Strait Shores
Strait Shores is a rural area in Southeastern New Brunswick near the Nova Scotia border, fronting on the Northumberland Strait. The largest community in the area is small village of Port Elgin.
Understand
Port Elgin was founded by Acadians in 1690, but abandoned after the Expulsion of the Acadians in 1755. Following the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War, British Loyalists resettled in the area which was named Gaspareaux Town. Gaspareaux Town was renamed Port Elgin in 1847 in honour of Lord Elgin. The community was incorporated as a village in 1922, the first community in the province to do so.
Get in
Port Elgin sits near the intersection of Routes 15 and 16, about 45 minutes east of Moncton. Route 15 connects directly to Moncton and is a slightly shorter than taking the Trans-Canada Highways. Route 16 is part of a branch of the Trans-Canada Highway, midway between Route 2 (Trans-Canada Highway main route) at Aulac and the Confederation Bridge. Route 16 in New Brunswick turns into Highway 1 in Prince Edward Island.
Get around
See
- 1 Fort Gaspareaux National Historic Site, Fort Moncton Road, pc.fortbc.pc@canada.ca. Fort Gaspareaux (later Fort Monckton) was a French fort at the head of Baie Verte near the mouth of the Gaspareaux River and just southeast of the modern village of Port Elgin, on the Isthmus of Chignecto. It was built during Father Le Loutre's War and is now a National Historic Site overlooking the Northumberland Strait.
- 2 Monro Heritage Centre, 1 Spring Street, Port Elgin, ☏ +1 506-538-2109. One of the oldest structures in Port Elgin. It has been newly renovated, and today houses a trail interpretation centre, a community museum as well as Heritage Canada displays on the history of Fort Gaspereau and the neighboring community of Baie Verte.
Do
- 1 Cape Jourimain National Wildlife Area, 5039 Route 16, Bayfield (15 min NE of Port Elgin via Route16, take exit 51), ☏ +1 506-538-2220, admin@capejourimain.ca. Cape Jourimain is the historic crossing point from New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island and at the western end of the Confederation Bridge. Consists of an outdoor wildlife area, lighthouse, and a nature centre.
- 2 Murray Beach Provincial Park, 1680 Route 955 (15 min N or Port Elgin), ☏ +1 506-538-2628. Located on Northumberland Straight with views of the Confederation Bridge. Features an unsupervised, warm saltwater and sandy beach and a campground. Nearby attractions include sea kayaking, farmers markets, lighthouses, covered bridges, festivals and historic sites.
Buy
Port Elgin has a grocery store, pharmacy, and a couple smaller shops. It also is home to Atlantic Windows, one the main employers, and has dealers throughout Atlantic Canada.
Eat & drink
- 1 Bistro Le Chat Bleu, 342 Route 970, Baie Verte, ☏ +1 506-538-0110, bistrolechatbleu@gmail.com. W 4-10PM, Th-Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 11AM-9PM.
- C & J's Family Restaurant, 10 E Main Street, Port Elgin, ☏ +1 506-538-0105.
Sleep
- 1 Indian Point Motel, 323 Fort Road, Port Elgin, ☏ +1 506-538-7586, flad@nbnet.nb.ca.
- 2 Little Shemogue Inn, 2361 Route 955, Little Shemogue, ☏ +1 506-538-2320, fax: +1 506-801-9440, inn@little-shemogue-inn.com.
Connect
Go next
| Routes through Strait Shores |
| END ← Tantramar ← | W  E |
→ Confederation Bridge → becomes  → Borden-Carleton → Charlottetown |
| Moncton ← Shédiac ← | W  E |
→ END |