Beaubears Island Historic Site, New Brunswick
Beaubears Island Historic Site, New Brunswick
*Disclosure: Our family received tickets to visit the museum in exchange for this blog post. All opinions are our own*
We are so fortunate to live in a region that is so rich in culture and history. The Miramichi area in New Brunswick has a melange of history that includes the natives, French Acadians and the English.
The Beaubears National Historic Site pays tribute to all three of these important groups of people.
This museum does a fantastic job of finding unique and creative ways to share the history of the Miramichi area.
History of Beaubears
In the time before European settlement, Beaubears served as a centuries old Mi’kmaq meeting ground for trade and stories of the hunt.
By 1755, in the midst of the Acadian Deportation, Marquis Charles des Champs de Boishébert brought thousands of fleeing Acadians to Beaubears Island and the surrounding lands.
The encampment was known as “Camp D’Esperance”, and nationally recognized as one of the largest Acadian refuges in the province of New Brunswick. Sadly, many of these Acadians perished through starvation and disease while awaiting rescue.
In the decades following the Acadian tragedy, Beaubears Island’s shipyard bustled with activity. Beaubears Island is the only untouched shipbuilding site left intact in Canada. The remains of slips, wharves and foundations are very visible due to the fact that no one has lived on the island for over a hundred years.
Our Visit
We arrived at the Beaubears site and were greeted by the friendly staff.
We were given the option of having a guided tour of the museum or to go through on our own.
Our well-trained children of course picked the guided tour because “we would learn a lot more on a tour.”
Shawn, who turned out to be the executive director of the museum, gave us an enthralling tour of the museum.
He knew the history of the island forwards and backwards and in his sleep.
It was so interesting to hear how the island had changed ownership over the years and had gone from being a native hunting summer camp to a thriving shipbuilding industrial place to once again being restored to its natural habitat.
Our tour took about 30 minutes. Even though the boys were tired after a long journey, they still learned a lot and got a lot out of our visit.
Ways to Explore Beaubears
There are several ways you can explore Beaubears in addition to visiting the museum.
Visit the Beaubears Island Interpretive Centre: Discover the Island’s stirring history and hear stories of First Contact, the struggle of the expelled Acadians, a century of shipbuilding and the history of Nelson-Miramichi. (allow 30-45 minutes)
Ferry Service to Beaubears Island & The Restored Trail Network: With the help of Parks Canada, we have restored 6km of historic trails on the Island. This self-guided experience allows you to view the remnants of the 19th century shipyard, and the foundations of several buildings. Marvel at the lofty pines which have stood sentinel for more than two centuries, and keep watch for the Island’s abundant wildlife, including our family of bald eagles.
* maps and Flora/fauna guides provided at no charge
(allow 60-90 minutes)
**Note: if you want to do the hiking trails on Beaubears, this is your only option. Unless you have your own boat to get you to the island! Go to the interpretive centre and they will take you across, and you call to come back. If there is a guided tour in the afternoon, you cannot return between 2-4, but can come back with the tour.
If you want to hike and do the guided tour, you will have to go to the island to hike and then come back to the mainland to set out on the boat tour again. You cannot meet the group on the island (because you will miss the first part of the tour!)
Voyageur Canoe Experience: Recapture the pioneering days on the river with our 26 foot, ten-passenger, Voyageur Canoe, Sipu. Canoe excursions provide a unique hands-on experience that may visit Beaubears Island as well as Wilson’s Point, or simply circumnavigate the Island. Participants have the opportunity to live part of our history through the vehicle of the canoe.
*Experience also available with kayaks in place of Voyageur Canoe. (allow 60-90 minutes)
Guided Island Tour: See history come alive when you hear the stories of Acadian mothers, venerable soldiers, and Commander Boishebert himself. From there, our historic tour carries you and yours into a time when the sound of auger, saw, and file were heard plainly among the pines and the Island shipyard turned out some of the finest vessels in the world.
* includes a visit to the Interpretive Centre and boat transport to/from the island. (allow 60-90 minutes)
“Tour Through Time” These tours will visit Beaubears Island and Wilson’s Point by boat, and will feature the Island’s full complement of historic characters. Our knowledgeable tour guides and colourful, costumed characters will help you discover just what made these two National Historic Sites such a central part of Miramichi’s history.
* includes a visit to the Interpretive Centre and boat transport to/from the island & Wilson’s Point. (allow 90-120 minutes)
Our Guided Tour Through Time
Our tour included a guided boat trip of Beaubears Island and Wilson’s Point.
We cannot recommend this tour enough.
We started by boarding a boat and sailing across the Miramichi River to Wilson’s point.
This was the most relaxing journey with beautiful scenery including an eagle that was watching our voyage.
We docked first at Wilson’s Point, which is actually part of the mainland (and can be driven to separately). Here, a group over 1500 Acadians hid out during the 1755 expulsion. Unfortunately, most of the Acadians died of starvation as supplies never reached them.
Throughout the journey, we met several characters from the past who came to life to tell their stories. This included French fur trappers,
starving Acadians,
and some of the shipbuilders.
These historical figures came to life to share a monologue of their story and their importance to the history of Beaubears.
I loved this part because it reminded me so much of the Valley Ghost Walks that I am a part of in the Valley.
Having these characters come to life added to much to our experience on Beaubears Island.
This part of the tour lasted approximately 2 hours.
Hours and Admission
Open daily June 15 – September 10, 2016
Admission to the Interpretive Centre is included in tour prices
Regular Admission to the Interpretive Centre – $5.00 per person
Student / Senior Admission to the Interpretive Centre – $3.50 per person
Children under 5 are admitted for free
Fees for the various tours can be found here
Overall
Overall, we had a fantastic visit to Beaubears Island.
Just watch Daniel’s YouTube video to get a first-hand look at our visit.
Beaubears Island is a great place to visit for family fun and to learn the important history of the Miramichi area in a totally unique way. It is great for kids of all ages will get something out of the experience.
The next time you are traveling through Eastern New Brunswick, make a stop at Beaubears to appreciate what this museum is doing to keep history alive.
Hopewell Rocks, New Brunswick
Hopewell Rocks, New Brunswick
*Disclosure: Our family received tickets to visit the Hopewell Rocks in exchange for this blog post. All opinions are our own.*
Thomas (8) read a book in school about the top 10 most amazing places to visit in Canada. We have already been to several of them including the Bay of Fundy, Anne of Green Gables, Alberta Badlands and Banff National Park.
This book listed the Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick as one of the top 10 most amazing places in Canada!
Ever since reading this, Thomas has become obsessed about visiting them, so much so, that we built our family vacation around making his dream of visiting them come true.
About the Hopewell Rocks
The Hopewell Rocks are located on the shores of the Bay of Fundy at Hopewell Cape.
This attraction is one of the Marine Wonders of the World, and is the site of some of the World’s Highest Tides. The Hopewell Rocks, also called the Flowerpots Rocks or simply The Rocks, are rock formations caused by tidal erosion.
They stand 40–70 feet tall.
Our Visit
When we arrived at the Hopewell Rocks, our first stop was at the interpretive centre inside the main building.
There is a great museum that talks about the geology of how the earth was formed and specifically how the Hopewell Rocks were made.
The museum took us about 20 minutes to go through.
The Walk
From the main centre, we walked down to the entrance point for the Hopewell Rocks. This was about 1km and took us about 15 minutes to walk on the slightly downwardly sloped trail.
Everything is extremely well signposted.
If you are unable to make this walk, you can take a shuttle to the entrance point. It is $2 per person each way (STC).
The path to the entrance point is wide and flat and easy for toddlers or strollers.
Once you get to the entrance point, there are 100 steps to get down to the beach.
There is no ramp or elevator. You will have to carry the stroller down, or leave it at the top of the cliff. If you have mobility issues, you may want to think twice about descending.
On the Beach
After descending the 100 steps, you will arrive at the beach and can walk around the Hopewell Rocks, keeping behind the roped off areas.
It is a lot of fun to walk around and see the nooks and crannies. You also get a great view of the Nova Scotian shore.
Being on the shore, you really get a sense of the power of the tides and mother nature.
In case you get your feet muddy exploring the beach, there is a water hose for washing your feet at the top of the stairs.
Roaming on the beach you will find interpreters who you can stop to ask questions, or even sign up for a guided hike.
Daniel made another YouTube video talking about the Hopewell Rocks. This gives you a first-hand look into our visit.
Tips
To explore the beach, you need to be there the 3 hours before or after low tide.
Check the tide schedule HERE.
For a completely different experience, go at high tide and sign up for a kayaking tour.
Your entrance fee for the Hopewell Rocks is valid for two consecutive days. This means you can return at any time during that period in order to see both the high and low tides.
Wear shoes that will clean easily.
Bring a sweater. It can be chilly once you get to the shore.
Hours and Admission
Hours of operations for the 2016 season are:
May 20 – June 24 09h00 – 17h00
June 25 – August 19 08h00 – 20h00
August 20 – September 05 09h00 – 19h00
September 06 – October 10 09h00 – 17h00
Adults 19+ $10.00
Seniors 65+ $ 8.00
Students (19+ with valid student card) $ 8.00
Children age 5 – 18 $ 7.25
Children 4 and under Free
Families (2 parents + children 18 and under) $ 25.50
How to Get There
The Hopewell Rocks are about 30 minutes outside Moncton, so about 3.5 hours from the Valley. Although not realistic to do as a day trip, it makes a great pace to visit when you are going through New Brunswick.
There are several accommodations and camping places nearby, but we opted to go on Priceline and get a hotel in the Moncton area.
We lucked out with the Holiday Inn Express in Moncton near the Moncton airport. It was another great night in a IHG hotel!
The Hopewell Rocks are an amazing feat of nature that you should try to visit.
Although we also live on the Bay of Fundy, the geology is completely different, and you will easily see why the Hopewell Rocks are one of the most amazing places in Canada!
Wile Carding Mill Museum, Bridgewater
Wile Carding Mill Museum, Bridgewater
*Disclosure: Our family received a family seasonal pass for the Nova Scotia Museums so we could tour around the province and share our experiences. All opinions are our own.*
Imagine 12 hour days, 6 days a week for only $2 a day.
It was a long, tough job working in a wool mill in the 1800s. If you go to the Wile Carding Mill Museum in Bridgewater, you will learn all about it.
Our family decided to check out the museum during one of our adventures on the South Shore.
Here’s what the Museum is About
From 1860 to 1968, this water-powered mill lightened the workload for Nova Scotian farm families by carding a week’s worth of wool in one hour!
See the very machine that revolutionized carding in the area and imagine the clatter as it prepared wool for bedding and spinning.
Step outside and picture the line of ox carts that would wait patiently as women operators processed loads of sheep fleece.
Wile Carding Mill’s overshot waterwheel still turns in its tranquil setting on Sandy Brook, a reminder of a once vibrant industrial centre.
About our Visit
We were greeted by a museum interpreter who gave us a tour of the museum.
This included a step-by-step explanation of what happened to the wool from the moment it entered the mill, having been shorn off the sheep, to when it left as wool.
All the machines were operated by a giant water wheel beneath the mill floor. The technology was quite amazing!
The boys were able to have a hands-on experience of how the wool would have been carded by hand and spun into wool.
They even got to keep the wool they had spun as a souvenir!
Overall
It took us about 45 minutes to go through the museum. It was a great hands-on demonstration that would be suitable for all children, preschool aged and up.
There is also a scavenger hunt for kids to do.
It’s important for kids (and adults) to learn how jobs were so much harder over a hundred years ago and the conditions that prevailed.
Hours & Admission
Open Seasonally
June 1 – September 17
Monday – Saturday
9:30 am – 5:30 pm
Sunday
1:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Admission
Adult $ 3.50
Youth (6-17) $ 2.00
Children (under 6) Free
Seniors (65+) $ 2.25
Family $ 8.00
The next time you are in Bridgewater, take a few minutes out of your time to stop into the Wile Carding Museum and get a feeling of how mill life would have been in Bridgewater!
Top 100 Things to do in the Annapolis Valley this Summer
Top 100 Things to do in the Annapolis Valley this Summer
The Valley is full of things to do, especially in the summer. Here is Valley Family Fun’s top 100+ things to do in the Annapolis Valley this summer.
Keep this list handy for those I’m Bored moments.
In no particular order.
Items in BLUE are FREE!
- Visit the New Minas splash pad.
- Find a food truck and get take out for a picnic. Nippers British Fish and Chips is a great place to start!
- Swing on the indoor swings at the Real Scoop ice cream shop in Wolfville.
- Cool off at the Moore’s Brook Falls near Kentville.
- Play mini golf.
- Explore Heustis (Houston’s) beach for a new place to swim.
- Ride the Trecothic Creek Trains in Windsor.
- Take a hot air balloon ride over the Valley with East Coast Balloon Adventures.
- Hike Cape Split.
- Swing off the rope swing at Flat Rock, Hantsport.
- See car racing at Valley Raceway near Kingston.
- Rent a canoe or kayak or go on a guided paddle in Middleton or in West Hants for FREE or in Bridgetown for a small fee.
- Do the Sunflower Maze at Dakeyne Farm, Mt. Denson.
- Visit the Coldbrook fish hatchery for a free tour.
- U-pick your own fruits or vegetables.
- Ride the Flume Ride at Upper Clements Park.
- Take in a FREE program at all branches of the Annapolis Valley Regional Library.
- Go to a museum all about trains in Middleton.
- Take your family to a rope course.
- Go to Busy Bugs Workshop in August at Prescott House in Port Williams.
- Go camping at Blomidon.
- Cool off on the waterslide at Windsor Playland Safari.
- Race your kids on a go kart.
- Have a bonfire at Huntington Point and explore the Fairy Cottages.
- Go on an art hunt with Uncommon Art.
- Take a Valley Ghost Walk Tour. Best suited for 10+
- Play at a new playground.
- Go swimming at Aylesford Lake.
- Explore Miner’s Marsh in Kentville.
- Brave Kentville’s bike course at Burgher Hill.
- Try geocaching.
- Go to the Valley Drive In.
- Find Hidden Valley in New Minas.
- Play disc golf in New Minas or Windsor.
- Have a tea party every third Saturday (or available for private parties) at the Randall House Museum, Wolfville.
- Explore a nature spot in Kings County with a FREE adventure trail guide.
- Go fishing at Silver Lake.
- Play with the old-fashioned phone at the McDonald House Museum in Middleton.
- Try an escape room (in the air conditioning) at Breakout 902 Escape Rooms in Coldbrook.
- Go for a walk and then a swim at the Wolfville Reservoir Park.
- Take a ride on a double decker bus where kids ride for free on the Magic Wine Bus!
- Watch the chimney swifts in Wolfville.
- Do the grass maze and hike the coastal trail at the Black Rock Community Centre.
- Paint something in the air conditioned Clayground Studio in Wolfville.
- Find the hidden animals in the Kings County Courthouse Museum, Kentville.
- Explore the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens and walk the Nature Trail at Acadia.
- Play farmers’ golf, get an ice cream and go for a nature walk at Hennigar’s Farm Market in Greenwich.
- Have at the kids’ zone at the Wolfville Farmers’ Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
- Find the Acadian well and chapel at the Castle Frederick hiking trails in Falmouth.
- Learn 5 expressions by Thomas Chandler Haliburton at the Haliburton House Museum in Windsor.
- Fly a kite at the Kentville Research Station.
- Watch old-fashioned farming in action at the Northville Heritage Farm Centre.
- Take a wagon ride at Ross Farm Museum.
- Try your hand at bowling.
- Swim under the waterfall at Crystal Falls, Greenwood.
- Work off your lobster by walking the eco trail in Halls Harbour
- See the lions at Oaklawn Farm Zoo in Aylesford.
- Visit the sheep and llamas at Gaspereau Valley Fibers.
- Grab a coffee and read a book in the hammocks behind Just Us! In Grand Pre and read a book from their wee-free library.
- Swim at Evangeline Beach.
- Sing the Mickey Mouse theme song while walking around the Mickey Hill trail near Annapolis.
- Take a book or leave a book at the Wee Little Library at Miner’s Marsh in Kentville.
- Have a tasting party with your family! Adults, try local ciders, beers and wine, while kids can try Root Beer or other drinks!
- Stop and smell the flowers at the Historic Gardens in Annapolis Royal.
- Learn about the history of the McMaster Mill back of Greenwood.
- Feed the fish and barnyard animals at Dempsey Corner Farm.
- Rent a pedal boat at the Raven Haven Beachside Family Park near Annapolis.
- Spot a duck or find a frog at the French Basin marsh trail in Annapolis Royal.
- Go Rock Hounding at Scott’s Bay.
- Bike the rail trail.
- Go fossil hunting at Blue Beach, Avonport.
- Practice your airplane flying at the Greenwood Aviation Museum.
- Go for a family jog at the Bigelow Nature Trail in Canning.
- Jump on the giant pillow at Jellystone Park in Kingston. No! You don’t have to be a camper to do it!
- Learn about the highest tides in the world at the Annapolis Royal Tidal Power Interpretive Centre.
- Kids play while parents have a coffee at the Cotton Tale Café in New Minas.
- Send your kids to camp.
- Go for a walk or bike ride at the Irishman Settlement near Windsor.
- Ride the Kings Transit bus. Youth summer passes available.
- Learn about Acadian Heritage on a guided walk in Annapolis Royal.
- Have fish and chips take out from Pearles in Paradise.
- Go to a nature event put on by the Blomidon Naturalist Society or the Flying Squirrels
- Do a beach clean up.
- See a whole house made out of concrete in Centreville!
- Support local by shopping at the Kentville Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays.
- Roll down the hill at Fort Anne, Annapolis Royal.
- See how a book is made at Gaspereau Press, Kentville.
- Visit the miniature horses at Noggins Corner Farm in Greenwich.
- Eat an ice cream from a boat from Sea Cones Ice Cream Boat
- Watch a horse pull at the Annapolis Valley Exhibition in Lawrencetown (3rd week of August).
- Hike to the ghost town of Roxbury.
- Get fit with the family at Kingston’s Stronach Park fitness trail!
- Blast your family away at laser tag on a rainy day at Roo’s Playhouse in Greenwood.
- Tubing on the Gaspereau River (when the water levels are high enough).
- Go to the SPCA and play with the cats and dogs.
- See some really old houses on your self-guided historical walking tour of Bridgetown.
- Grab your skateboard and head to the Windsor Waterfront skateboard park to try out your moves.
- Grab some paint swatches and head to the Acadia Art Gallery to find those colours in the paintings.
- Build a sandcastle at Kingsport Beach.
- Throw some axes at Halimac in Kentville.
- 101. Go horseback riding with Evangeline Trail Rides.
What else would you add to the list?
Aviator’s Ice Cream Shack, Waterville
**This business is now closed**
Aviator’s Ice Cream Shack, Waterville
*Disclosure: Our family received an ice cream party in exchange for this blog post. All opinions are our own. Honestly, would you say no to that?*
There is a new ice cream shack in town and you need to go check it out!
When Dan and Karen Mullen told me about their new ice cream shack in Waterville, I knew we had to check it out.
There is nothing better than an ice cream on a hot day, and you don’t have to twist my arm to go!
So, when the Aviator’s Ice Cream Shack suggested a family ice cream party, I knew just who to enlist for help.
We loaded the car with our family and my two nieces and headed to the Black Rock Road to find the Aviator’s Ice Cream shack.
The Menu
The Aviator’s Ice Cream Shack serves mostly ice cream, but they do have Jimmie Dogs from Meadowbrook Meat Market on a nicely toasted bun.
Plus, you have the option of having it with both onions and sauerkraut!
We had to try it all!
“The Jimmie dog was delicious with the toasted bun!”
Following lunch, we had the best part – ice cream!
There are so many ways to have ice cream, too from banana splits, smoothies, flurries, milkshakes, sundaes and more!
The kids and I opted for traditional hard-serve ice cream in a home-made waffle cone.
Aviator’s serves Scotsburn ice cream which is a nice treat to the usual Farmer’s ice cream you see most everywhere else. It’s creamy with an extensive list of different flavours!
This was the small size!
“The ice cream is really good, especially with a waffle cone!”
“The ice cream was really big.”
David opted for the Coke float.
“The fact they use real Coke, and not fountain pop, was a real bonus. She even gave me the rest of the can so I could add more whenever I needed it. That was probably the best restaurant Coke float I’d ever had!”
You can tell by the happy smiles that the kids loved the ice cream!
Ambiance
There is no place to sit inside at the Aviator’s Ice Cream Shack but there are several picnic tables and chairs on the lawn. You can sit in a nice shady spot and enjoy your food.
Because Aviator’s is beside the owner’s house, you can visit with all the animals at their hobby farm!
There are chickens.
There are horses.
And there is a great dog named Dozer.
“It has so many animals: horses, chickens and a dog!”
Not to mention a tire swing, too!
There is a washroom on site, too.
Location and Hours
Aviator’s Ice Cream Shack is located at 2124 Black Rock Road. This is between Brooklyn Street and Route 1.
MAP
They are open 11:30am – 9pm Monday to Saturday and 1pm – 9pm on Sunday.
Payment is by cash or credit card only. No debit.
While you are in Black Rock, check out the community trails.
Then, head to the Aviator’s Ice Cream Shack for a treat!
Make sure you add the Aviator’s Ice Cream Shack to your bucket list this summer. Better make it an ice cream bucket sized list!
JORD Watches make Unique Gifts
JORD Watches make Unique Gifts
*Disclosure: I received a complimentary watch to test and review in exchange for this blog post. All opinions are our own.*
Jord watches are hand-crafted wood timepieces that tell a story. They are splash resistant, comfortable and stylish!
The value of a watch is not in being able to tell how much time has passed, but in being aware of the need to make that time count. Moments are bigger than minutes and your watch should tell more than time.
When I had the opportunity to review a JORD Watch, I knew just the person to do it.
I asked my dad, retired business professor (who is soon coming out of retirement to go back to teach!) if he would mind testing it out.
He has an active life that involves both casual and formal activities, so he’d be able to get to test the JORD watch in many different situations.
Our first task was to go online and try to decide which watch to order. There were so many to choose from for both men and women!
Here’s the one he decided upon. It’s in the FIELDCREST series with Zebrawood and Maple wood.
We measured his wrist according to their handy-dandy chart.
Here’s what he has to say:
I am a woodworker and appreciate fine wood and craftsmanship. The JORD watch caught my attention as a fine piece of artistry.
I have worn my JORD watch in many settings: attending and presiding over formal business meetings; family outings; sporting events; playing with grandchildren, and on holiday.
In all settings the watch fits in and I never feel over or under dressed.
The time is readily accessible and the strap and case are durable and it is always feels comfortable.
Despite its “exotic” and crafted look, I have never worried about it getting damaged.
Others have noticed it without me making a display of it and the comments are always about how interesting it is and fashionable. A number of people have asked how they can get one.
Overall
The JORD watch was a huge hit!
Men are always so difficult to buy for, so the JORD watch is the perfect choice for a unique and creative gift!
Or, these women watches are a stylish conversation piece for any woman in your life (including yourself!)
Check out JORD Watches
Win with Jord Watches!
Enter to win a voucher to put towards your own JORD watch!
You can fill out this form to be instantly entered to win the voucher (worth $75).
As a bonus, each “non winner” will still receive an e-gift card for $20 off their own JORD watch (you will have 3 months to use this e-gift card before it expires).
Start making your time count!
