For many travelers, Woodstock will either be their first or last experience in Canada. The city is just a few kilometers from the American border and the end of U.S. Interstate 95. While I didn’t have any specific reason for visiting the town, I decided it would be nice to take a quick tour of the town before heading back across the international line, ending my visit to Canada and wrapping up my trip.
Location
Woodstock is located near the junction of New Brunswick 95 (the Canadian extension of Interstate 95) and Trans Canada Highway 2, along with scenic routes 103, 105, and 165, all of which provide a nice drive along the Saint John River.
My Visit
Downtown is at the confluence of the Saint John and Meduxnekeag Rivers. I immediately spotted an interesting landmark…
… an old railroad bridge that’s been converted to use as a pedestrian trail, as part of the province-wide NB Trail. Granted, it’s not quite as beautiful as Fredericton’s converted rail-to-trail bridge…
… but it still provides a nice viewpoint of downtown, which overlooks the Meduxnekeag River. In the opposite direction is the confluence of the Meduxnekeag with the Saint John River.
Woodstock’s business district rises on a hillside from the riverfront. As to be expected in any Canadian town, there’s a Tim Horton’s in the middle of it all.
On a quick walk up Main Street, you’ll see the L.P. Fisher Library, named after the first mayor of Woodstock.
St. Luke’s Anglican Church is also impressive. It dates back to 1884 — although the first church on this site was built in the 1830’s.
Woodstock is the county seat for Carleton County, so you’ll also find a nice courthouse in town.
Drivelapse Video
Here’s a look at the drive from Hartland to Woodstock…
… and Woodstock into the U.S.:
The Bottom Line
Woodstock is worth a brief visit, especially if you enjoy wandering around small towns and seeing historic buildings. A longer walk on the NB Trail through the town may also be a nice idea.
No comments