Walking The Dog: Day trip to Fundy Coastal Drive and Fundy National Park

The Bay of Fundy is truly one of the marine wonders of the world. Here one can experience the highest tides in the world – as high as 50 feet - that give you an opportunity to walk on the ocean floor twice daily. The tides of Fundy are truly amazing; to get the full effect one should visit one of the many beaches at both high and low tides. You don’t want to get stranded by the tide!

Beach at low tide

The same beach at high tide

Fundy Coastal Trail - you can see it, walk it, bike it, or drive it… we chose to drive it. Whichever mode you choose, the Trail is spectacular from every perspective. The first section was mostly a horse-riding trail used by the Broadleaf Guest Ranch. But Michael maneuvered the Honda quite adeptly in this section while Darlene manned the camera and Bettye and Earl watched for moose. The moose come out of the woods to feast on the marsh grasses. Would you believe it, someone forgot the binoculars!

Off the horse trail onto the paved trail, the spectacular continues. Mary’s Point is a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Preserve, temporary home to many migratory birds. Cape Enrage blows you away by the wild, rugged beauty of this place.

Cape Enrage lighthouse - still operating, but automated

Cape Enrage zip line

Jutting out into the Bay of Fundy, Cape Enrage is a historic lighthouse, a cliff rappelling and zip lining adventure, a gift shop and restaurant. We will zip line after becoming free spirit travelers – not quite there yet. Betty enjoyed the gift shop and gallery since chilly, foggy weather put a damp of her spirit.

Alma wharf

Bay of Fundy lobster at Tides Restaurant

The Alma wharf and fishing village provided more great scenery, shopping and dining. Tides Restaurant at Parkland Inn provided scrumptious lobster and seafood chowder.

Rising abruptly from the bay the “Land of the Salt and Fir” is covered by Acadian forest of spruce, fir, birch and maple. The oldest known red spruce tree in the world lives here – a 450 year old tree. Smells from the spruce and fir reminded us of past years when we used real, live Christmas trees.