17-Nights Atlantic Canada Road Trip | Coastal Quest — CALL

Many travelers miss downtown Moncton, 115 mi/185 km east of Fredericton, because they stop on the TransCanada Highway at the Magnetic Hill—a naturally occurring perceptual illusion that will have you convinced your car is rolling uphill—it even looks like the stream is flowing uphill.

Or they visit the adjacent Magnetic Hill Zoo (with tigers, lions and camels) or the Magic Mountain Water Park (waterslides and other theme-park attractions). Some even come for the Tidal Bore on the Petiticodiac River, but, unfortunately, its name is all too accurate. The bore is a wall of water that moves upstream at high tide, but it's not worth waiting around to see.

There's more to Moncton, however. Kids love the Crystal Palace amusement park, which has a carnival atmosphere year-round. The University of Moncton is the province's major French-language college—it's like a minitrip to a Paris university. Its museum and art gallery are the main attractions for visitors. The city has plenty of shops downtown and at suburban malls, or grab a snack or drink at one of the downtown cafes.

Moncton is a good base for a couple of day trips, too. The Rocks Provincial Park (Hopewell Cape) is where you'll find the famous "flowerpots"—eroded rock pillars that have trees growing on top of them. Be aware that if you go at high tide—which, at 55 ft/17 m, is very high, indeed—you won't be able to walk on the beach at the rocks' base—it's underwater then. (You can also rent a kayak and see the flowerpots from the sea.)

Another popular area near Moncton is Parlee Beach, in Shediac, known for its warm water, lobster and annual sand-sculpture contest.

Among the Moncton area's notable events are the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival (June and July) and the World Wine and Food Expo (late fall).

The small town of Twillingate, 170 mi/275 km north of St. John's, is on an island off the north shore of Newfoundland and Labrador—you can reach it by causeway.

Twillingate is a good place to see icebergs in the early summer. The Long Point Lighthouse is a great vantage point for watching them float by—it's also good for spying whales. Twillingate also features a wide, striking harbor.

While in town, visit the Twillingate Museum (eclectic collection of artifacts from the area) and the Prime Berth Historic Fishing Centre. The fishing center has more than you ever wanted to know about the industry, as well as an interesting gift shop.

In July, Twillingate hosts the Fish, Fun and Folk Festival, with music, dancing, storytelling, seafood and crafts.

Fogo Island, home to a series of scenic and remote fishing villages, is nearby and can be reached via a 45-minute ferry ride from Farewell.