24 hours at Bay of Fundy

I have been at the Bay of Fundy before.

Almost a year ago, when I had driven across New Brunswick to settle in PEI, and stopped by Hopewell Rocks and Fundy National Park on the way. The last time I had been here though, at the end of October, tourist season had long ended, nothing was open, and we didn’t need to pay admission to get in.

I have also technically been to the Bay of Fundy from the Nova Scotia side. It is definitely the less advertised and well known side, but almost just as spectacular.

This time though, I got to see the Bay of Fundy – through the “official sites”, Hopewell Rocks and Fundy National Park in the peak of season, at the end of August with all the bells and whistles. The question is: Did it live up to the hype?

To start: The Hopewell Rocks is a must-stop area. I’m serious.

Any imagery you may have in your head regarding the Bay of Fundy is probably a picture of the vast rock formations that have eroded into weird shapes over time. That’s Hopewell Rocks.

And yes, they really are that big and towering and it really is that awe-inspiring if you’re standing at their base and looking up from the ocean floor at low tide.

Be sure to plan your trip around the tidal schedules because this will make or break your experience. If you’re rushed for time, go at low tide. If you have some extra time, go back at high tide to see and compare the difference. You can even kayak around the formations when the water levels are up.

Going at low tide though means that you literally get to walk on the ocean floor. Be sure to bring appropriate footwear! Warning: mud may be part of the experience.

Why yes. The green stuff at the bottom there is seaweed.

I should also add that they’ve done a good job at Hopewell Rocks of expanding the offer a bit. There’s some lovely wooded trails that meander along the cliffs, indoor learning exhibits, and  the best gift shop in all of New Brunswick. I probably bought more in souvenirs here than anywhere else in Atlantic Canada.

A short hop-skip-jump and we arrived to see the Bay of Fundy at Fundy National Park.

As you can tell, the whole area is vast and FLAT. This means that when the tides come in, if you’re out there playing on the ocean floor, you will get into trouble. They will seem to come in all at once and not gradually.

At this point, it was just about the time limit for getting out of there.

There are some lovely viewscapes and wooded trails here and we went to a popular one called Dickson Falls. Peaceful and wheelchair accessible trail, good for young and old alike.

We actually opted to stay in one of the oTENTiks in Fundy National Park which turned out to be a great experience! Really it reminded me of one of those cabins you slept in when you were at a children’s summer camp.

It was a reasonably priced cabin for up to 6 in the middle of the woods, complete with bunk beds, a fire pit, and picnic table. Really, it gave us the convenience of being right in the midst of nature without most of the inconveniences of camping. As someone who doesn’t have her own camping gear and doesn’t camp enough to get her own gear but likes being out in nature, I would definitely recommend this glamping option for anyone who’s willing to try something different.