Three to see in Canada

This item appears on page 50 of the February 2012 issue.

I read with great interest Yvonne Michie Horn’s article on Kings Landing Historical Settlement (Dec. ’11, pg. 60). ITN readers may also like to know about the Acadian Historical Village (14311 Rte. 11, Rivière-du-Nord, N.B., E8N 2V6, Canada; 877/721-2200 — open 10-6, June 10-Sept. 22; $16 adult, $14 senior, and children six and under free).

Also in New Brunswick province, the village is near the city of Caraquet, and, similar to Kings Landing, it represents life in early French settlements along the Bay of Chaleurs on the north and along the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the east coast — an area often referred to as the French Crescent.

While English loyalists who settled near Kings Landing were mostly farmers, the French depended heavily on fishing. An excellent film shown at the nearby New Brunswick Aquarium & Marine Centre (100 Aquarium St., Shippagan, N.B., E8S 1H9, Canada; 506/336-3013 — open 10-6, June 3-Sept. 29; $8.50 adult, $6.50 senior) depicts changes in the fishing industry from early colonial days to the present.

My wife, Nenko, and I last visited the historical village and the aquarium in July or August ’08.

Those interested in gardening may want to visit what I believe to be the finest garden in eastern Canada. It’s at Grand-Métis, on the St. Lawrence River, near the city of Matane, Québec.

Formerly called the Gardens at Métis, they have been renamed Reford Gardens (200 Rte. 132, Grand-Métis, Québec, Canada; 418/775-2222 — open 8:30-6 June, July & September and 8:30-8 in August; $17 adult, $15 senior, and children 13 and under free) in recognition of Elsie Reford, who designed the gardens in the late 1800s.

Elsie’s husband headed one of Canada’s largest railways and asked ships’ captains returning from voyages around the world to bring plants for his wife to adapt to northern climes. While the garden contains 3,000 species of trees, flowers and shrubs, the signature flower is the Himalayan Blue Poppy.

I like to visit in early to mid July. I last visited in September five years ago and most of the flowers had already bloomed. Before visiting, phone ahead or visit their website to check what’s in bloom.

Nenko and I winter in Las Vegas but reside the rest of the year in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. We’ve visited many sites in eastern Canada and would be pleased to assist anyone planning to travel in this region.

Mr. CLARE MOELK
Las Vegas, NV