Moncton

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Moncton and Petitcodiac River, seen from the southeast
Moncton and Petitcodiac River, seen from the southeast

Moncton is a city in southeast New Brunswick, Canada. It is located inland of the Bay of Fundy and Acadian Coast. Moncton has a population of 64,128 (2006), with a metropolitan population of 126,424 (2006), making it the largest metropolitan city in New Brunswick.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By car

From the US:

  • I-95 through Maine to the Transcanada Route 2, through Fredericton to Moncton.
  • Route 9 (through Maine) to Route 1 (Canada) through St. Stephen, Saint John and up to Moncton.

From Quebec:

  • Route 185 to Edmundston, and then down the Trans-Canada Route 2 to Moncton.

[edit] By air

Greater Moncton International Airport [1] located on Route 15 to Shediac in the Dieppe Industrial Park.

Airlines serving Greater Moncton:

Halifax Stanfield International Airport is located only 2 hours away in Nova Scotia with many more direct flights to other cities in Canada, the United States, and Europe.

[edit] By train

  • The Moncton Via Rail Station is located on Main Street near the intersection with Vaughn Harvey Blvd, beside Highfield Square. Rail service runs 6 days a week to Halifax and Montréal on train "The Ocean".

[edit] Get around

Moncton is pretty easy to get around. There are two main streets into the city: the Trans-Canada and Wheeler Boulevard, connecting both ends of town.

Main Street and downtown Moncton are equally easy to navigate; signs are posted to all the main attractions.

[edit][add listing] See

  • Magnetic Hill Optical Illusion - Located in Magnetic Hill attraction Park. $5 per car entry.
  • Moncton Museum
  • Moncton Acadian Museum - Located at the University de Moncton.
  • Tidal Bore Park - on Main Street in downtown Moncton. The tidal bore happens when the Bay of Fundy rising tide brings water counter to the normal flow of Petitcodiac river. The once-famous thundering flow has been reduced to a 6-inch ripple by nearby causeway, but still an unusual sight. The folks at the city's information booth on Main St, can tell you when to see this phenomena.
  • Centennial Park - Located off St. George Blvd. Admission is free. Centennial Park offers a large outdoor playground for kids and also a water playground (summer only). In the lower section of the park you can rent paddle boats on the man made lake and visit the island in the centre of the lake. On weekends you can catch many locals enjoying the sun and picnics. There is also an outdoor pool/beach which charges admission. Centennial Park also offers many wooded walking and biking trails which serve as cross country ski trails in the winter.

[edit][add listing] Do

  • Crystal Palace Amusement Park, 499 Paul St, Dieppe, +1 877 856-4386. Located beside the Champlain Mall, Crystal Palace provides a fun-filled environment for families. From the Bullet Rollercoaster to the Waveswinger to an indoor mini-putt golf course, it is fun for all. Also, don't miss out on the Family Pass.
  • Sandspit, Shediac.
  • Parlee Beach, Shediac. A beautiful beach on the Northumberland Straight boasting the warmest water temperatures in the country.
  • Plage Aboiteau Beach, Cap-Pele
  • Magnetic Hill Zoo. At the Magnetic Hill Attraction Park
  • Magic Mountain. Water Park located in the Magnetic Hill Attraction Park.
  • Poley Mountain. Biking in the summer, skiing and snowboarding in the winter located in Sussex, a 50 minute drive from Moncton.
  • Lakeside Golf Club, Shediac Road.
  • Magnetic Hill Golf Club, on Mountain Road across from McDonalds.
  • Capitol Theatre, Main St. Catch a show at the oldest theatre in New Brunswick.
  • Empress Theatre, Main St.
  • MacSweeny's Dinner Theatre, Main Street above Club Cosmo.
  • Irishtown Nature Park. Largest urban nature park (2200 acre). Drive north on Elmwood Drive.

[edit][add listing] Buy

  • Trinity Power Centre, off Wheeler Blvd at Mountain Road.
  • Champlain Mall. Largest single-story mall in Eastern Canada. Located in Dieppe on Paul Street.
  • North West Center, Mountain Road. Formerly Moncton Mall.
  • Downtown Moncton. Main Street boasts many boutiques and shops.
  • Highfield Square, Main St across from the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Moncton boasts some of the finest cuisine in Atlantic Canada:

  • Pastalli Ristorante, 611 Main St., Italian cuisine, grill your own gourmet garlic bread.
  • Bogarts, Main St.
  • Graffiti, Main St. Greek cuisine.
  • Pump House Brewery, 5 Orange Lane (off Main Street), [2]. Microbrewery -- try the Muddy River Stout! Not to miss: brick oven pizza (crust is infused with beer). Order the beer sampler to try the various types of beer brewed on site.
  • Cafe Archibald, 221 Mountain Rd. at Archibald intersection. Intimate cafe with great service where meal and dessert crêpes are a specialty.
  • Little Louis fine cuisine at it's best, this is arguably moncton's best hidden secret.
  • Hynes a diner style restaurant with very good home cooking. The best burgers.
  • Vitos an inexpensive but excellent pizzeria.

[edit][add listing] Drink

  • Old Triangle, I751 Main St, 1 506 384-7474. Irish Pub.
  • Sasha's, 196 Robinson, 1 506 854-8748, [3]. Tapas and lounge.
  • St. James' Gate, Good food and spirits, an awsome place to have a drink, 14 Church St , 1 506 388-4283
  • Navigator's Pub, 191 Robinson, +1 506 854-8427. Irish Pub.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

  • C'mon Inn Hostel, 47 Fleet Street, +1 506 854-8155, fax +1 506 855-3791. Beds start at $24 per night.
  • Delta Beausejour, Main Street. In the heart of downtown.
  • Crowne Plaza Hotel, Main St across from Highfield.
  • Rodd Park House Inn, Main St.
  • Chateau Moncton, Independent Hotel located on the Petitcodiac river on Main Street
  • Ramada Crystal Palace, Located in the Crystal Palace amusement park on Paul Street
  • Best Western, Located on Lewisville Road
  • Super 8, Located in Dieppe and within walking distance from the Airport.
  • Comfort Inn
  • Mountain Road, near Magnetic Hill.
  • Lewisville Road, Shediac Rd, Lewisville.
  • Holiday Inn, Mountain Rd.

[edit] Stay Safe

Moncton is generally a safe city, even by Canadian standards. Violent crime is very rare.If driving through the downtown area on Friday and Saturday nights, be extra cautious of pedestrians crossing Main St. The area is home to most of the pubs and night clubs and people may be less cautious.

[edit] Get out

Hopewell Rocks - Walk on the Ocean floor thanks to the Bay of Fundy's high tides (second highest in the world.) Truly a fabulous sight. Bring your camera. Get there within three hours on either side of low tide to see the islands best. (Kayaking is also available if the tide's high). A nice 10-minute walk thru the woods takes you to a large stairwell to the ocean floor, where you can easily walk among a half-dozen enormous (30 meters+ high) columns of fir tree-topped sandstone islands. A golf-cart shuttle can whisk you back to the park information facility, which features a good explanation of how the islands came to be, a snack bar and gift shop. The ride from Moncton is about 45 minutes. Entrance to Fundy National Park is another 30 minutes but definitely worthwhile in good weather.

Moncton is often described as the Hub of the Maritime provinces. It is within 2 hours drive of:

Halifax is two and half hours drive east of Moncton.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!

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