Saint John

Spell out the “Saint” and don’t be possessive and you’ll get on the right airplane, but look for St. John’s on the flight board and you’ll land in Newfoundland. Saint John is the flourishing commercial capital of New Brunswick and the largest port in the province. Sitting on a sheltering harbor formed by the Saint John River as it flows into the Bay of Fundy, Saint John is a hive of activity year around, not the least of which is from the tankers for the large Irving Oil facilities located there. It is becoming a major East Coast port-of-call for luxury cruise ships, as well. A large influx of refugees from the American Revolution brought ...

Spell out the “Saint” and don’t be possessive and you’ll get on the right airplane, but look for St. John’s on the flight board and you’ll land in Newfoundland. Saint John is the flourishing commercial capital of New Brunswick and the largest port in the province. Sitting on a sheltering harbor formed by the Saint John River as it flows into the Bay of Fundy, Saint John is a hive of activity year around, not the least of which is from the tankers for the large Irving Oil facilities located there. It is becoming a major East Coast port-of-call for luxury cruise ships, as well. A large influx of refugees from the American Revolution brought money and commerce to the small town in the late 1700s, and the subsequent growth retained a distinctly British reference. Trinity Church displays a 1714 carved royal coat of arms brought from Boston and installed in 1791 by Loyalists. The city’s mid-July Loyalist Day celebrates this heritage. Even the city’s main park is laid out in the shape of the Union Jack. Renovation and revitalization have turned the formerly dowdy waterfront into a vibrant and welcoming space, surrounded by shopping, a knock-out museum, public art and lively entertainment. The Old City Market is filled with crafts, baked goods, produce, meat and fresh fish in an exciting buzz of sound and color. King Street is the central artery with active Market Square on one end and King Square Park on the other, the perfect place to start explorations of this entirely walkable city.

About the Expert

Stillman Rogers has written more than two dozen guidebooks, including Adventure Guide to Canada's Atlantic Provinces, Guide to Eastern Canada, and Adventure Guide to the Chesapeake.