Whether you're headed north through New Brunswick by rail, east to Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia down, or down to Bay of Fundy's shore, Moncton is an important provincial stop. Located on the Trans-Canada Highway, Moncton offers tourist amenities along with a twice-daily tidal bore, a wave of water that sweeps up the Petitcodiac River.

Take a few minutes to drive the stretch of road at Magnetic Hill, a local curiosity worth a chuckle, or visit the zoo adjacent, billed as Atlantic Canada's biggest. For local history, visit the Moncton Museum or Acadian Museum before heading out of town.

Outdoors enthusiasts can book tours here down to Hopewell Rocks, where geological formations, caves and kayakers dot the shoreline. If you're after eating things from the water, rather than watching them, sample lobster at Shediac en route to destinations in upper New Brunswick.

North from Moncton, the coastline stretches for miles along Northumberland Strait up to Kouchibouguac National Park. Here sand dunes and salt marshes, lagoons and forests make for a pleasant provincial retreat. Enjoy swimming, strolling, and cycling along with an afternoon of canoe paddling or kayaking when the sun is shining. Winter visitors can penetrate the park on skis or snowshoes.

Moncton is 113 miles east of Fredericton, and 94 miles from Saint John. Trains run from here to Montreal and Halifax.