Fredericton, New Brunswick A home away from home lies just across the border

Editor’s Note: Get There from Here: A new series. You’ve heard it a million times already. Gas is expensive, which makes everything else expensive. But you don’t have to forgo a vacation. There are plenty of great destinations in driving distance within Maine and its immediate neighbors in New England and Canada. You’ll feel it immediately at the pump, but at least it’s not a plane. And staying close to the region, you keep your money here.

WHY THERE? Fredericton has the shopping, dining, arts and other activities of a big city, yet the downtown is compact and easily walkable. There are tons of festivals this summer – in July alone there are seven citywide gatherings, from a rowing regatta on the St. John River to a festival celebrating Scottish culture. Eclectic is the word – there’s something for everybody, from restaurants to music to shops to kids’ activities. And you might hear some French, which gives you a sort of Euro-thrill.

GET THERE: The most direct route to Fredericton is to cross the U.S.-Canada border in Houlton, where Interstate 95 becomes New Brunswick’s Route 95E. Merge onto the Trans-Canada Highway Route 2E toward Fredericton for almost an hour. Merge onto Highway 8 at Exit 280 on the left toward Fredericton-Miramichi. Maine travelers can also take Route 6 and cross the border at Vanceboro, which is a more scenic but less direct drive.

STAY THERE: There are tons of accommodations from campgrounds to hotels at every price point. If you want to stay in the heart of downtown, try the landmark Lord Beaverbrook, a Crowne Plaza property that sits on the banks of the St. John River and is one of few hotels within walking distance of the shopping district, art galleries and government buildings.

EAT THERE: Fredericton’s variety definitely shows itself in its restaurants. Everything from pizza to vegetarian to Greek. Try Mexicali Rosa’s for a fun Mexican experience and the Snooty Fox for the bangers-and-mash pub experience.

EVENINGS THERE: With everything there is to do in downtown Fredericton, you won’t be bored. The 2008 Summer Concert Series runs every Tuesday and Thursday evening in the historic Garrison District until Sept. 4. The city will host the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival starting Sept. 9. There’s plenty of variety when it comes to bars and late-night venues. Try the Blue Door for its funky atmosphere, creative drinks and Lunar Rogue for an Old World pub feel. Even though it’s a restaurant, the Diplomat can easily be included in the late-night category. The Chinese-Canadian food is tasty, but the late-night scene is the real treat. There’s also outdoor summer theater.

KIDS THERE: Fredericton was recently named one of the top walking cities in Canada, with about 53 miles of fully accessible walking trails. How often do kids in Maine get to see a Changing of the Guard ceremony? There’s also Science East, a museum with more than 200 hands-on exhibits. There’s geocaching – outdoor treasure hunting – for the adventurous families, beaches and parks for those who want to relax, and miniature golf and paintball for a more active experience. The popular Kings Landing Historical Settlement, an outdoor living history museum, is just outside of town.

NEW THERE: Edventures, a seven-week series of 146 workshops for adults in everything from pottery to jewelry making to painting. The series runs from July 7 to Aug. 22 and costs $60-$390 Canadian depending on the length of the course. Workshop attendees get a deal on their accommodations.

REMEMBER BEFORE YOU’RE THERE: Fredericton is located in the Atlantic time zone, which is one hour ahead of Maine’s Eastern Time. Also, adults 19-and-over must have a government-issued form of identification, such as a driver’s license, and proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or a birth certificate, in order to cross the border back into the U.S. Money can be exchanged at banks or other large financial institutions, although most places accept the dollar.

INFORMATION THERE: Go to www.tourismcanada.ca. For information about activities for children under the age of 10, look at www.fredkid.com. Once you’re in town, visit the City Hall Visitor Information Centre in the Fredericton Tourism office at 11 Carleton St. For Edventures information, check www.edventures.ca.