Moncton 
Photo Credit: Tourim New Brunswick
New Brunswick is a great place to live, or visit, especially if you’re planning on bringing along your teenage children! There are so many great ways to keep a teenager occupied, indoors or outdoors, no matter the season — New Brunswick offers all kinds of opportunities for your teenagers to enjoy this beautiful province — they can post about it on Instagram and Facebook later! Here are 75 things to do with your teenager throughout the seasons.
- Swim, slide and relax at Magic Mountain Splashzone — a large water park located in the city of Moncton. Magic Mountain features eleven water slides and three pools of varying sizes and a ‘lazy river’.
- Get in touch with the natural world at Magnetic Hill Zoo! The zoo features a vast array of animalia from all corners of the earth — lions, tigers and bears — oh my!
- Visit the highest tides and largest rock formations in New Brunswick at Hopewell Rocks Park. Camping is also available nearby for those seeking to make a weekend out of it.
- If your kids enjoy ‘roughing it’, then take advantage of backcountry camping at Kouchibouguac National Park. The park has trails for hiking and biking, as well as canoe rentals, so you can enjoy the Acadian Coast both on-land and at-sea.
- Camp under a million stars at Mount Carleton’s Dark Sky Preserve. Located in Mount Carleton National Park, the Dark Sky Preserve is one of several in the Maritimes and not to be missed if your kids love astronomy!
- Learn about New Brunswick’s rich history, from French discovery to British colonization at the New Brunswick Museum in Saint John.
- Explore Sackville’s local artists at Owen’s Art Gallery, featuring some of the artwork of Sackville’s talented residents and students of Mount Allison University.
- Is your kid into sports? Then take a trip to Fredericton — the provincial capital — and explore the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame, featuring the province’s many sporting heroes across many different sports.
- Swing from the trees at TreeGO! Located in the city of Moncton’s Centennial Park, TreeGO is a great time out for thrill-seeking teenagers. TreeGO has three different courses for different degrees of confidence and ability — green is the easiest, where your kids can learn the basics, red is a little more difficult (and higher up) and black is the highest level, where you’ll encounter difficult obstacles and your movements will have to be more fluid. TreeGO is the perfect way to spend a day with your thrill-seeking kids.
- Hiking in New Brunswick is plentiful, and one of the most beautiful spots to hike is at Mount Carleton Provincial Park — there are over nine different trails of varying difficulties and elevations, covering 62 kilometres. Among the most famous of these is the Mount Carleton Trail, a moderately-difficult 9.9km hike that will take you up to the summit of Mount Carleton, offering a stunning view of the valleys below and the peaks beyond. If you’re looking for an outdoor adventure topped with a fantastic view, Mount Carleton Provincial Park is a great place to bring your kids.
- Are your kids interested in colonial history? Well, that history comes alive at King’s Landing! King’s Landing takes you back to 18th century New Brunswick, from the perspective of British settlers — with many actors reenacting how life was for the 18th century Loyalists, your kids will be immersed and intrigued all day long.
- From the other side of that same historical fence, we have the Acadian Village, located in Bertrand, NB, the village takes you back in time to centuries ago and shows you what life was like for Acadians between 1770 and 1949, how the land and people changed over time and is sure to be a hit among history-loving teenagers.
- If your kids love science, you should explore the Science East Museum in Fredericton. The museum places high value on interactivity between it’s visitors and the exhibits, introducing basic concepts of science, but has also recently expanded to include robotics, summer camps and camps over March Break.
- Do your kids ride bikes? If so, then be sure to return to Kouchibouguac National Park with your bikes and ride on over 60 kilometres of loose-gravel trails. The trails are suitable for both road and mountain bikes, but the latter is preferred. For those seeking a greater thrill, there is a 7.5km “Major Kollock Creek” trail, which is only for experienced mountain bike riders.<
- Keeping on two wheels, if you have the uber-adventurous/daredevil sort of teenager, then take a trip to northern New Brunswick and visit Sugarloaf’s Bike Park. Suited for BMX/mountain bike riders, Sugarloaf’s Bike Park is jam-packed with adrenaline-junky-satisfying downhill riding, drops, step-ups and sharp turns to ensure that you and your thrill-seeking teen have a blast on the trails.
- Home to the above-mentioned Hopewell Rocks, Fundy National Park is one of the province’s main tourist attractions, bringing tens of millions of visitors to the province each year. Whether you’re a geologist, looking to survey Hopewell or looking for a great place to spend a week of hiking, biking, camping and exploring, Fundy National Park has enough of all of that to keep your teens outdoors, active and having fun.
- Hop, skip and JUMP into SkyZone in Moncton! The recently opened indoor trampoline park is the first of it’s kind in New Brunswick, featuring everything from foam pits and obstacles courses to dodgeball and a coming-this-summer addition of a ‘Gladiator’-esque obstacle course will make SkyZone a hit among adults and teens alike.
- Explore the Acadian Peninsula! If you’re driving in from Quebec, the Acadian Peninsula is a fantastic few-days-drive around the northern tip of the province. Passing through small fishing villages and mill towns such as Bathurst and Caraquet, whilst learning all about the history of the Acadians on Canada’s East Coast.
- Got Irish roots? Then visit Eastern Canada’s Irish capital of Miramichi! Famous for it’s fishing history and even more famous for the Canadian Irish Festival and Miramichi Folksong Festival, if you’ve got familial Irish roots, then your teenage kids can get in touch with those roots in Miramichi.
- Fancy having a lazy weekend? Near Miramichi is Stewart’s Tubing, a tubing-rental business where one can rent an inflated tube or several and float down the Miramichi River. Whilst not the most exhilarating of activities, it makes for a perfect ending a New Brunswick summer vacation.
- St. Andrews-By-The-Sea is one of the province’s coastal treasures, and if you’re kids like to swim, or enjoy historic attractions or architecture, then St. Andrews is the place to be. It also offers a unique experience at low-tide, when one can quite literally walk or cycle to and from Minister’s Island on the ocean floor.
- If your teenagers are into golf, there are many golf courses in New Brunswick, including one in Saint Andrews, known as the Algonquin golf course. Nestled against the backdrop of the Algonquin Resort by the sea, the Algonquin course features 9-hole and 18-hole rounds and a 350-yard driving range. The Algonquin Resort golf course would make a lovely getaway treat, if only for 18 holes.
- Another great place to spend a day in St. Andrews is Kingsbrae Gardens, The Gardens are home to a variety of botany — with over 50,000 species of plants covering some 27 acres. Time your visit right, and you’ll see the National Sculpture Competition held annually at Kinsgbrae. There’s also old-growth Acadian Forest to explore (there aren’t many old-growth forests left anywhere in Canada). Kingsbrae is a great place to take a stroll and appreciate nature.
- If your teenagers are interested in the history of Saint Andrews, then pay a visit to the Charlotte County Archives. There are guided tours and pristinely-preserved genealogical records dating back centuries.
- Visit Grand Manan Island — via a ferry! If your teenagers have never been on a ferry before, then Grand Manan Island is the place to go! It’s also a great place to have another unique experience, watching seabirds like puffins or even getting a glimpse of a humpback whale! Bring your zoom lenses and cameras or binoculars and have a unique experience on a beautiful lesser-known island in New Brunswick.
- Visiting historic Saint John, where history and modernity collide. Saint John is a beautiful harbourside city — with a functional harbour — and beautiful ‘Uptown’, where the 18th and 19th century buildings add to the city’s vibrancy. The Imperial Theatre is still showing stage plays to this day, and it was built in 1913. Saint John is a fantastic city to explore for several days.
- Staying in Saint John, one might also enjoy the outdoorsy side of the city. Rockwood Park provides for some fantastic hiking and biking in the city, along with pleasant, easy walking trails, freshwater swimming and fishing is also available in this outdoor escape from the hustle-and-bustle.
- If you’re planning on spending a few days in Saint John, your teenage children might also appreciate a history lesson on the city and surrounding areas. For those interested in the British Loyalist history of the city, there is Loyalist House National Historic Site. The first two floors of the building are home to the Loyalist Museum, featuring furniture from the early 18th and 19th century as well as telling the life and times of the original owner of the house, prosperous Loyalists from New York, David Merritt and his family.
- Cherry Brook Zoo is another option for your zoo-faring family! Home to exotic animals and many endangered species including the Siberian tiger, snow leopard, African leopard and Geoldi monkeys. Cherry Brook was also the first accredited zoo in the region and maintains high standards and a very high visitor count to this day — be one of them!
- Saint John once again comes through with another outdoor experience. The Irving Nature Park is completely free of charge to enter and is home to a variety of species of flora and fauna and diverse terrain — including beaches, volcanic rock and forestry. There are many boardwalks and other walkways connecting the 600-plus acres of the park, complete with birding opportunities. It’s a great place to spend a day and enjoy being by the seaside.
- Looking to escape? No, not away from the kids. Not out of the city. But instead, from inside an escape room! Fredericton is home to the Decipher Escape Rooms which feature a series of challenges to unlock the door, providing hours of great fun to keep you and your teenagers engaged.
- Fredericton is also the home of New Brunswick’s military history. If you’re looking for a unique experience not seen outside of Ottawa, visit Fredericton’s Officer’s Square on any given day, and you might catch the centuries-old British tradition of the “Changing of the Guard”. There is also live music playing on many a night and Fredericton is home to the NB Military History Museum.
- If artistry is you and your teenager’s thing, you might want to consider a trip to one of New Brunswick’s most acclaimed art galleries — the Lord Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton. The gallery hosts a variety of art, both national and international pieces described as “contemporary”. It is also home to Lord Beaverbrook’s original donated collection of art.
- Spending a day at the beach is a fantastic way to both occupy and relax the teenage mind. Whether your teenager is a competent swimmer, or just likes to get a suntan, Parlee Beach near Shediac, NB is a very long, particularly busy summer destination spot. Make it yours, too!
- Love being out on the water? Fresh Air Adventure is a kayaking-adventure business located in Alma, NB — not far from Fundy National Park. They’ll provide kayaking tours of the Fundy Basin, both full-day and half-day tours, complete with experienced tour guides. Personal Floatation Devices are provided.
- Have your kids ever seen water flow in the opposite direction? Take them to Reversing Falls in Saint John. Water from the Saint John River and the Bay of Fundy collide in this unique phenomenon, creating a series of whirlpools and rapids. Rising tide slows the current of the Saint John River for a brief period, creating ‘slack tides’. It’s definitely worth a stop if you’re in the area, though you may have to wait for most of the day to see the event.
- Hiking is a prominent feature of a New Brunswick — at least for three seasons — and one of the most popular hikes in the province is up the Sussex Bluffs! The 2.2 kilometre is a fairly difficult one, but the view at the top is the reward. If you’ve an outdoorsy teen, then the Sussex Bluffs is a challenge they’ll welcome.
- While in Sussex, you should probably check out the Sussex Murals, these are numerous wall paintings done by different artists and each tell a different story. Their beauty and uniqueness is what makes Sussex the “mural capital of Atlantic Canada”.
- If you or your teenager(s) enjoy birding, then Sackville’s Waterfowl Park is the place to go. Located near the border with Nova Scotia, Sackville Waterfowl Park is home to dozens of different species of birds, as well as Canada geese, ducks and the occasional muskrat. Bring your cameras, zoom lenses and binoculars. There is also a 3km boardwalk which takes you around the outside of the park and one very popular section which cuts through the middle. A great day out can be followed up by a milkshake from Mel’s, the famous 1950s diner in the centre of town.
- If you and your teenager wish to spend some outdoor time together, camping and hiking, then the Dobson Trail becomes available to you — a 57.75km trail, it’s not for the faint of heart if you’re going to try and hike it all. Beginning in Riverview, New Brunswick and continuing on to the Eastern Boundary of Fundy National Park, it’s the perfect week-long-or-more hiking adventure in New Brunswick.
- Visit one of the coastal tips of New Brunswick at Cape Enrage. Gigantic cliffs overlook the churning water and (of course), there’s the Cape Enrage Lighthouse. If you’re looking for a seaside view in NB, Cape Enrage is the place to take your teenager to show off the enormous power of the ocean. If you want more thrill, zip line!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHqcfuQIjn4 - If you’re staying in the city of Moncton and looking for things to do indoors, visit FitRocks Climbing Gym on Baig Boulevard. There is a variety of different climbing apparatuses to suit different confidence and competence levels. “Drop-In Passes” are $18 for adults and $16 for students, this is sure to be hours of fun for you and your teenager.
- If you are looking for a neat little place to spend an afternoon in Moncton, then the Resurgo Museum is the place to be. You and your teenager can learn about the history of the area, with well-informed staff and also experience Moncton as it was during the Second World War, with different historical exhibits on display. “Resurgo” is Latin for “rise again”, and is the city’s motto. <
- If your kids love aquariums, then be sure to take them to the New Brunswick Aquarium and Marine Centre in Shippagan in the north of the province. Whales, sharks and even seals can be found at the aquarium, there is also a seal show — which is really worth sticking around for.
- Another trip back in time for your teenager is in order at the New Brunswick Railway Museum. While trains still make up an integral part of the Canadian transportation landscape, New Brunswick has a railway tale of its own to tell. A great place to spend an afternoon just half an hour outside of Moncton.
- Fort Beausejour is located in Aulac, near the New Brunswick/Nova Scotia border. Again harkening back to New Brunswick’s military history, the old fortifications are still in place and there are always knowledgeable staff handy. The area is largely open with great views of the Bay of the Fundy below. For those teenagers interested in military history, Fort Beausejour is one stop on your NB history tour.
- Discover brilliant architecture from the New Brunswick side of the Confederation Bridge, a bridge built in the mid-90s and opened in 1997 to connect New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island. The Bridge and nearby Cape Tormentine bring thousands of visitors to the eastern shores of New Brunswick each year. Be one of the!
- Canoe down the Nepisguit River with a tour guide! If your teenager loves being out on the water, then the Nepisguit River is sure to suffice. You’ll get a taste of First Nations history, as you travel down a thousand-year trade route of the Mi’kmaq peoples, with a commentary by your guide of the stories, myths and lore of the river.
- Swimming! New Brunswick is awash with opportunities to swim. None better than Moosehorn Falls in Fundy National Park. Fundy is home to many swimming opportunities, but those at Moosehorn are particularly special as they have been carved by the water to form a circular pool, almost like a hot tub. Bring your bathing suits and jump right in.
- Experience the beauty of northern New Brunswick at Pabineau Falls. Located near Bathurst, Pabineau Falls in Pabineau First Nation has to be a stop on any trip in the area. There are many viewing points where the churning waters slalom between massive rock formations, the scenery in the backdrop simply adds to the experience. Best visited in the fall to catch those autumn colours.
- New River Beach Provincial Park is one of the lesser-known, but apparently just-as-popular provincial parks in New Brunswick. From the kayaking opportunities in the Bay of Fundy to the boardwalks above the beach through boggy marshes, to the sweeping cliff hikes of Barnaby Head, New River Beach is the place to take your teenager for a beachside outdoor adventure weekend.
- Visit the summer home of the 32nd President of the United States,Franklin D. Roosevelt. Campobello Island is where the 34-room cottage has been preseved as a museum by the US and Canadian Governments, telling of the life and times of FDR before he became President. If your teenager is interested in history, then FDR’s home away from home is sure to be a hit.
- Interested in a< family outing learning about woodworking? Visit Kerry O’Toole’s gallery and woodworking shop near Saint John. The Gallery featuring many different wood carvings that Kerry has created over the last several decades. From headboards and bed-frames to intricately-designed “Celtic Foxes”< and even wood-carved loons.
- Take a walk in the woods in Fredericton’s Odell Park. Yet another a fantastic example of an escape from the city whilst still being in the city, Odell Park is home to a great many cycling, hiking and walking trails of relative ease, for you and your teenagers to enjoy. If you’re staying in the city for any length of time, check out Odell Park.
- Covered bridges are something relatively unique to Canada and particularly to New Brunswick — Hartland Covered Bridge would make a fantastic stop on a road trip around NB. It’s a National Historic Site and is the longest covered bridge in the world. Be sure to mark your stop there with a photo!
- Stay beside the seaside in Bouctouche, NB and visit the Irving Eco-Centre! Funded by the Irving Family, the goal of the Eco-Centre is to promote ecological stability and help preserve the shoreside of Bouctouche while doing so. The meandering boardwalk only adds to the appeal of the place. There are educational opportunities, too, or just a great walk by the sea to satisfy you and the family.
- Take a walk in Irishtown Nature Park, located in Moncton. Irishtown Nature Park offers plenty of animals and birds to see and kilometre-after-kilometre of stone-packed , wide, multi-use trails. Another outdoor option for those visiting the city.
- Chocolate? Everyone loves chocolate! And your teenager will definitely appreciate it — so pay a visit to St. Stephen, on the border with Maine and visit the Chocolate Museum! The museum is housed in what used to be original Ganong candy factory where visitors can learn about the history of candy-making in St. Stephen and even get a taste of the chocolate and candy produced there. A great outing to satisfy the teenage tastebuds.
- Safaris are cool, right? Well, they most definitely are if you’re looking for bears! The “Little, Big Bear Safari” in Acadieville presents a unique opportunity to maybe spot some black bears! Bring a camera, a long lens and a good eye for spotting wildlife.
- Although we’ve already covered some botany, by far one of the best places to see all of the beautiful flora of this province is the New Brunswick Botanical Gardens in Edmundston. The Gardens themselves are visually stunning,< but there is also a Butterflies of the World pavilion and an educational tour from a professional herbalist. Herbal tea is served as well, if you’re looking for a day in the beauty of nature, the Botanical Gardens are on your list.
- Is your teenager into politics? Be sure to visit the Legislative Assembly Building in Fredericton, where the politics of the province takes place. There are free tours offered throughout the year and it’s a great place for your teenager to take an interest in the municipal and provincial political happenings.
- Looking to take in a stage show? Moncton’s Capitol Theatre can help you with that! Restored in the 1920s, the Capitol Theatre is one of few remaining stage shows in New Brunswick today that still operates as such — if your looking to get your teenager out of the movie theatre and into the play theatre, then Moncton’s Capitol Theatre is a great choice.
- Bird sanctuaries are relatively uncommon in New Brunswick, despite the large population of different aviary, but one bird sanctuary stands out — Mary’s Point Bird Sanctuary near Harvey is something of a hidden gem. If you are in the area, you and your teenager will love the birdspotting at Mary’s Point. Bring a camera, long lens and binoculars!
- If your teenager is looking for a way to get underground, then caving is an ever-growing popular sport in New Brunswick, with three different types of caves in the province to choose from. Though sandstone are the only ones worth your while as others are unexplored. White Cave in Hillsborough is the deepest and longest cave in the province, at 515 metres — if you are going to attempt caving, please go with an experienced professional guide, or if you are sufficiently confident in your own abilities, ensure to bring all necessary safety gear and take necessary precautions.
- Skiing is always a popular winter activity in New Brunswick, whether your teenager loves the slopes or the woods, there’s plenty to offer. Crabbe Mountain should be first on your list of skiing destinations. It provides fantastic downhill skiing for all levels of skier, as well as a skiing lessons for those less confident on the slopes.
- Perhaps the most popular destination, however, is that of Poley Mountain. After a fire destroyed the lodge in 2014, Poley has reopened and the resort is more popular than ever. The resort incorporates fine dining and lodging into its vacation packages, but is also open for those who just wish to spend the day on the slopes.
- Snowmobiling is great fun for your teenager, too. You’re able to see a great deal in a short space of time and it allows travel to places otherwise impassable. Snowmobile trails really are aplenty in New Brunswick, but some of the best are located in Nepisguit, near Bathurst.
- Snowshoeing is a popular winter sport right across Canada, but here in New Brunswick you’ll find a diverse network of snowshoeing trails — any hiking trail can become a snowshoeing trail, but one of the best snowshoeing trails is that of the Terry Fox Trail which circles Sugarloaf Mountain. If your teenager is a keen outdoorsperson, whatever the season, then the Terry Fox Trail is there for your enjoyment!
- Take your snowshoes and visit the Parlee Brook Ampitheatre trail, a 2.98km one-way trail through a dense valley in the woods just south of Sussex. What makes the trail majestic is the ice that forms on the trees and the rocks, leaving gigantic icicles hanging. This awe-inspiring sight is not to be missed during your teenager’s Christmas Break from school.
- On the backdrop of Parlee Brook, there are the Midland Ice Caves. These caves are stunning in the winter, particularly on colder, sunnier days as the light dances off the ice formations. The formations also provide an interesting climbing experience, if you wish, as you traverse down into the valley below. Not to be missed, these ice caves are a unique experience for the teenage soul during the winter months.
- Stonehammer GeoPark is a fantastic place to visit for anyone with an interest in geology! Located in Saint John, the GeoPark features walking trails where one gets to explore the geology of the Saint John region and be outdoors at the same time. It’s educational as well as insightful — there are rock formations at the GeoPark from Morocco and ancient Pangea! What’s not to love? If your teenager has any interest in geology, then Stonehammer is the place to go.
- Get your teen more in touch with the history of New Brunswick with a visit to the Provincial Archives in Fredericton. The majestic old building plays host to centuries-old documents which tell of the rich history of New Brunswick and the people who were instrumental in making it the province it is today.
- Is your teen a big of apples? Well, apple-picking is a great way to spend a fall afternoon! Belliveau Orchards in Memramcook are one of the most popular spots to pick apples to eat, or make apple pie with. They also sell apple cider. Support a local NB business and have fun at the same time at Belliveau Orchards.
- Pay a visit to Black’s Harbour! This tiny village in Charlotte County more than makes up for it’s small size in what it has to offer. The charming coastal village has a fantastic array of seafood and is also home to the Connor Brother’s Nature Preserve — it is also most famous for the Pea Point Island Lighthouse, where spectacular views of the Fundy Bay make the town a prominent stop of any visitor’s itinerary.
- Metepenagiag Heritage Park offers a unique experience of the New Brunswick Mi’kmaq culture that has survived in the region for 3,000 years. For those wishing to learn more about the history of the province pre-colonization, Metepenagiag Heritage Park is a great place to start. It has a wide array of trails to walk, as well as a village dedicated to the history of the Mi’kmaq peoples. A fascinating day well spent for any teenager with a keen interest in history.
New Brunswick is a great place to grow up in, or to visit — perhaps even moreso if you’re a teenager. The province provides you with every excuse to get outside and enjoy it! Or, indeed, stay inside and still enjoy it. Being a teen in New Brunswick is awesome, and with this list at your disposal, you’ll be able to enjoy it even more.
Great information. Thank you