Locals know best? Perhaps this is not always the case. With this in mind the Sackville Tourism Advisory Council came up with the idea of giving local business owners and their employees the chance to experience some of the best attractions this area has to offer. Thus the Sackville Magical Mystery Tour was born. Now in its second year, the tour is geared towards educating people working in customer service on the interesting activities in and around Sackville. Making stops at local tourist attractions the idea is that if you’ve experienced it “you can talk about it with more passion and enthusiasm,” said Rebekah Cant tour organizer and Director of Tourism. “If you work at the visitor centre you get the tour, but not if you work at the café.”
It is important that the people who work in the local businesses or museums know what else is out there so they can encourage tourists to stay a while, “never say there is nothing to do in Sackville,” said Diane Fullerton, Sackville resident and volunteer guide for the tour.
The Magical Mystery Tour is a chance for people to sit back and become a tourist in their own town. A time for viewing the world through a new pair of shades and shifting perspectives from a bored resident to an excited, ready for anything sightseer or that family who rolls through town at lunchtime.
After taking the tour myself last Tuesday I am just waiting for that moment when I run into someone on the street wondering what to do in this small border town so I can share my newfound knowledge.
Reining in the urge to shout it from the rooftops, I will settle with this article, sharing things that I learned on the tour and reminding the citizens of Sackville some awesome things about their fantastic township.
Inspired by the website 1000awesomethings.com I present 15 awesome things about the Sackville area (in no particular order.
#15 Cattail Ridge Market. Located on Stephens rd. Cattail Ridge sells pet supplies and pet food along with some specialized gifts and preserves. Local produce, meat and cheese are sold seasonally. The most awesome thing about Cattail Ridge is that nothing is sold that is produced more than 150kms away.
#14 The Music Barn is a fully functioning music and reception hall that seats over 200 people. The Music Barn is in its third full year and host’s musicians nearly ever weekend during the summer months. The Music Barn is awesome because of the atmosphere. The mismatched lawn chairs, church pews and chairs reused from Mount Allison residences create a comfortable laidback feeling and the lights and decorations on the walls instantly portray an exciting good time.
#13 Fort Beauséjour-Fort Cumberland National Historic site is a place rich in history and full to the brim of interesting stories and artifacts. The most awesome thing about Fort Beauséjour are the spectacular views of the Bay of Fundy and the Tantramar Marshes.
#12 Fog Forrest Gallery on Bridge Street is awesome because you can buy art and take in exhibits by mostly eastern Canadian artists.
#11 Robert Lyon Graphics in its new location at 8 Weldon Street is a full service gallery, screen-printing shop, book, craft, calendar and jewelry store. Everything is handmade, designed, crafted, written and produced on site by owner Robert and his wife. Now that is just awesome.
#10 Bridge St. Café is an obvious one. Its wonderful street side patio offers a cool breeze and the chance for spontaneous conversation with passersby. Good coffee, homemade meals and baked goods might be why people come in but the atmosphere is why they stay. These things along with the Farmers Market on Saturday, open mike on Thursday and the friendly staff all combine to make Bridge Street Café totally awesome.
#9 Mels would be on anyone’s list of awesome things in Sackville but its on mine because of the awesome homestyle cooking and the extra thick milkshakes. Mmm Mels.
#8 Live Bait Theatre. Who would expect a small town like Sackville to be home to a theatre like Live Bait? World class productions, children’s camps and university and community involvement all make this place awesome.
#7 Struts Gallery is so awesome because it is completely artist run, and locally oriented. It provides excellent community work shops and serves as a venue for local artist exhibitions music and charity events.
#6 The Crofter on Bridge St. is a gift shop, toy store and flower boutique all rolled into one. Awesome! Featuring locally refurbished furniture and giftware The Crofter is a beautiful store and a must visit in downtown Sackville.
#5 Boultenhouse Heritage Centre is one of the oldest houses in town a must see that showcases some of the lesser known pieces of Sackville town history. For instance who knew Sackville used to be a great shipbuilding town. Check out the awesome Boultenhouse Heritage Center to see really cool 168-year-old wallpaper and an extensive collection of artifacts from Sackville’s past.
#4 Sackville Harness shop, all you need to do is walk in, take a big whiff and you’ll begin to understand why this place is so awesome, they make most of the products in the store on site and they also repair shoes. Go in and chat with the owner, you’ll want to go back again and again.
#3 Owens Art Gallery consists of 4 wide-open galleries on the main floor with more upstairs. It is the perfect relaxing escape on a rainy day. Go in and chat with the lovely ladies working at the gallery and take a stroll into some wonderful pieces of art.
#2 Campbell Carriage Factory is a little ways out of town but it is so awesome it is worth the trip. Closed only 60 years ago the factory is virtually untouched. Experience the steps in making a carriage and actually touch the tools and wood left by the woodworkers in 1950. Check out the 19th century carriages and extrapolate what kind of people may have ridden each one.
#1 Waterfowl Park is unsurprisingly on the list. Scenic and quiet trails snake across the water inviting residents and tourists alike to come back time and time again. Try out a tour and learn a little bit about the waterfowl and plant life in the park. Something awesome I learned while with a knowledgeable park guide. There is a carnivorous plant lurking beneath the water!
If I didn’t mention your business or attraction its not because your not awesome its because you weren’t on the Magical Mystery Tour and though Sackville has hundreds of awesome things I can’t fit it all in this tiny article.
