St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, New Brunswick

St. Andrews-by-the-Sea is a town that got lucky with its geography and clever with its history. Settled in 1783 by Loyalists who disassembled their houses in Maine and floated them on rafts to New Brunswick after the American Revolution, the town occupies a peninsula on Passamaquoddy Bay where it opens into the Bay of Fundy — one of the most beautiful marine settings in the Maritime provinces. The late 19th century made it a resort town for wealthy families from eastern Canada and the American East Coast, who built the Victorian mansions and grand hotels that give the town its current architectural character. The Algonquin Resort, opened in 1889, is still operating in its Tudor Revival grandeur on the hillside above the bay.

This combination — Loyalist heritage, Victorian resort character, active whale watching fishery, and exceptional Bay of Fundy scenery — makes St. Andrews the most genteel small town in New Brunswick and one of the most photographed. The 100-or-so houses in the Loyalist grid downtown include more pre-Confederation buildings than almost anywhere else in Atlantic Canada. The whale watching tours from the government wharf produce some of the most reliable cetacean encounters in the Bay of Fundy. The tidal garden behind the Sunbury Shores Arts Centre floods and drains twice daily like a living illustration of the Fundy tides.

The Loyalist town and its architecture

The grid of streets running down from the Algonquin to the waterfront preserves one of the most intact 18th-century town layouts in Atlantic Canada. The Loyalist Burying Ground on the edge of the downtown contains headstones from the original 1780s settlers — dates as early as 1786 and family names that repeat through the history of the town.

Greenock Church (1824) on Montague Street is the most architecturally distinguished building in the downtown — a Georgian church with a distinctive green tree carved into its facade (after the green oak in the coat of arms of Captain Christopher Scott, who funded the construction). The church remains an active congregation.

The Charlotte County Museum, in a historic house on Montague Row, covers the full local history from the Mi’kmaw and Passamaquoddy peoples through the Loyalist settlement and the Victorian resort era. The collection includes period furniture, photographs, and documents relating to the town’s role as an early resort destination.

Walking the town’s streets — Water Street, King Street, Montague Street — past the varied Victorian, Georgian, and Colonial Revival houses is the primary architectural pleasure. Several properties have heritage plaques identifying their construction dates and original owners.

The Algonquin Resort

The Algonquin Resort is one of the last remaining grand resort hotels of the 19th-century Maritime summer circuit — the tradition of wealthy families from Montreal, Toronto, New York, and Boston taking extended summer residences at major resort hotels. Built in 1889 and expanded significantly in 1914 in Tudor Revival style (the distinctive half-timber exterior that defines its current appearance), the Algonquin sits on a hillside above the town with views over the bay.

The hotel has been updated through the decades without losing its period character — the main lounge, the dining room, and the public spaces retain something of the grand resort atmosphere. The adjacent Algonquin Golf Course is one of the oldest in Atlantic Canada. The hotel is now operated as part of the Marriott Autograph Collection but maintains its local identity and historic positioning.

Staying at the Algonquin is the most atmospheric option in St. Andrews — it is not cheap, but the building itself is part of the experience.

Whale watching and marine life

The waters around St. Andrews and Passamaquoddy Bay are consistently productive for cetaceans from June through October. Finback whales, humpback whales, and minke whales feed in the cold Fundy water. Harbour porpoises are common year-round. White-sided dolphins appear in schools.

The critically endangered North Atlantic right whale — fewer than 350 individuals remaining — has historically used the Bay of Fundy as summer feeding ground, and right whale sightings occur in the waters accessible from St. Andrews, though with considerable variability year to year.

Fundy Tide Runners and Jolly Breeze of St Andrews (a traditional tall ship) are the main operators from the government wharf. Rigid inflatable Zodiac tours provide the closest encounters; the tall ship offers a more leisurely sailing experience. The Zodiac tours are particularly good for those prioritizing wildlife proximity over comfort.

Browse New Brunswick whale watching and Bay of Fundy tour experiences

Katy’s Cove and Kingsbrae Garden

Katy’s Cove at the end of the town waterfront is a sheltered cove with a small swimming area — by Bay of Fundy standards, the water temperature here is relatively moderate, and the cove has been a summer swimming destination for generations. The tidal range means the character of the cove changes completely between high and low tide.

Kingsbrae Garden, at the top of King Street, is one of the finest private gardens in Atlantic Canada — 27 acres of formal and naturalistic planting with old-growth trees, an animal paddock, a working windmill, and exceptional herbaceous borders. The garden has won multiple awards and is considered one of Canada’s best. Open from May to October; entry fee charged.

The Sunbury Shores Arts Centre and its tidal garden (visible from the street, flooding twice daily) represents the arts community that has maintained a presence in St. Andrews for decades. The centre hosts exhibitions and workshops through the summer.

Food and drink in St. Andrews

St. Andrews’ restaurant scene is small but reliably good — the tourist economy supports quality without the quantity of a larger town.

The Gables Restaurant on Water Street is the most established local institution — a waterfront building serving consistent New Brunswick seafood in a room with bay views. The chowder and the lobster rolls are the standard order. Inn Digby House dining room serves reliable heritage-style cooking. The Algonquin dining room is the formal option — appropriate for a special dinner in a historic room.

For casual food: Market Square’s vendors during summer market days, and the Harbour Front Seafood Shop for fresh and smoked fish.

The area around St. Andrews has several farm operations selling local produce directly — ask at the visitor centre for current farm market schedules.

Cycling in and around St. Andrews

The peninsula that St. Andrews occupies has excellent cycling on its quiet back roads. The road to Ministers Island at low tide is a particularly memorable excursion — Ministers Island, 10 minutes from town by road and causeway, is accessible on its tidal bar at low tide and is the location of Sir William Cornelius Van Horne’s estate (the builder of the Canadian Pacific Railway). The island farmhouse and outbuildings, maintained by Heritage NB, are open for tours. At high tide, the island is surrounded by water and the road is submerged.

The town rents bicycles and the flat waterfront road is a pleasant cycling circuit.

When to visit St. Andrews

July and August are the peak resort months — the Algonquin is at full operation, the whale watching tours run at maximum frequency, Kingsbrae Garden is at its most spectacular, and the waterfront has the most activity.

June is uncrowded, pleasant, and the gardens are beautiful. The whale watching season is beginning.

September is the quietest enjoyable month — good whale watching continues, the town settles into a gentler rhythm, and accommodation prices drop.

October sees most tourist services closing, though the Algonquin and several restaurants remain open through the fall.

Winter: St. Andrews is partially residential in winter but many visitor services close. The town and bay are beautiful in winter weather but the experience is for self-sufficient visitors.

Browse Atlantic Canada heritage town and coastal experiences

Getting to St. Andrews

St. Andrews is 100 kilometres west of Saint John via Highway 1 — approximately one hour’s drive. From Moncton it is approximately 230 kilometres (2.5 hours). The nearest airport with significant service is Saint John (YSJ). No public transit connection.

Related destinations

Grand Manan Island is reached via ferry from Blacks Harbour, 40 kilometres east — the remote birding and whale watching island. Saint John, NB is 100 kilometres east — the Bay of Fundy’s largest city. Moncton is the Maritime hub 230 kilometres northeast. The Bay of Fundy guide covers the full tidal system and coastline.

Frequently asked questions about St. Andrews-by-the-Sea

Why is St. Andrews called “by the Sea”?

The “by-the-Sea” designation was added in the Victorian era to distinguish the town from other St. Andrews communities in New Brunswick and across Canada, and to emphasize its seaside resort character. The full name is consistently used in tourism contexts and remains the formal designation.

Is it worth going whale watching from St. Andrews?

Yes — the Fundy waters around St. Andrews are genuinely productive for cetaceans, and the operators have decades of local knowledge. The right whale connection is historically significant. Expect 80-90% sighting success on full tours in peak season (July to September). The tall ship option is particularly atmospheric for those who prefer a traditional sailing experience.

Can you stay at the Algonquin on a moderate budget?

The Algonquin is one of the more expensive options in the St. Andrews area. In off-peak season (June, September, October), rates become more accessible. Several smaller inns and B&Bs in the town and peninsula provide comfortable alternatives at lower price points.

What is Ministers Island?

Ministers Island is a tidal island 10 minutes from downtown St. Andrews, accessible across a sand bar at low tide only. The island contains the summer estate of William Cornelius Van Horne, who built the Canadian Pacific Railway. The estate buildings — a large Victorian summer house, a bathhouse, a windmill, and outbuildings — are maintained by Heritage NB and open for guided tours in summer. The tidal access is the attraction for many visitors.