Fall at its best: celebrate the season in colourful New Brunswick

 Crisp fall air + warm Acadian charm = the perfect autumn getaway

Winding, uncrowded coastal roads and Mother Nature’s annual fall display – what a great combo for a fall driving holiday.  Add the fascinating history of the hard-working and hospitable Acadian people of northern New Brunswick, and you have the recipe for a great getaway.

The Acadian Coastal Tour, a 5-night self-drive getaway from Maxxim Vacations, offers the perfect blend of stunning scenery and the vibrant, historic communities that celebrate the culture of New Brunswick’s French heritage.

 This part of North America was inhabited by French settlers over 400 years ago and to this day their influence remains in the language, music and museums of the area. On any must-do list is a visit to the Acadian Historic Village. This is the perfect example of the passion to preserve and promote Acadian culture and heritage. The 8,000 artifacts held at the Village make it one of the most prestigious and complete collections relating to the Maritimes Acadian material civilization from 1770 to 1900.

“A huge highlight for many of our clients is Shediac Bay Cruises,” says Julie Curran of Maxxim Vacations. “You actually get to catch a lobster and learn how to cook and eat it. It’s an unforgettable and delicious experience…done the Acadian way!”  Lobster season runs through to the first week in October.

Also included in the tour is admission to the Acadian Historic Village; Le Pays de la Sagouine; and the famous Hopewell Rocks, the site of the world’s highest tides.  As you travel along the rural roads of the Acadian Coast, there’s lots of time to pause in towns and villages, sampling Acadian cuisine including traditional meat pies (and fresh seafood, naturellement), and enjoy the joie de vivre of this historic culture. Late summer and early fall are a wonderful time to immerse yourself in a tranquil environment and take in the breathtaking colours of autumn. 

The package also includes round trip airfare to Moncton, rental car with unlimited kilometres, five nights’ accommodation in small hotels, country inns and B+Bs, admission to attractions – and an authentically warm Acadian welcome.  The tour is priced from $1,099 (plus taxes) including airfare from Toronto. (Other cities, please see below.)

Complete tour details and prices from other departure cities are available at www.maxximvacations.com; or call them for personalized travel planning anywhere in Atlantic Canada at 1-800-567-6666. 

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From prices, per person double, excluding taxes:

Montreal       $1,189

Ottawa         $1,099

Winnipeg       $1,469

Saskatoon      $1,509

Edmonton      $1,519

Calgary         $1,519

Vancouver     $1,619

Since its founding in 1990, Maxxim Vacations has earned a solid reputation as a leader in the Canadian tour business, featuring a host of independent and escorted tours in Atlantic Canada. Maxxim’s hand-crafted holidays are its trademark, and the company works in partnership with suppliers to provide independent travellers with unforgettable experiences. With Maxxim, it’s not just transportation and accommodation: it’s also unique activities, the chance to mingle with the locals and experience the many flavours of Atlantic Canada.  The company is owned and operated by Newfoundlander Jill Curran and is headquartered at 39 Pippy Place, St. John’s, NL A1B 3X2.