St Andrews by the Sea is situated on a little peninsula which juts out in to Passamaquoddy Bay, a protected inlet of the Bay of Fundy, and is a good place to stop before or after heading over the Grand Manan Island. In the summer months it is a bustling resort town, offering visitors a reliably warm climate, beautiful architecture and an interesting history as one of the oldest towns in the province. It is a small, compact and modern town in many respects, but somehow manages to remain steeped in turn of the century charm.

A 90 minute ferry ride away is Grand Manan Island, a beautifully unspoilt area with high, rugged basalt cliffs on one side and a coastline interspersed with active fishing communities and sandy coves on the other. Much of the western side is inaccessible dense forest and bog, and so the eastern side is where you will wander. You can drive from one end to the other in 45 minutes, however the lack of hustle and bustle here will make you want to slow….right……down……..! Spend some time beachcombing, get chatting to the locals in one of the fishing villages, look for shorebirds idly searching for food, or hike along the undulating coast for some panoramic viewpoints.

The bay is part of the UNESCO designated Fundy Biosphere Reserve and has a rich marine ecosystem with a unique medley of marine mammals and birds. Whether you are a novice whale-spotter or a life-long twitcher both St Andrews and Grand Manan Island offer great access to wildlife viewing.