizzy while looking down the cliffs, you can go zip lining or rappelling.
The activity is open to children and the starting cost is $52. Yep, not cheap. More information HERE.
Before going up the last hill that leads to Cap Enragé, you’ll come across a pebble beach. While it might not be suitable to swim in, it’s a great place to take in the view.
Hopewell Rocks
The park of Hopewell rocks is a popular destination.
More often than not, people flock there to admire the flower pots submerged in water at high tide and then magically appear at low tide.
However, there are more flower pots to be seen if you continue on the same trail until the end. It is less crowded and just as beautiful.
The path to take you there is smooth and about 1km long. A shuttle service is also provided for $2 one way.
The place usually opens at 8:30am. It’s best to visit during low-tide so that you can walk around the flower pots. However, your ticket is valid for 2 consecutive days so that you can come back in case you missed the low-tide.
There is a bit more to see at this park but due to lack of time, we only saw the main attraction.
Practical information
There are plenty of trash cans along the way in case your dog does a poo-poo. You got it, Hopewell Rocks is pet-friendly on a leash.
Since walking on the sea bed will make your shoes all muddy, a cleaning station is provided to scrape your shoes and hose them down.
You’ll also find toilets and water fountains to keep hydrated.
The cost: $14 per person + tax. For a family: $35 (tax incl.)
You can check the tide schedule and more information about this park HERE.
Activities
The park also offers (at extra cost) sea kayak tours allowing you to gain a whole other perspective on the Bay of Fundy from June to September.
The cost: $70.25 + tax for adults and $60.25 + tax for children 10 and up.
You can find out more about this activity and other tours from Baymount Adventures HERE.
Scenic drive
If you continue on Route 114N from Hopewell Rocks towards Moncton, you’ll come across old homes, some flea markets, one included in an old pink church, and the town of Hillsbridge and its train museum.
The road will provide some beautiful views of the Bay and great places to have a picnic.
Alma family friendly lodging
Camping is always the most budget-friendly option. You can do so on the doorstep of Alma at the Headquarters campsite in Fundy National Park.
The campsites are spacious and some are more secluded than others.
Note: This campground doesn’t permit campfires at individual sites. Communal fire pits are available.
The cost: $38.75 per night (does not include the park entrance fee but if you have the annual pass you won’t have to pay that fee). Showers are free.
Another camping option that might be easier with a family is to sleep in a ready-made tent that can be found again in the park close to Alma. It comes with a charcoal BBQ but no fire pit. The oTENTIK tents can usually sleep up to 6 people.
They are located on the edge of the campground with a view of Alma.
Note: oTENTIK-072 accepts dogs.
The cost: $96 and up
Of course, there are other places to sleep in Alma with the family, but if you are going to be exploring the park it might be more cost efficient to just spend your nights there.
So where should you go to next? How about discovering more of the Bay of Fundy but from the Nova Scotia side.
[…] dog from the adjacent provinces, you’ll be arriving by car. Hopefully, you will have stopped in Alma, New Brunswick to catch your first glimpse of the Bay of Fundy which your dog will […]