Travel Tips

Like a Local: Saint John & Peter’s Top 5 Activities on the Bay of Fundy

1. Start your morning off with a trip to the Saint John City Market.

Don’t go to Saint John City Market during the day when all the tourists are packed in like sardines. Take a cue from the locals and go early in the morning to miss the crowds. Locals buy their everyday produce, meats, and baked goods at the market. And check this out — the roof is built like a ship’s inverted hull to symbolize the city’s shipbuilding history. Plus, it’s Canada’s oldest farmers market!

2. After you’ve filled up on local produce, check out the local galleries.

Everyone else will head straight for the obvious attractions right off the dock – but a short walk uptown gets you in with the locals – gallery hopping is a Saturday activity here. It’s the perfect place to get handmade art and jewelry.

3. Eat lunch at Urban Deli.

It doesn’t get any more local than Urban Deli. You’ll notice that everyone orders the Uptown Big Beef Bad Boy sandwich – order that and you might not even need dinner! What’s really cool about this place is the communal seating. Sit at the long table for even 5 minutes and you will catch up on the local gossip and get a real feel for this small-town city.

4. Go beyond the waterfront and check out Harbour Passage.

Harbour Passage is rarely discovered by tourists. The passage is great way to see the whole city – starting uptown and going all the way to the reversing rapids. You pass right by the Market Square, so don’t forget to stop by the New Brunswick Museum with 15 galleries, including one with fossils from whales off the Saint John coast.

5. End Your Day at Market Square Boardwalk

One of the biggest summer attractions for locals is the Market Square Boardwalk. We’re talking beachside pubs, beach volleyball, and live entertainment all summer long.

For more local travel ideas, check out Peter’s new Like a Local guidebook series with Michelin.

For more information on Canada travel, check out:

By Peter Greenberg for PeterGreenberg.com, video shot and edited by Alyssa Caverley