HOW TO SPEND THREE DAYS ON GRAND MANAN ISLAND

Last updated: September 21, 2023

It’s a beautiful summer day, so we decide to spend some time on Grand Manan Island, in New Brunswick, Canada. It’s the largest island in the Bay of Fundy, where the tides rise and fall more than 16 meters (52 feet) each day, higher than anywhere else in the world!

The island’s size is 655 km² (253 sq miles), and 2,595 residents lived here in 2021. In addition, Reader’s Digest Canada voted Grand Manan Island as one of World’s 7 Best Small Islands in 2018.

Grand Manan Island has a lot of great things to do for everyone! From watching the sunset at a cliff, hiking, looking for sea glass, visiting museums and art galleries, and so much more, it never gets boring here! So here’s the ultimate guide on how to spend three days on Grand Manan Island. 😀

Day 1: Ferry ride, Anchorage Provincial Park, and a Cliff Sunset

We take the ferry in Blacks Harbour, and hope to see some wildlife, so we walk right up to the deck. Some animals who call this area home are puffins and other seabirds, porpoises, minkes, humpbacks, and the rare North Atlantic Right Whale. Although we don’t see any nearby, we love the picturesque ocean scenery, and even spot a bunch of little islands.

So our trip is off to a great start, and suddenly, some fishing weirs and a lighthouse, the gateways to Grand Manan Island’s North Head village, appear in the distance.

Our first stop is the Surfside Motel (123 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 1A4), where we’re staying tonight. It’s been around for more than 40 years, and has 22 nice, standard rooms, with one or two beds. I love hanging out on the lawn with picnic chairs in the back of the building, and admire the view of Stanley’s Beach, Long Island, and Flagg’s Cove.

Then we relax at Anchorage Provincial Park (136 Anchorage Road, Grand Manan, NB E5G 2H4) for a bit. This spot has a scenic sand beach, and offers tons of hiking and cycling trails, picnic areas, and is home to the Grand Manan Migratory Bird Sanctuary. 

It’s also a popular camping spot, and provides “picturesque campground vistas”, according to the Official 2019 Explore New Brunswick Travel Guide.

Soon the brisk and clean marine air makes us hungry, so we head to the Compass Rose Heritage Inn (65 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 1A2) for dinner. It was established in the early 20th century as a post and telegraph office. Their dining room is equipped with antique furniture, and guests can watch the Bay of Fundy and the buzzing North Head fishing harbour from their table.

Like many restaurants on the Canadian east coast, their specialty dish is lobster. But tonight my travel buddies are in the mood for haddock, and I order a vegetarian curry pasta dish. Everything’s super yummy, and we’re very happy with the service!

It’s getting late now, but that doesn’t stop us from driving to Southwest Head Lighthouse (2571 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 4H4) on the opposite end of the island.

According to the Official 2019 New Brunswick Travel Guide, this is the “best sunset spot” for Instagrammers, and guess what, they know their stuff!

Day 2: Farmers Market, Swallow Tail Lighthouse, and Grand Manan Art Gallery

In the morning, we check out Grand Manan’s Farmers Market (1021 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 4E5) at the old North Head Hall. This event has been around since 1984, and happens every Saturday from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm from Canada Day (July 1) until Labour Day weekend in September.

There’s a variety of awesome handmade goodies to find, like jewelry, beauty products, arts, crafts, books, and baked foods. As a local economy supporter, I can’t resist buying some earrings for my mom, and cat nip for Lemmy, my friend Steffi’s cat.

Our next stop is Swallow Tail Lighthouse (50 Lighthouse Road, Grand Manan, NB E5G 2A3), one of Grand Manan’s most popular tourist attractions. It was completed in 1860 on an isolated peninsula in North Head, and is operated by the Swallow Tail Keepers Society, a non-profit organization.

It’s still an active lighthouse today, although there’s no light keeper, as it was automated in 1986. We need to walk a bunch of concrete stairs, then across a wooden bridge, before arriving at the lighthouse, but it was 100% worth it!

There’s also a walking path, but be careful, as the entire peninsula is framed by rocky cliffs, that are more than 30 meters (100 feet) high! A bunch of picnic tables and benches are available, if you need a break. Besides, Swallow Tail Lighthouse is supposed to be perfect for watching the sun or moon rise, and lighthouse tours can be booked on request.

As of July 29, 2023, the Swallow Tail Lighthouse Peninsula, which includes the lighthouse and walking path, are currently closed until further notice, because of construction on site.

But the Gift Shop is staying open until the end of the summer, where you can find lots of unique items! Please find more details on their Facebook page.

The front of Swallow Tail Lighthouse, looking at the bay from the top, and items for sale at the Gift Shop. The latter is photo courtesy of Andrea Kelter.

After this exciting morning we have lunch at The Old Well House Café (56 Route 776, Grand Manan NB, E5G 1A1), a quirky local café, and we stuff ourselves with Blueberry muffins, nachos with hummus, and a cuppa Joe, of course! Everything is very good!

You can sit inside or on their outside patio, and they often host live music and comedy nights!

Next, we want to soak up more local culture at the Grand Manan Art Gallery (21 Cedar Street, Grand Manan, NB E5G 2C3), established in 1993, and operated by the Grand Manan Historical Society. It shows artwork by artists from Grand Manan Island, the Bay of Fundy region, or further away.

This tourist attraction is open from June to late September, every day of the week. The admission is C$ 2.00 per person, and it’s also fully wheelchair accessible.

My favourites are Wendy Moore’s “Flowers” painting (it’s similar to Sean’s painting style), and Marie-Paule Paulin’s “Misty Morning” and “Sunset”, as I think it represents the laid-back lifestyle often found in the Maritimes.

Then we check in to Pa’s Place & Beach Front Cottages (70 Red Point Road, Grand Manan, NB E5G 4J2), our accommodation for the next two nights. It’s further down the island, in Seal Cove. This place was founded in 1912, and guests can either stay in the 2-floor main building, or one of their private cabins.

Our cabin has two bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, living room, bathroom, and a porch with BBQ. Another bonus is the private Seal Cove sand beach, only a few foot steps away.

It’s quieter than last night’s accommodation, as it’s further away from the main road, so later, all we can hear while falling asleep is the soothing sound of the ocean.

The cabins from the outside, partial living room and kitchen at our cabin, and Seal Cove sand beach. The first two are photo courtesy of Pa’s Place & Beach Front Cottages.

Day 3: Grand Manan Museum, Southwest Head Cliffs, and Bill’s Beatles Collection

The next day, we tour the Grand Manan Museum (1141 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 4E9), another popular attraction. They intend to teach visitors about the 200-year old rich, maritime heritage of Grand Manan Island, especially the fishing industry.

The museum exhibit features various displays of natural and human history, e.g. Fisherman’s Shed Exhibit, Upper and Lower Marine Gallery, and Communications Exhibit, with an old telephone, typewriter, and post office desk.

My favourite is the wall painting of marine creatures though, as it must have taken a long time and talent to put it together! At the entrance of the museum, there’s a gift shop, too, with soap, jewelry, printed and painted artwork, and birthday cards for sale.

Wall painting of marine creatures and vessel replica used around Grand Manan Island in the late 19th century.

You can also check out their outside exhibits, e.g. “A Walk through time”, that shows photos of the early settlement and social and economic development of the island, or the Deep Cove School House. It’s Grand Manan’s longest running one-room school house, from 1889 to 1947.

Lastly, don’t miss the nearby sign post, to learn how far away certain places are from the island!

The Grand Manan Museum is open seasonally (mid June to late September), Monday-Saturday, from 9 am to 5 pm. Between October and May, the museum is open by appointment only.

Next, we go to Southwest Head Lighthouse one more time, to enjoy the stunning view off its rock cliffs during the day. If you feel adventurous, several hiking trails can be accessed through here, but be careful, as the cliffs are 60 meters (200 feet) high!

As we continue driving back on the main road, we suddenly spot a white and yellow house, that has The Beatles painted on it! It turns out it’s Bill’s Beatles Collection (1844 Route 776, Grand Manan NB E5G 3H2), an impressive selection of Beatles memorabilia from the past 60 years!

Owner Bill Dickinson’s personal Beatles collection includes posters, instruments the band played, mugs, records, t-shirts, pins, movies, action figures, cassettes, guitar picks, toys, pillows, magazines, and more!

Bill’s Beatles Collection is open Thursday to Monday and admission is by donation. Bill will be happy to tell you tons of Beatles stories, including him seeing them live in concert in Montreal in 1964!

Other Things to See and Do on Grand Manan

Unfortunately, three days are not enough to see everything on Grand Manan Island. So here are a few more attractions that sound really awesome:

Sea Watch Whale and Seabird Watching Tours (S C Breakwater Road, Grand Manan, NB E5G 4H4). This business was founded by Captain Peter Wilcox and his wife Kenda in 1969, and their tours are a great way to meet some marine animals living in this area.

Their 5 ½ hour “Puffin – Machias Seal Island” tour takes guests to a nearby sea bird sanctuary. Often sighted birds on the way and the island are puffins, razorbill auks, common murres, as well as eider ducks and black guillemots.

Their whale watching tour takes 4 to 5 ½ hours, depending on the whales’ location, and can be booked from early July to late September.

The coolest thing is whale sightings are guaranteed, or your tour is free!

Adventure High Sea Kayak Tours (83 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 1A2). This local business has been known for their guided eco-friendly adventure tours since 1989.

Their tours can be booked for a half, full, or multiple days, and include experiences like a Kayak Tour & Dinner on the beach, island hopping, and enjoying a bonfire by the beach. All tours include basic paddling and safety instructions, and kayak and safety equipment.

The multi-day tours also include accommodation and meals. Adventure High also offers Specialty tours (e.g. painting, photography, and yoga, in addition to sea kayaking, of course!), a paddling school, cabin/cottage accommodation, and bike rentals. These services can be booked from May-October.

You can also book Atlantic tours in Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, Polar Kayaking Adventures in Antarctica, and Tropical Kayaking Adventures in Florida, Honduras, and the Bahamas! 

The Grand Manan Whale and Seabird Research Station (24 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB E5G 1A1). This small natural history museum sounds perfect for people eager to know more about the marine conservation of the Bay of Fundy and the animals living in it.

Their displays include whales, seabirds, seals, sharks, and fish, and you can symbolically adopt a North Atlantic Right Whale! You’ll also learn why these amazing creatures are endangered, and the efforts to protect them, as well as the Harbour Porpoise Release Program.

This museum is open daily from late spring to early fall from 9:30 to 5 pm. There’s no admission charge, but donations are always appreciated!

Numerous little islands. An example of an island close to Grand Manan Island is Whitehead Island, the only island with a year-round population. It’s accessible via a free ferry from Ingalls Head, or boat, and is known for its sandy beaches, salt marsh and the Longpoint Lighthouse.

Cheney Island is privately owned and apparently, is haunted by “Old Man Cheney”, the ghost of its first settler.

Ross Island is where the first settlers of the United Empire Loyalists landed in 1784, and the remains of Fish Fluke Point Lighthouse and their stone foundations can still be visited. During low tide, these islands are connected, and so you can enter it by foot!

More details about these and other islands can be found on the Grand Manan Tourism website. 

The Grand Manan Island Fest from August 5-7, 2023. Last year, it included an exercise extravaganza with music and drones, car show, food trucks, fireworks, and children’s activities.

Look for sea glass. Lots of beaches within the Bay of Fundy are fantastic spots to find sea glass, which includes Grand Manan Island. Most of these little treasures are formed by pieces of glass bottles that people threw into the ocean many years ago. Over time, their sharp edges become smooth.

The most common colours are white, brown, and green, but you can sometimes find blue, red, purple, turquoise ones as well. The best spot to find sea glass on Grand Manan Island is Pettes Cove in North Head, near the Ferry Terminal and Swallow Tail Lighthouse.

How to Get to Grand Manan Island

From the Canadian side (by car): Drive to Blacks Harbour (35 minutes outside of Saint John), then take the ferry to Grand Manan Island. Please find the most current ferry schedule here.

The journey takes about 1.5 hours, and the cost per car is C$ 39.25 for non residents, excluding the driver, per trip. Passengers and other modes of transportation are welcome as well. There’s a cafeteria on board, which is famous for their seafood chowder! You can find more details on the ferry service here.

From the US side (by car): First, take I-95 to Bangor, Maine, then head East on Rte. 9 to Calais, to enter Canada. Then go East on Highway 1 for about 35 minutes, and take exit 60 to Blacks Harbour. From there, take the same ferry to Grand Manan Island. 

During the summer, reservations are highly recommended, and passengers need to check in at Blacks Harbour maximum 45 minutes before the ferry departs.

As there’s no public transportation on Grand Manan Island, it’s recommended to have your own mode of transportation, like a (rental) car, motorcycle, or bicycle.

If you need to fly to New Brunswick first, the closest commercial airport is Saint John (YSJ), which is reachable via Toronto Pearson International Airport and Montreal International Airport.

Grand Manan Island is also accessible via private vessel, as long as you arrive at one of the commercial wharves (North Head, Ingalls Head, Seal Cove, and White Head). 

Grand Manan Island also has a 1,000 meter (3,280 ft) long airstrip for private plane landings.

My Opinion on Grand Manan Island

As everyone knows, vacations always end too soon, but the memories stay with you for a long time. So we don’t know whether to be happy or sad when leaving Grand Manan Island the next day. What made this getaway special?

I especially liked learning about Swallow Tail Lighthouse, witnessing the spectacular sunset at Southwest Head, walking on Seal Cove sand beach, and the great shopping! The locals we met made us feel welcome, such as by offering their help if needed.

Although Grand Manan Island is a popular destination, the roads weren’t crowded, and it’s obvious that authorities care about keeping the island clean.

Another reason to travel to this island is to appreciate its unspoiled nature, e.g. by looking at the water, collecting sea glass, hiking, cycling, kayaking, or whale watching. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a history and culture enthusiast, beach fan, outdoorsy traveler, or interested in wildlife.

In addition, Grand Manan Island offers a great variety of places to stay and eat. Also, it’s a perfect spot to relax and recharge from city life, but it’s got everything you need to have a great vacation.

Spending time in the Maritimes for a bit longer? Then check out these posts:

The 16 Best Things to Do in Fredericton, NB

Is Halifax, Nova Scotia Worth Visiting in 2024? (Guest Post for Veggies Abroad)

Disclosure: I only recommend products that I’ve used in the past, and all opinions expressed in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of the links throughout the page to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks.

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