4 Best Sights in Sackville, The Acadian Coast

The National Wildlife Area here covers 1,800 acres of salt and brackish marshes, and large numbers of waterfowl, shorebirds, and other species can be seen. The outstanding interpretive center includes a museum and exhibit hall with displays on natural and human history, a restaurant specializing in local fare, and a boutique with nature art and fine crafts. You will also find a viewing tower, 11 km (6.8 miles) of trails (come prepared to deal with insects, and wear long pants and enclosed footwear), and daily guided tours in July and August. This is the best location to photograph the striking architecture of the 13-km (8-mile) Confederation Bridge that links New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island.

Near the Nova Scotia border in Aulac and 12 km (7 miles) east of Sackville, the site holds the ruins of a star-shape fort that played a part in the 18th-century struggle between the French and British. The Deportation of the Acadians began here. The fort has fine views of the marshes at the head of the Bay of Fundy, and the visitor center has a fascinating collection of artifacts and interpretive exhibits.

The oldest art gallery in Canada, first opened to the public in 1895, is on the Mount Allison University campus. It houses nearly 4,000 works of 19th- and 20th-century European, American, and Canadian artwork in its permanent collection, and there are usually rotating exhibits as well.

Home to some 160 species of birds and 200 species of plants, this park has more than 3½ km (2 miles) of boardwalk and trails through 55 acres of wetlands. Throughout the marsh, viewing areas and interpretive signs reveal the rare waterfowl species that nest here. There's an interpretive center, and guided tours (C$6, including info kit and a snack at the end) are available in French and English mid-May through late August. A self-guided tour is also available at the visitor center and some stores in downtown Sackville.