Pack your basket, picnic season is here

This is the first in a series of blogs about being a tourist in your own backyard. I’ll be the first to admit, it’s difficult. You have obligations: work, school, kids, parents, and you don’t have the time to find out where to go and what to do. When you think about travelling and new experiences, you may see tropical beaches, towering mountains, glaciers, volcanoes, pyramids and so on, I know I do. But here’s the thing, you can have amazing experiences in your own backyard, right here in the Maritimes.
So let’s dive in.
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First Stop – Lepreau Falls
Picnics are a favourite outdoor activity of mine and Adam’s. We regularly venture out into parks with baskets of NB cheese, meat, fruits and veg, drinks, and music to spend an afternoon relaxing in nature, and maybe hiking or swimming. The first picnic of the season is a big deal to me, it means that spring is finally here.

In the spirit of being a tourist in my own backyard, Adam decided to introduce me to Lepreau Falls. A place he had visited, but for all the reasons in the intro I hadn’t been to yet. Lepreau Falls Provincial Park is located a half hour west of Saint John and is the Western boundary of Stonehammer Geopark. The falls of the Lepreau River cascade over 300 million year old sandstone and conglomerate rocks that have eroded to create a terraced waterfall. As far as geology is concerned, waterfalls are dynamic places with changes happening all the time.

There are a handful of picnic tables at the park and a nice boardwalk that gives you a great view of the falls. The sun was out, the birds were singing, but it was cooler than expected. No big deal, we popped the back of the car and setup our tailgate picnic.

There are a few trails that take you through the woods at the park, and if you have a good pair of boots, you can scramble down the embankment and get close to the water. The water was very high, it is spring after all. I’m told that later in the season there is more of a beach you can walk along. We’ll definitely be back this summer. Maybe I’ll see you there!
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NB Wine pairing: Gillis of Belleisle 2015 Honey Rosé
NB Beer pairing: Big Axe Brewing White Birch Porter