Day Trip to Hopewell Cape and Moncton NB

Some of us are not museum buffs, but the Hillsborough Railroad Museum provided a good hour of entertainment for Darlene, Earl and Bettye – well maybe a half hour for Bettye - on our way to Moncton, NB. You guessed it – Michael took the car to get it washed.

Canadian National Railroad

All sorts of railroad equipment on display

This snow plow could clear three side-by-side tracks in one pass

On to Moncton: a progressive town on the Petitcodiac River. Here Magnetic Hill continues to baffle drivers – even Michael. Drive your car to the bottom, put the transmission in neutral, take your foot off the brake pedal, and coast uphill backwards. It works for cars, trucks and even tour buses. This stunt amazed Michael so much, he repeated it three times. It also works going forward.

Bore Park where tidal bore occurs twice daily. The higher waters in the Bay of Fundy cause the placid Petitcodiac River to roll back upstream in one wave.

Riverfront Park is one of the most relaxing areas in town, and is a great place to take a stroll along the Petitcodiac River as you watch the tides roll in and out to sea again. This park has extensive landscaping and finished trails. Locals call the river the Chocolate River.

Then to Hopewell Cape to see Hopewell Rocks at low tide. Hopewell Rocks provide a remarkable story around time, tide and nature. During low tide a walk along more than a mile of beach reveals several coves filled with the distinctive sandstone formations topped with trees. These are called flowerpot rocks, a truly remarkable display of nature!

Return trip to Hopewell Cape to see Hopewell Rocks at high tide gives visitors the full effect of tidal movement from low to high tide. 

On the day of our visit, the high tide was about 38 feet.

So much to see and do and experience in New Brunswick, but now it's off to Nova Scotia. Perhaps we can experience more of NB on returning to Maine after visiting Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Happy trails!