3 Best Sights in Fredericton, New Brunswick

Historic Garrison District

Fodor's choice

The restored buildings of this British and Canadian military post is a National Historic Site and one of New Brunswick's top attractions. It extends two blocks along Queen Street and includes soldiers' barracks, a guardhouse, and a cellblock. Local artisans operate studios in the casemates below the soldiers' barracks on Barracks Square. In July and August free guided tours run throughout the day, and there are regular outdoor concerts on Officers' Square. Redcoat soldiers have long stood guard on the square, and a formal changing-of-the-guard ceremony takes place July and August at 11 am and 4 pm daily, with an additional ceremony at 7 pm on Tuesday and Thursday. It's even possible for children (ages 4 to 12) to live a soldier's life for a while: each summer at 1:15 (or 11:15 for the French version) at the Guardhouse, would-be Redcoats get their own uniforms, practice drilling, and take part in a "mission" (C$10 per child). The square hosts a number of festivals, there's nightly entertainment in summer, and on Sunday evenings in July and August, free classic movies are shown under the stars in Barracks Square at approximately 9 pm. A summertime Garrison Night Market features arts, crafts, local produce, live music, and more.

Fredericton Region Museum

The Officers' Quarters in the Historic Garrison District house a museum that presents a living picture of the community from the time when only First Nations peoples inhabited the area through the Acadian and Loyalist days to the immediate past. Its World War I trench puts you in the thick of battle, and the shellacked remains of the giant Coleman Frog, a Fredericton legend, still inspire controversy. There is also an artists' co-op store featuring locally produced art and crafts. If you're visiting outside the summer months, wear warm clothing—the historic site has no heating or insulation. 

Science East

This hands-on science center, in the former York County Jail, is all about family fun, with more than 150 hands-on exhibits on its three floors. You can test your reflexes in the Batak Reaction Tester, have fun with flying machines in the wind tunnel, set off the rocket launcher, walk into a giant kaleidoscope, create a mini-tornado, and explore the museum in the dungeon. The Hurricane Simulator is a current favorite. Outside is Atlantic Canada's only outdoor science playground with a giant ship and human gyroscope (C$2 extra) among the learn-through-play structures. Various special programs are also offered.

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