Visiting St. Andrews by the Sea
Visiting St. Andrews by the Sea, a quaint seaside town in New Brunswick, Canada, makes for a wonderful long weekend trip from New England destinations. In a little over five hours drive from Boston, it is one of the oldest towns in New Brunswick, founded in 1783 by United Empire Loyalists from Maine and named after St Andrews in Scotland. We have visited this beautiful destination several times and always stay at the same hotel.
The Algonquin Resort on Adolphus Street is a tudor style, grand hotel that reminds me of the Mount Washington in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. Both hotels, considered the most luxurious in their day, got their start catering to wealthy guests arriving by train. When you arrive now, you are greeted by bellhops in Scottish kilts.
The Algonquin Resort is owned by Marriott and is a full-service resort with plenty of amenities, including golf, spa services, indoor and outdoor pools, restaurants, and even complimentary bicycle use. In addition to spending time at the resort, there’s more to explore in St. Andrews.
The Algonquin Resort Photo credit: Marge Dwyer
Water Street - Historic Downtown
Only a short walk or bike ride from the hotel, there are many one-of-a-kind shops, restaurants, and cafes lining Water Street, the main road in this historic downtown. There is a beautiful mural on one of the buildings that I couldn’t resist taking a picture of. Walking in and out of the shops can be great fun, and if you like seafood, you’ll find plenty at area restaurants.
Folks are friendly here. Strike up a conversation with shopkeepers, wait staff, and strangers walking down the street, and you’ll find that all are genuinely happy to pass the time talking. There is palpable pride of their town.
A favorite place of visitors is the St. Andrews Brewing Company, which sells craft brews. They do not have a kitchen, so bring your own food or order from a neighboring restaurant and have it delivered. There is plenty of seating, a fire pit, and the patio overlooks the bay making for a stunning place to watch the changing tides (by as much as 26 feet) and the sunset.
Whale watching is a favorite activity of mine, and I’ve written about it in Is Whale Watching a Hobby? In that article is a link to a video taken while on a tour with Fundy Tide Runners in 2018. There are other companies that offer whale watching tours in St. Andrews, but we consistently return to Fundy Tide Runners because we’ve had good luck seeing whales on each trip. The ride on the Bay of Fundy in their Zodiac boat is scenic and exhilarating. Unlike other whale watching excursions that are on bigger boats, you don’t have to compete for a front row seat. The group is small.
Down the road from the Algonquin Resort is a multi-award winning, 27-acre horticultural delight that is home to themed gardens, sculptures, and a cafe. We spent a good part of our morning walking around Kingsbrae Gardens to see their perennial gardens, themed gardens, a windmill, and alpacas. The cafe has indoor seating as well as outdoor seating that overlooks the beautiful gardens. It’s a relaxing and romantic place, and it’s open from May to October each year.
Van Horne Estate on Ministers Island
Only at low tide can you drive or walk to Ministers Island. It was purchased by Reverend Samuel Andrews and aptly named Ministers Island. Later, it was sold in stages to Sir William Van Horne, who was the president of the Canadian Pacific Railway. He began acquiring pieces of the island until he owned it all. There are a lot of hiking trails on the island and several interesting buildings that can be explored.
The museum is in a red brick Georgian mansion housing an art collection and furniture owned by Henry and Juliette Ross. I found it interesting that Juliette Ross was the step-daughter of a Mayflower descendant of Richard Warren - the same Mayflower descendant of mine. Juliette’s mother passed away shortly after her birth, and her father, Charles Finney Clark, remarried Ellen M. Fogg, Juliette’s step-mother. Henry and Juliette Ross were summer residents of the area from 1902 until both passed away within a few days of each other in 1945. They bequeathed their estate to St. Andrews.
Located just a short five-minute drive from St. Andrew’s waterfront is the Rossmount Inn, the 87-acre estate that had been owned by Henry and Juliette Ross. It was here that the couple purchased their home and 87 acres in 1902 for $4500. Now a beautiful 18-guest room manor house, it is most known for their restaurant.
And it is an amazing restaurant! Our meals were fantastic. We met a couple from New York City one evening, and they remarked about their experience, saying that even though they have access to some of the finest dining establishments where they live, they will dream about the food at the Rossmount Inn for years to come. It’s that good. If you are in the area and want to splurge, it is a romantic place to dine. I’d recommend making reservations well in advance.
There is just enough to do in St. Andrews by the Sea to make for a perfect long weekend destination. Don’t forget your passport!
