Summer Of The Beach-2017 edition

Shoulder surgery has forced me to quash my adventurous side and come up with new ways to keep myself content and still feed my inner travel beast.

I believe I have successfully done this by hunting out new beaches and visiting old favorites.  I have been rather successful judging from my tan.  Here are some to check out if you need a place to swim and soak up some rays in summers to come.

NOVA SCOTIA

A summer time classic where I am from. Marble Mountain Beach.

Located on the Bra’ d Or Lake in Cape Breton follow highway 4 from Port Hawkesbury turn off to onto County line road in Cleveland toward Marble Mountain.. Local park supported by the community,  change rooms wharf pit toilets, $3 access. roped off swimming area. unsupervised beach.

Dundee beach

Also on the Bra d’ Or Lake opposite side of the west end of the lake. Pea gravel sand lots of rocky areas but go to where locals are gathered they know where the sandy parts are. Good swimming here no facilities.

Tignish Dock Provincial Park

Just across the New Brunswick border and on the north shore of Nova Scotia.  Historically significant provincial park. sand reddish and  mucky lots of shells so wear water shoes but water was warm. I only waded here.

PEI

Argyle Shores Provincial Park

On the south coast of PEI, a bit muddy, red sand warm water but I only waded out into the water. Nice for walking along and great for photography with red cliffs and rocks outcrops. Good bird watching, it is a nesting spot of cliff swallows.

Cavendish Beach, PEI National Park.

Inside the National Park, It is a great swimming beach but it is the ocean so cold and  some under tow here depending on the season  maybe Jelly fish too. Facilities in the camp ground.

Stanhope Beach, PEI National Park

Also Inside the PEI National Park but further east down the coast line.  great swimming  walking and bird watching.  sunsets were amazing. Facilities in campground across the road.  National Park fee access, free in 2017.

NEW BRUNSWICK

Murray Beach

Murray’s beach along Acadian coast along the 955 from Cape Jourimain considered some of the warmest water beach IN New Brunswick.  Good camping kayaking lots of shoreline to walk. Fee to use beach or camp.

 Fundy Beach, Fundy National Park

I was following a hiking trail from Point Wolf campground and found a trail leading to this beach. there was some young men swimming but being it is the Fundy Bay so be aware of the tide and currents.

Kelly’s Beach, Kouchibouquac National Park

Lovely swimming beach warm beautiful soft sand beach.  Piping Plovers nest her in the dunes. Inside Kouchibouquac National Park, free day use in 2017 #canada150

Irvine Eco Center beach

Great wildlife viewing area and beach access  from the boardwalk via stairs in several locations.  looked like a swimming beach to me. free. change rooms, canteen information booth and parking is across the road.

Kilarney Lake Beach

My go to beach from home.  Only 10 minutes from downtown Fredericton follow St Mary’s road north just past the Kilarney Lake rotary lodge.  Lots of hiking trails great swimming, lifeguard soft sand change rooms and outdoor pit toilets and big trees for shade when it gets too hot.  Plenty of parking free admission

Crystal Beach

Heard about this place from a lady that told me about the cuts quarry.  Nice small pebble beach,  $5 entrance fee family run campground that is a bit run down but there is an outdoor pub which is nice for an afternoon cocktails.  water is tidal so salty but no jelly fish because it is the lower saint John river.  Water was cool and refreshing . Take the free ferry across from Grand Bay-Westfield follow the 845 toward Kingston just 5 minutes up the road.

Grand lake.

Take 105 turn left at McGowans Corner  follow 690 to Grand Lake beautiful area lots of season cottage and campers.  Limited parking on shoulder of road, water is fresh water, rocky in area I was wearing water shoes but water was pleasantly warm. no facilities free

Dominion Park Beach, Saint John, NB

On the lower saint John river, Tidal so salty and gorgeous beach.  well managed clean change rooms a snack bar and I was told you can bring your own cooler. Lots of parking life guard on site.  Follow Green Head Road to Dominion Park Road. Free.

The Cuts Quarry; A Swimming Hole Secret.. Cambridge Narrows

Directions

Turn off TransCanada hwy at exit 339,  turn left on 715 toward Cambridge Narrow, follow 695, turn left on East Scotch Settlement road.  Look for two large boulders marking the entrance to the quarry on the left. Free. Clean clear fresh cool. Water gravel beach. No facilities. Bring a cooler the crowd here are local friends that come for the day.

Long Beach, The Fundy Trail Parkway

The sign says NO SWIMMING, three reasons to come see it.One the view, two the The Fundy Trail and three it is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites Stonehammer Geopark Saint John, and Unesco Fundy Bioshere reserve are  just some of the reasons you come here.  Inside Fundy Trail Park, which has an $8.50 entrance fee (2017). There is picnic tables and interpretive center plenty of parking and first segment of the fund foot trail ends here.

St Martins Beach

In the village of St Martins just down the beach from the  famous caves beach is beach road that takes you to this wonderful place.  small stoney beach great for walking and the rhythmic surf will sooth you into peace. I saw fire pits not sure if people swim here. free. No facilities.

Mactaquac Provincial Park Beach

Sorry no photo.  Inside the park entrance fee required.  Park is  lovely in all seasons and I frequently come here. although not for the beach so much. white coarse sand,  water is upper Saint John River reddish  with tannin so its dark water which I personally don’t like. but it is a  supervised beach with life guards you can still lay in the sun shine.  large trees for shade clean change rooms .  Hwy 102  follow signs for Mactaquac provincial Park.

Hope you enjoy the beach this summer.

happy travels from Maritime Mac