Itinerary and inspiration for a dog and kid friendly trip to New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island!
Let’s start with two things about me (1) I grew up in Canada and (2) Visiting Anne of Green Gables in PEI has always been on my bucket list. This year, as I was planning our annual trip to Acadia National Park (you can read my blog post about it here) I looked up how much further it was to get to New Brunswick and to my surprise and delight it was only another 4 hours from Acadia and thus came to be my first trip to Atlantic Canada and my dream of seeing the Anne of Green Gables Museum!
Our Itinerary
We did the trip over 9 days to ensure we had enough time in each location and drove all the legs as we were traveling with dog and toddler. Although we weren’t asked for it, make sure to have a copy of your pup’s vaccination record for the border crossing to Canada!
We spent three days at Acadia National Park, five days in Moncton, NB and two days in Charlottetown, PEI. Bangor is approx. midway between Boston and Moncton cutting it up into equal almost 4 hour drives; Charlottetown is a very doable 2 hour drive from Montcon!
New Brunswick Sights
One of Canada’s thirteen provinces and territories New Brunswick is often overlooked in Atlantic Canada overshadowed by more picturesque provinces like Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. What that actually means is that New Brunswick is FAR less crowded even in the peak summertime and way more affordable than other parts of Canada.
We used Moncton as our “home base” staying at the Residence Inn which was central to all the restaurants in town and had an amazing time discovering the following sights:
Hopewell Rocks
One of the most stunning sites I’ve visited, the massive tides at Bay of Fundy have over thousands of years sculpted the rocks at Hopewell Cape. There are 20+ sea stacks on the shoreline and during low tide you can walk on the floor of the ocean and see the sea stacks up close; stay for the day and you’ll be able to watch the tide roll in and cover the stacks you were walking around just a few hours prior!
Your entry is valid for two consecutive days so you can experience both low and high tide; the floor does get muddy so be sure to wear sturdy hiking boots that you don’t mind getting dirty! They also have kayaking tours if you would rather experience the sea stacks by sea. You can find more details on Hopewell Rocks here.
Fundy National Park
About a 30 min drive from Moncton, plan to spend a whole day exploring various trails at Fundy National Park. One of the most popular is Dickson Falls – it’s a short 45 min hike with excellent views. With a kid and dog, we didn’t explore any majorly challenging hikes but here is a great article with some fun trails.
Fundy Trail Parkway
A must do in New Brunswick, this 6000+ acre park is accessible through a 19 mile paved road that winds through scenic overlooks, trails to waterfalls and even a suspension bridge. We entered through the east side of the park about an hour drive from Moncton. Please note that the last 30 min of the drive is on an unpaved road and can get bumpy and the park is open from May through September. There are a couple of beaches but dogs aren’t allowed on them so note the signs! You can get more information on entrance fees and a guide to key sites here.
After Hopewell Rocks this was one of my favorite parts of our trip and I highly recommend it!
Magnetic Hill and Centennial Park
I’m going to group these two together since they’re both in the city of Moncton! One of the oldest tourist attractions in the city, Magnetic Hill is an optical illusion whereby you put your car in neutral and appear to be rolling UPHILL. There is a small park nearby and the Moncton zoo is not that far away for a fun family friendly day
If kitschy optical illusions are not your thing, Centennial Park in Moncton is a 94 hectare park with a giant playground, several trails and a lovely pond – fun for kids and pups!
Moncton Eats
- Blue Roof Distillers – a pitstop on the drive from Moncton to PEI, a 6th generation family farm, the distillery makes their spirits out of potatoes
- Calactus – a homey eatery with delicious vegetarian food
- Cinta Ria – Malaysian food with tons of veggie options: the lemon garlic tofu was our favorite!
- Taj Mahal – on a 10 day trip, you know I will need my Indian fix and this hit the spot!
- Chez Cora – a Canadian breakfast chain, I grew up having brunch at Cora – their breakfast bowls and crepeomelettes are my favorite!
- Pump House – a brewhouse in downtown Moncton, their beer bread is a must try!
Prince Edward Island Sights
Prince Edward Island or PEI is Canada’s smallest province and is accessible by the Confederation Bridge from New Brunswick (the world’s longest bridge over ice covered water) and by ferry from Nova Scotia. I have always wanted to visit PEI because of my love for Anne of Green Gables but there is SO much more to see in the province with its stunning beaches and gorgeous drives!
Several key sites are open June through October so please check opening dates before planning a trip to PEI!
Charlottetown Downtown
Charlottetown is Canada’s “Birthplace of the Confederation” after the 1864 Charlottetown Conference that led to the Confederation. A very walkable town, soak in the history of the area maybe take a walking tour. Be sure to check out Victoria Park for a great view of the water!
Anne of Green Gables Museum
The museum located in Parks corner was built in the late 1800s but the author Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Uncle John Campbell and Aunt Annie. Montgomery called the house the “Wonder Castle of my childhood”
You can visit the house filled with key pieces including the original organ and furnishings used for Lucy’s wedding. Make sure to take time to walk around the grounds that includes a walk through the woods and a playground for children. Get more information on hours, rates and visitor information here.
Town of Cavendish
Once you’re done at the Anne of Green Gables museum, drive a few miles down to the town of Cavendish, walk around the local stores and grab some ice creams from the local Cows Creamery!
Cavendish Beach
A trip to Cavendish isn’t complete without a trip to the beach to soak in the stunning red rocks on the shoreline and the red sand beaches. Dog are not allowed on the beach but you can walk along the nearby dunelands with your pup!
Thundercove Beach
A little farther down from Cavendish, Thundercove Beach was a very popular destination specifically to see the “Teacup Rock” which was unfortunately swept away by storms in 2022. Nevertheless, the area is still beautiful and worth checking out!
Confederation Trail
Build on an old railway line, this 270+ km walking and biking trail stretches from tip to tip of the province! Be sure to check out at least part of the trail – maps here!
Final Tips for your trip to Atlantic Canada
- Summertime is the Best: A lot of sites especially in PEI close down after Canadian Thanksgiving (second week of October) and certain portions of the Fundy Trail are not maintained in the winter so your best bet is to visit in the summer time!
- Dog Friendly: Most of the beaches in NB and PEI that we went to did not allow dogs on the beach, so remember that if you’re traveling with your pup. Most restaurants allowed dogs outdoors on their patio.
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