Bay of Fundy Discovery 2006
| AUG
5 - 11 |
7 Days / 6 Nights
/ 12 Meals |
| AUG 12 - 18 |
7 Days / 6 Nights / 12 Meals |
| SEPT 2 - 8 |
7 Days / 6 Nights / 12 Meals |
| SEPT 9 - 15 |
7 Days / 6 Nights / 12 Meals |
Per
person double occupancy $1,840.00
Single Supplement $200.00
Includes: Accommodations in fine quality
local hotels and inns; experienced naturalist guide; all
breakfasts and dinners; ground and boat transportation;
airport pick-up and drop-off; all taxes.
Does Not Include: Transportation to or
from Saint John, New Brunswick
 The
Bay of Fundy tides rise higher than anywhere on earth,
creating one of the richest marine ecosystems on the planet.
Waters as high as a four-story building bring with them
a diversity of marine life. Only hours later, you can
stroll on the seabed at low tide allowing for in-depth
explorations of the ocean floor. Enormous currents create
upwellings resulting in an abundance of food for marine
life. Whales such as finback, minke, humpback and the
rare North Atlantic right whale congregate to feed, mate
and play. Seabirds and shorebirds flock to the Bay and
the region's salt marshes in abundance. Rock cliffs, carved
by the relentless tides into sculptured art, constantly
reveal fossils, evidence of life from ancient times. Combine
all of this with a rich human history dating back hundreds
of years, breathtaking landscapes and seascapes, and a
warm hospitality unlike anywhere else.
On this fascinating 8-day program travels along the shores
of the Bay of Fundy through both New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia, you'll find yourself hiking through Fundy National
Park's Acadian Forest, exploring the ocean floor at Hopewell
Rocks, and gliding your kayak through isolated inlets
and coves and along tide-sculpted cliffs. There will be
a unique opportunity during your visit to volunteer on
a special environment service project. (optional)
DAY 1: Home - Saint John, New Brunswick
Experience the best of the Bay of Fundy this week with
Aquila Naturalist Guide Jamie Steel. You will be met
at the airport and transferred to your hotel overlooking
the harbour in the heart of Saint John. The only city
on the Bay of Fundy, Saint John offers diverse entertainment,
museums, interesting period architecture and streetscapes,
and historic sites. Here you'll have the opportunity
to see world-famous Reversing Falls, Canada's first
public museum, and the Old City Market!
Recognized for his expertise on marine life and his
contributions to environmental education, Jamie Steel
shares his remarkable knowledge as a tour leader for
programs on the Bay of Fundy, a consultant for various
tourism-based organizations, an Instructor for the Adventure
Recreation Program at the Community College in St. Andrews,
and an Associate of the Heritage Resource Centre at
the University of Waterloo. Holding both a Bachelor's
and Master's degree in environmental studies and geography,
Jamie's varied experiences over the years include Director
of Education Programs at the Huntsman Marine Science
Centre in St. Andrews, New Brunswick; developing a number
of experiential learning programs for students and teachers;
writing curriculum and resource materials for use in
schools throughout Canada, the U.S. and internationally;
hosting a local CBC Radio spot focusing on the Bay of
Fundy; and appearing on ABC's "Good Morning America"
and the Discovery Channel's "Harrowsmith Country
Life Magazine", as well as in several other documentaries.
DAY 2: Saint John - Alma, New Brunswick
Start your day with a morning Bay of Fundy briefing
at the New Brunswick Museum. The museum's Hall of Great
Whales becomes the backdrop for a tour describing the
region's natural history, wildlife and the phenomenon
behind the great Fundy tides (Provided by Senior Interpreter
or Curator based on availability). The perfect start
before you venture out and experience the Bay first
hand as you depart for Fundy National Park. The Park
encompasses some of the last remaining wilderness in
southern New Brunswick. Here, the conifer-dominated
Caledonia Highlands roll down to meet the fog-generating
Bay of Fundy.
Enjoy a picnic lunch in the Park and an opportunity
to walk the beach before continuing to Mary's Point,
where tens of thousands of shore birds congregate to
prepare for their long flight to South America. Arctic
and subarctic regions are the birthplace of most of
the sandpipers and plovers, and as the temperature falls,
they are ready to depart south. Migration begins in
July and August is the peak month with Mary's Point
having one of the biggest concentrations of shorebirds
on the North American coast. This is due to the extensive
mudflats where astronomical numbers of tiny crustaceans,
worms and mollusks live just beneath the slippery surface
of the glistening mud. At low tide they are exposed
to the probing beaks of hundreds of thousands of hungry
birds that may allow you to witness scintillating aerial
displays. You'll enjoy dinner at Broadleaf Farms and
Guest Ranch, your home for the next two nights, followed
by a campfire with local folklore this evening.
 DAY
3: Alma & Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick
Walk on the ocean floor and explore a strange marine
environment as we explore Hopewell Rocks today by land
and sea! The amazing Bay of Fundy tides have literally
carved nearby cliffs into gigantic flowerpots! Wait
for the mighty Fundy tides to recede for a rare opportunity
to walk the base of sandstone cliffs that have been
carved by the tides into gigantic flowerpots and discover
the bizarre marine plants and animals that survive in
these extreme marine conditions. Then, as the mighty
Fundy tides roll in, your footsteps disappear and soon
you'll discover those same sandstone cliffs are even
more awe-inspiring as you glide by in your sea kayak
and explore arches and caves in this one-of-a-kind marine
experience. Tonight, we'll head back to Fundy National
Park for a Night Life Hike with a park interpreter and
discover the Acadian Forest as darkness falls; learn
about the creatures of the night - no flashlights allowed!
A real treat for the senses!
DAY4: Alma - Digby, Nova Scotia
Our stop today is Sackville's Waterfowl Park, where
you will discover a wetland world beneath your feet!
Focus your camera on the antics of fuzzy ducklings dabbling
in the shallows and listen to a sunset chorus of marsh
birds, the eerie cries of rail, coot, grebe, and bittern.
From dawn to dusk, the entertainment never stops at
the 55-acre park in the heart of Sackville. Explore
trails and boardwalks for unsurpassed wetland wildlife
viewing where you can find more than 160 bird species
and over 200 species of plants. Continue into Nova Scotia
to the Mountain Gap Inn, our home on the opposite side
of the Bay of Fundy, for the next two nights, offering
a walking beach, nature trails, and gardens.
DAY 5 : Digby - Brier Island
Today we will discover Brier Island with a half-day
whale watch from its shores. Penny and Roy Graham, lifelong
residents of Westport, Brier Island, are well-versed
in the dozens of mammals and bird species that visit
this important ecological region. Today provides an
opportunity to observe firsthand some of the largest
and rarest bird and animal species in the world. Observing
their behavior, in their natural environment is a thrill
and rare privilege. From the Finback, Minke and Harbour
Porpoises to the Humpback and White-sided Dolphins,
every summer mammals of all sizes (up to 15 species
of toothed and baleen whales) come to the Bay of Fundy,
to mate, play, and feast on the bountiful supply of
food churned up twice a day by the powerful tides. Our
goal is to provide guests with a fulfilling and educational
wildlife adventure while at the same time ensuring there
is no negative impact on the diversity of life that
occupies our area. Finish the adventure sampling the
area's fare at the award winning Brier Island Lodge,
featuring regional dishes such as Solomon Gundy, smoked
fish, periwinkles, and world famous Digby scallops.
DAY 6: Digby - Saint John
Today is dedicated to understanding the living history
and the culture of Bay communities as you dive into
heritage along the Bay! Start with a morning walk along
Digby Wharf where you may have the opportunity to chat
with the local fishermen as they prepare to haul up
the catch of the day. Sample the famous "Digby
Chicks" and learn the maritime way with Lobsters!
Continue on to visit Port-Royal National Historic Site
of Canada, a site that features a reconstruction of
early 17th-century buildings representing the former
colony of the French who settled along the Nova Scotia
coast. A costumed interpreter will join us and help
recreate the look and feel of one of the earliest European
settlements in North America, and our visit will include
a unique will demonstration of period building techniques.
Then we will stop at the Historic Gardens of Annapolis
Royal. Here a horticulturist will join us and walk us
through the spectacular Rose Collection and the popular
Acadian house and gardens. Enjoy a lobster boil on the
beach tonight (weather permitting) and then board the
Digby Ferry for a final glimpse of the Bay of Fundy
during your late evening crossing to Saint John, New
Brunswick.
Day 7: Saint John - Home
Transfer to Saint John airport for your flight home
Please note that this tour is very Tide Dependent due
to the Bay of Fundy's Highest and Wildest tides! Activities
may need to be rescheduled.
Whale Watch - Important to bring warm clothing, as temperatures
on the Bay can be considerably lower than on shore.
HOTELS:
Night 1: Hilton Saint John
 Located
downtown and ideally situated on the restored waterfront
with a commanding view of the harbor, Hilton Saint John
has 197 well-appointed guest rooms, an indoor swimming
pool, sauna, whirlpool and health club. We boast a wonderful
restaurant, the Turn of The Tide, offering a variety
of fine cuisine.
• Visit
Website •
Nights 2 & 3: Broadleaf Guest Ranch
 This
luxury, 3 ½ star cedar lodge provides all the
comforts of a modern facility and is nestled in Albert
County woodland, with a panoramic view of Caledonia
mountain, Shepody Bay and the Nova Scotia coastline.
The spacious lounge area has a stone fireplace and is
finished with knotty pine. The window wall and the 16
foot wrap-around deck (with hot-tub) overlook the dramatic
views for a truly relaxing and inspirational environment.
• Visit
Website •
Nights 4 & 5: Mountain Gap Inn
 The
Mountain Gap Inn is located in Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia,
an historic community situated in the heart of Atlantic
Canada's vacationland. We offer rooms, cozy cottages
and family suites nestled on the shore of the Annapolis
Basin with a beach and a nature trail for walking.
• Visit
Website •
Night 6: Hilton Saint John
Located
downtown and ideally situated on the restored waterfront
with a commanding view of the harbor, Hilton Saint John
has 197 well-appointed guest rooms, an indoor swimming
pool, sauna, whirlpool and health club. We boast a wonderful
restaurant, the Turn of The Tide, offering a variety
of fine cuisine.
• Visit
Website •
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