Coastal Adventures

A Weekend at the Beach Street Inn: Your Gateway to St. Martins

Jason Macumber

October 2, 2025

A rustic covered wooden bridge crosses a narrow stream beside a bright red house, surrounded by autumn trees and brown marsh grasses in a rural landscape.

Welcome to St. Martins

If you’re dreaming of salty breezes, sea-carved caves, and a small-town vibe that feels straight out of a storybook, St. Martins, New Brunswick, is calling. And there’s no better place to call home base than the Beach Street Inn.

This isn’t just a place to crash — it’s where St. Martins shows off its best self. Think front-row Bay of Fundy views (yes, the ones you’ll set alarms for to catch sunrise), 17 cozy-meets-luxurious rooms, and a history that goes back to 1942. The inn started as a shipbuilder’s home, and today it still carries that maritime soul, with just enough modern polish to make it feel like a seaside sanctuary.

So, let’s pack in two days of coastal adventure, postcard-perfect views, and plenty of seafood chowder.

Day 1: Harbour Strolls & Heritage Stops

Morning: Postcard Moments

Start your day with a complimentary breakfast tray. We’re talking croissants, cheeses, coffee, and tea delivered right to your room (yes, breakfast in bed counts as vacation goals).

Once fueled up, step into the heart of St. Martins. Harbour Park is pure postcard material: bobbing boats, a candy-striped lighthouse, and not one but two covered bridges. It’s one of New Brunswick’s most photographed spots, especially at low tide, when the boats are parked right on the ocean floor.

Want something more off-the-beaten path? Swing by Tynemouth Creek Covered Bridge. This single-lane wooden bridge blends into the countryside so effortlessly, you’ll swear it’s been there forever. Simple, scenic, and oh-so-photogenic.

Fishing boats rest on muddy ground beside a covered wooden bridge at low tide, with a red-and-white lighthouse, small houses, and dense green trees in the background. Power lines cross the image. — _{Harbour Park at low tide (left) and the Quaco Head Lighthouse (right) in St. Martins, New Brunswick.}

_{Harbour Park at low tide (left) and the Quaco Head Lighthouse (right) in St. Martins, New Brunswick.}

Keep the photo streak going at Quaco Head Lighthouse, where waves crash on one side and the Fundy Trail coast stretches on the other. The tower may be from 1966, but the site’s light-keeping history dates back to 1855.

Pro tip: guided walking tours are also available if you want the inside scoop on the village’s history.

Afternoon: Iconic Eats, Shopping & Culture

When hunger calls, you’ve got options. Coastal Tides Restaurant serves comfort-food favorites with a local twist (fish and chips that crunch just right, or a bowl of creamy seafood chowder). Or, keep it casual with a lobster roll from Spinney’s Seafood Market — buttery, piled-high, and famous for a reason.

A sign in front of Spinney’s Seafood Market reads “Voted #1 Lobster Roll in N.B.” The brown building has a red roof, outdoor seating, and a clear blue sky in the background. — _{Spinney’s Seafood Market, home of the legendary lobster roll.}

After lunch, wander into the Quaco Historical & Library Society Museum. This little gem takes you from St. Martins’ shipbuilding glory days to billion-year-old fossils from Stonehammer Geopark. It’s a total blast from the past. You can even see the original Fresnel lens of the Quaco Head Lighthouse up close.

Then it’s time for some small-town shopping. Pop into Authentic Bay of Fundy for handmade woodwork, swing through The Mercantile (part café, part gift shop, part “let’s take this home”), and don’t skip Not Your Average Art Studio & Store, where you can snag crafts and prints that are as quirky as they are one-of-a-kind.

Evening: Sunset & Seafood

Back at the Beach Street Inn, settle in for dinner at Periwinkles, the inn’s on-site restaurant. Start with scallops wrapped in smoky bacon, follow with haddock fishcakes (comfort food perfection), and save space for the molten lava cake. It’s a local legend, and yes, it’s worth every bite.

A chocolate dessert topped with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and a cluster of blackberries, served on a clear glass plate on a white tablecloth. — _{The legendary lava cake at Periwinkles Restaurant.}

Cap the night with a porch-side sunset. Wine glass in hand, ocean in view, worries officially on pause.

Day 2: From Parkway Peaks to Ocean Floors

Morning: Parkway Magic

Kick off the morning with a proper breakfast at Periwinkles. We’re talking eggs benedict or fluffy pancakes that’ll keep you powered for a big day out.

_{The Fundy Trail Parkway and the picturesque suspension bridge of Big Salmon River.}

Then, it’s time for the showstopper: the Fundy Trail Parkway. This 19-mile coastal drive has more wow-moments than your camera roll can handle. Start at the Fundy Trail Interpretive Centre, styled like an 1800s logging bunkhouse, where you’ll learn how more than 500 ships were crafted right here in St. Martins. Exhibits, a short film, and a boutique full of New Brunswick goods round out the stop.

As you cruise the parkway, hit the lookouts, hike the trails, and don’t miss Walton Glen Gorge (a.k.a. the “Grand Canyon of New Brunswick”) or Fuller Falls, where water tumbles down like a postcard come to life. For a mix of forest and coastline, the Hearst Lodge Trail delivers a hike that feels like stepping into another world.

Afternoon: Chowder, Beach Walks & Sea Caves

First things first: lunch. Head to The Caves Restaurant for their world-famous chowder — creamy, hearty, and loaded with haddock, lobster, and scallops. Pair it with a warm, flaky tea biscuit and you’ll be ready to tackle the afternoon.

Now, time to choose your own adventure (or better yet, do both).

Choice #1: St. Martins Beach. This isn’t just any beach. It’s a front-row seat to the Bay of Fundy’s tidal magic. At low tide, the ocean floor is yours to explore. Wander across rippled sand, hunt for sea glass, and pocket a wish rock or two. Keep an eye out for sand dollars and sea urchins scattered in the shallows. Then, stick around as the tide rolls back in. It’s like watching nature hit the reset button in real time.

Red sandstone cliffs with green trees on top, arching over a small sandy cove along a clear blue shoreline, with forest in the background under a partly cloudy sky. — _{The highs and lows of the St. Martins Sea Caves.}

A group of people walk along a rocky shore beside large red cliffs topped with trees, with a small stream running through the foreground and the ocean in the background under a clear sky. — _{The highs and lows of the St. Martins Sea Caves.}

Or, why not check out some natural wonders? Just down the way, the famous red sandstone St. Martins Sea Caves wait for their big reveal. When the tide recedes, the caves open up like massive doorways carved straight out of the cliffs. Walk inside, feel the cool sandstone walls, and let the trickling streams and tide pools remind you this landscape is alive and shifting. It’s muddy, it’s a little wild, and it’s completely unforgettable.

Summer is the easiest season to explore, but always check tide times before you go. Remember, the Bay decides the schedule here.

Evening: Sweet Treats & Starry Skies

Cool down with a scoop (or three) from Octopus Ice Cream. This colorful shop doubles as a mini art gallery, so while you debate between maple walnut or black cherry, you’ll also be soaking up local creativity.

Back at the inn, grab a signature cocktail at Henry’s Bar, then wind down around the fire pit. The night sky above, the Bay of Fundy in front of you — the perfect finale to a St. Martins weekend.

Travel Tips

Getting Here: The easiest route is flying into Saint John Airport (YSJ), about a 27-minute drive to St. Martins. Most visitors connect through Halifax, Toronto, or Montreal.
Best Season: May through October is prime time for adventures.
Bonus Experience: Visit in August and catch the Fundy Sea Shanty Festival, a celebration of sailors, music, and maritime storytelling that turns St. Martins into one giant, sea-song-filled block party.