A Weekend Getaway in the Capital City!
With warmer weather ushering in the start of Summer, we decided to take a weekend and explore as visitors would, but in our own backyard! We kicked off our glorious staycation on a sunny Friday afternoon in New Brunswick’s capital by checking into our chosen local, The Crowne Plaza Fredericton – choosing the Joyce Pub Getaway package.
The Joyce Pub
At check-in we were presented with our Stay and Play package perks which got us all excited for the weekend ahead! Our vouchers included $50 in Downtown Fredericton Dollars and a $50 credit to The Joyce Pub. With the largest selection of New Brunswick craft beer on tap – and Fredericton being Atlantic Canada’s Brewing Capital, The Joyce has become a destination amongst craft beer lovers from both near and far. That evening we happily enjoyed flights of New Brunswick’s speciality brews and had our fill of delicious eats at the cozy pub. Before leaving we picked up the #FredTapTrail map in anticipation of our weekend agenda! Check out the #FredTapTrail if you anticipate visiting any one of our many craft brew taprooms dotted around the city.
HaliMac Axe Throwing
Next stop on our evening agenda was the latest exciting activity to come to town; Axe Throwing at HaliMac, located on the city’s Northside. There, we enjoyed an hour of full-on fun and target practice, which was interlaced with musical throwbacks from the 80’s and 90’s, as well as more of Fredericton’s own craft brews! It wasn’t long before we got into the swing of things and were hitting the target with every shot! What a great time!
TrailWay Brewing Co.
With day one quickly coming to an end, we decided to scoot over to TrailWay Brewing Co. for a quick night cap before returning to our hotel for the evening. The brewery itself, which is a hotspot amongst locals, was well within walking distance from HaliMac and we enjoyed the last of a pink summery sunset on its outdoor patio. It’s also one of the stops along the #FredTapTrail for the craft beer lovers who aim to do it all while in Fredericton this summer!
Boyce Farmers Market
Mornings, as parents of toddlers know, can be earlier than you would like them to be! So, we kicked things off with breakfast in bed. With another packed agenda for our day ahead, we got an early start and hit up the local Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market. The market itself has a lively energy, with all the smells, sights, and sounds to fill your senses! We went straight for the juice stand we frequent on a regular and got our freshly squeezed OJ’s for the day.
Biking the Trails
Our afternoon’s activity was biking the local trails, so with baby trailer in tow – off we went! Fredericton has a larger-than-life trail system featuring over 120 km to explore, which is ideal for bikers; we got to ride along the scenic Wolastoq River and take in the iconic sights of the city from the picturesque Bill Thorpe Walking bridge. Of course, we had to stop along the way for some photo opportunities – which included the infamous Lighthouse on The Green, as well as one of Fredericton’s newest art installations, the vibrant mural located just off the pedway! To see more of our public art installations, check out the public art blog.
Picaroons Roundhouse
Picaroons Roundhouse is located right off the walking bridge and makes for an excellent midway pit stop for bikers and hikers alike. Who doesn’t love a cold brew on a sunny day? With their popular outdoor seating at capacity, we found ourselves enjoying the spacious and open air feeling of their newly renovated indoor seating area. There, we enjoyed a gourmet lunch provided by the folks at 540 North and of course, a flight of Picaroons brews.
Jazz Night @ The Pickle Jar
Time flies when youre having fun, so we scooted back to the city’s Southside to drop off our bikes and head back to our hotel in time for dinner. Our Saturday night destination was The Pickle Jar at The Hilton Garden Inn, as they have a great martini bar and offer live jazz music on the weekends! With gas fireplaces and heat lamps dotted around their patio, paired with great food and magical live music, the atmosphere was just enchanting – what a way to cap off our weekend! Check out this cool guide to our city’s patios!
Coffee @Tipsy Muse
In wrapping up our staycation, we found ourselves just around the corner from our hotel to grab some great coffee from The Tipsy Muse Café. With its laidback atmosphere and wide variety of caffeinated drinks to choose from, it was a nice wind down to our weekend adventure. We also picked up some vegan treats from their bakery offerings to enjoy on our ride home. It was the perfect way to wrap up a busy weekend in town, who needs a vacation when you can have a staycation like this!?
Are you planning on coming to #ExploreFredericton this Summer? If so, be sure to book your trip via our Stay & Play Packages section where various added perks will be included with your accommodations! And don’t forget to check out our blog for more suggestions to help you get the best out of your stay in our wonderful Capital!
