LEARNING ALL ABOUT VERGER BELLIVEAU ORCHARD & SCOW CIDER

Verger Belliveau Orchard is the quintessential New Brunswick entrepreneurial story. Built on a sense of pride in this place and the vision of possibility, this family-run business is innovative, successful, and yet still humble.

Sébastien Bourgeois founded the orchard in the early 1930s, returning to his birthplace of Memramcook to help the community in the aftermath of the Great Depression. He saw the potential for apple growing in this area, as well as the need for a local enterprise that could foster not only economic success but also empower the residents.

Now, under the helm of three generations of the Bourgeois family, Verger Belliveau Orchard remains a cornerstone of the region, noted as one of Atlantic Canada’s foremost apple growers and suppliers. The orchard has state of the art packaging and storage facilities, a diversified product line that includes SCOW cider, award-winning wines, and one of the most picturesque apple u-picks you can find!

Join Jenna & Tosh as they chat with Sonya Bourgeois about her family’s business, the history of the orchard and the Memramcook area, and how running an agricultural business can help prepare you for the unexpected twists & turns of a pandemic.

 

Follow the orchard on Instagram @vergerbelliveauorchard & @scowcider, and on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vergerbelliveau/

The Jenna & Tosh show is a co-production of Pickle Planet Moncton and The Podcast Hub, and is recorded & aired by Rogers TV New Brunswick. This episode was sponsored by Verger Belliveau Orchard.

Interested in having Jenna & Tosh profile your local business? Reach out! We’d love to chat about creating a promotion that works for you!

That’s right, Season Three is here! We’re closing in on 100 episodes of great conversations about all the things that capture our interest as two middle age moms living near Moncton, New Brunswick – and we are overwhelmed by your interest in these chats, too! We have some wonderful guests and topics lined up for this fall. We hope you’ll hit subscribe on your favourite podcast app and follow along with us.

We recorded this episode on location at the lovely gazebo in the Town of Riverview; watch for the video version on Rogers TV in New Brunswick. Enjoy!

All summer, co-hosts Jenna Morton and Tosh Taylor have invited guests from around New Brunswick to share their hidden gems and must-see spots – and in this episode, you’ll hear the best moments from those shows!

* Alaina Lockhart introducing us to the Triangle of Awesomeness in the southern part of the province

* Hub City Foodie Jason Gallant making our mouths water and our hearts burst with stories about his culinary tour of New Brunswick

* Miramichi mayor Adam Lordon talking about his community’s current renaissance

* Mary Ellen Hudson with the City of Fredericton sharing fantastic stories of the political celebrities who’ve helped shape the city

* Saint John’s Victoria Clarke explaining just why the region calls itself Saint Awesome

* Travel blogger Jenna MacDonald making sure we know about the amazing beaches in the southern part of New Brunswick

* Talking campgrounds and their long family traditions with Woodstock’s Tobi Pirie

* And Campobello Island Sea Glass Festival co-founder Stephanie Anthony sharing insider tips on visiting her island

Click on the audio player below to listen, and subscribe to the Pickle Planet Podcast on your favourite podcast app for easy access when traveling!

The Staycation Summer Series is a co-production of Pickle Planet Moncton and The Podcast Hub, and the finale of Season Two of the Pickle Planet Podcast. Watch for more interviews with guests from around the province and beyond coming in mid-September. Until then, enjoy our archived episodes, covering everything from how to talk with children about classmates who are different, bedwetting and children’s pelvic floors, pregnancy and infant loss, tackling clutter,

This week, Tosh & Jenna share details of New Brunswick staycation destinations they’ve explored – from waterfalls to lighthouses, museums to eateries, and all things in between! You’ll find the ‘play’ button at the bottom of this post.

The Staycation Summer Series is a co-production of Pickle Planet Moncton and The Podcast Hub, helping New Brunswick families find fantastic things to do right here at home this summer. Watch for a ‘best of’ episode to wrap up our Second Season, coming soon. Enjoy the episode!

The #StaycationSummer podcast series invites community ambassadors from around New Brunswick to share travel tips, restaurant recommendations, hidden gems and must-see spots in their hometowns – and this week, we head to Woodstock with Tobi Pirie, the town’s Tourism & Event Coordinator.

Woodstock is New Brunswick’s first town, a place where two rivers meet and history and nature combine for a fantastic staycation destination. You can enjoy both the Meduxnekeag and St. John Rivers (public docks in the heart of the downtown), explore 19th Century Victorian heritage architecture, enjoy great meals, attend fabulous festivals, and explore all that Carleton County has to offer.

A few places Tobi highlights in the podcast:

Connell House offers a glimpse into history, including learning more about the Hon. Charles Connell, the New Brunswicker who put his own face on a postage stamp – rare stamps that are now worth thousands of dollars!

Take yourself on a Woodstock’s Historical Walking Tour or explore the 10-kilometre Greenway trail to the Meduxnekeag Nature Preserve.

There are many local artisans and markets – this is the province’s agricultural belt, after all! – so be sure to stop and support the local makers and growers. A great spot to find many treasures is Creek Village Gallery & Cafe, with more than two dozen New Brunswick artisans’ works available!

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park caters to families and has welcomed generations of New Brunswickers and other travelers.

Nearby, you can visit the world’s largest covered bridge in Hartland, watch treats being made at Covered Bridge Chips factory, and munch on some amazing fries and learn more about a key New Brunswick industrial leader at the great little museum that is Potato World.

Click the play button below to hear more about Woodstock & all it has to offer for your staycation this summer in New Brunswick!

The #StaycationSummer podcast series is a co-production of Pickle Planet Moncton and The Podcast Hub. We’re helping New Brunswick families find fantastic things to do right here at home this summer – and we want you to be part of the fun. Don’t forget to listen to our previous Staycation episodes – we’ve explored Sussex, the Fundy Region, Fredericton, Miramichi, Bathurst, Saint John, and Campobello Island and more!

Special thanks this episode to Best Western Plus Saint John Hotel & Suites for sp...

Where do foodies go to eat in New Brunswick? Tune in to find out!

Hub City Foodies‘ Jason Gallant is all about celebrating local, incredible eats – and this summer, he took his passion on the road. Jason, his wife, and their daughters piled in their camper and went on an epic two-week, 1,700 kilometre food journey around New Brunswick, stopping dozens of markets, restaurants, distilleries and breweries along the way. You can find more on his social channels, but here are a few highlights he shares on Episode Six of the #StaycationSummer Series:

* Who could resist a hamburger with a donut for a bun? Jason says he stopped at King West Brewing & RustiCo for their microbrew, but their menu is worth the visit alone! Also on site; an awesome wood-fired oven for mouth-watering pizza.

* A New Brunswick must-visit for Jason is Kingsbrae Garden, where Chef Alex Huan has grown up on the grounds and picks his ingredients daily for the dishes at Savour In The Garden & The Garden Cafe.

* A stop at Ovens Head Smoked Salmon is also highly recommended – especially if you can whip up incredible campground meals like Jason!

* Nowhere quite compares to La Terrasse a Steve, as you enter Miscou Island. You can sink your feet in the sand while you enjoy scallop burgers (Jenna’s recommendation for a must try!), shrimp in their shells, and so much lobster you’ll have a hard time choosing. Pro tip: nothing here is fried, so don’t promise your kids french fries – but they might be suitably impressed with the foot-long hot dogs with cheese!

* On the non-food highlight reel, Jason gives a shout out to the Sussex Bluffs, incredible views you just have to see, and Yogi Bear Campground in Woodstock. A tour of Covered Bridge Chips factory is also a must in this area!

The #StaycationSummer podcast series is a co-production of Pickle Planet Moncton and The Podcast Hub. We’re helping New Brunswick families find fantastic things to do right here at home this summer – and we want you to be part of the fun. Don’t forget to listen to our previous Staycation episodes – we’ve explored Sussex, the Fundy Region, Fredericton, Miramichi, Bathurst, Saint John, and Campobello Island and have more great guests ready to share travel tips, restaurant recommendations, hidden gems and must-see spots in their hometowns.

Thanks to Claudine’s Eatery in Fredericton for sponsoring this episode; be sure to check them out for comfort food like no other – lobster rolls on homemade buns, amazing eggs benny, Caesers with deep fried dill pickles, lobster and more – there’s something for everyone at Claudine’s. We love that this restaurant is run by a mother-daughter duo, too! 

 

Your Guide to Exploring Fredericton, New Brunswick

Next up in our Staycation Summer Series: Fredericton, New Brunswick’s capital city.

This summer, we’re asking folks from around New Brunswick to share the hidden gems and must-see spots in their hometowns. In this podcast episode, Tourism Fredericton‘s Mary Ellen Hudson takes us on a virtual tour of Freddy Beach (as it’s often called around these parts) and all it has to offer families for staycation & day trip adventures.

Pro Tip: If you’re looking for some great ideas on how to take advantage of the province’s tourism rebate (20% back on up to $1,000 spent on an overnight stay and attractions – full details on the government’s website), check out the awesome Stay & Play packages on Tourism Fredericton’s website.

Listen in for Mary Ellen’s recommendations & let us know in the comments any activities and attractions you’d add for family fun in Fredericton. Here are a few spots she mentions, just to get your wheels turning!

* King’s Landing, a living history museum that will give you a greater appreciation for both our past and our present, is just 20 minutes up river.

* There are more than 120 kilometres of amazing trails to explore in and around Fredericton, making it a perfect mix of urban eating and culture surrounded by nature.

* You can enjoy the city from the water, either on a canoe or kayak adventure, or by renting a houseboat for a fun vacation experience! (Our friend Jenna MacDonald, from our Bathurst episode, shared her houseboating experience on her blog; check it out for a great first-hand account.) Tosh & I were very intrigued by the ‘paddle & pint’ tour, and a certain Papa Pickle’s ears will perk up when he hears there’s a ‘gears & beers’ tour, too!

* Speaking of places to eat, be sure to check out the Shake Shed Freddy for unbelievable milkshake creations, Wolastoq Wharf for incredible seafood with an Indigenous twist (we can’t wait to visit and try the complimentary warm bannock with molasses!), and one of my personal favourite spots to dine, Claudine’s Eatery. For a great list of family-friendly spots to dine in the city, check out this Tourism Fredericton post from Nadia Barry, also known online as @Freddy.Foodie.

* The theatre troupe Calithumpians offer some fun tours of the city; our kids love their performances at school,

Campobello Island is home to lighthouses, whale watching, epic sea glass finds, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt’s summer home (now an international park you can visit), and of course amazing local folks like Stephanie Anthony who are more than happy to share their little bit of paradise with you!

Stephanie is involved in two of the island’s annual festivals, the Campobello Island Seaglass Festival  and Campobello Fog Fest, and she’s our guest on this episode of the #StaycationSummer series, our weekly chats with hometown ambassadors from around New Brunswick.

You’ll want to listen in for all of Stephanie’s insider details, but here are a few highlights to know:

A trip to Campobello in 2020 guarantees a ferry ride. You can hop on the free Deer Island ferry that leaves from L’Etete, New Brunswick, then maybe take some time to explore that island (home to Old Sow, the largest tidal whirlpool in the western hemisphere!) before hopping on a second ferry (you’ll have to pay for this one & don’t forget to check the sailing times to plan your crossing) to Campobello.

Also a guarantee: you should book where you’re staying in advance, as this is a small island with only so much to go around. You can find a list of accommodations here; a few standouts are Pollock Cove Resort, Friar’s Bay Inn & Cottages, Campobello Whale Watch Motel, and the Herring Cove Provincial Campground.

You can find a list of island lighthouses here, and follow the Campobello Island Seaglass Festival Facebook Page for all your beachcombing needs. Don’t forget to book a whale watching tour, as well; you’re sure to see seals, sea birds, and so much more! For where to eat while on the island, check out the list at Visit Campobello.

Pssst! If you need even more island inspiration, check out these guides to vacationing in Campobello and Grand Manan from our fave mermaid, Crystal – and be sure to listen to her podcast chat with us all about where to find the best fried clams in New Brunswick,

Your Guide to Exploring Saint John, New Brunswick

Next up in our Staycation Summer Series: Saint John – also known as Saint Awesome!

This summer, we’re asking folks from around New Brunswick to share the hidden gems and must-see spots in their hometowns. In this podcast episode the executive director of Discover Saint John, Victoria Clarke, takes us on a virtual tour of Saint John and all it has to offer families for staycation & day trip adventures.

And Victoria is so awesome, she’s created several lists of things to do for us! Read on for her recommendations & let us know in the comments any activities and attractions you’d add for family fun in Saint John.

#SaintAwesome Saint John Family Itineraries

Uptown Fun

Getting out and exploring the uptown is a must-do for the whole family. Saint John offers a number of self-guided walking tours including:

Art in Public Places – which showcases various public art installations throughout the uptown

Three Historic Walking Tours – which provide historical facts and anecdotal stories about much of Saint John’s history

Salmon Run – now in its fourth year, featuring 23 beautiful six-foot salmon, designed by New Brunswick artists

Keep your eyes peeled as you go for the best #SaintAwesome Selfie spots – we’ve flagged these throughout the uptown to make sure visitors don’t miss out!

Try out Breakout’s Saint John Outdoor Adventure Puzzle. Using your mobile phone, walking shoes and an adventurous spirit to follow the clues and complete your mission. A whole new way to see the sights!

Stop for a cookie break at Java Moose Coffee Roasters on Princess Street, grab a sweet treat at Bella’s Traditional Ice Cream on Germain, or head to the Saint John City Market for a delicious lunch – where you’ll find numerous options, in case everyone wants something different.

If you’re visiting on a Thursday, plan to hit up the Saint John Night Market! South Market Street is filled with food, drink and craft vendors beneath a canopy of lights. Browse the locally-produced goods or enjoy a craft beer with friends!

West Saint John

Start your day at the Irving Nature Park, enjoying scenic vistas of a special part of the Fundy coastline, a place where everyone can come and experience the various ecosystems of the Southern New Brunswick coastline. The kids will enjoy a chance to see seals at the Seal Observation Deck, as well as squirrels, birds and other curious woodland creatures throughout the various tails.

After lunch head to TimberTop Adventures for an afternoon in the trees. One of Canada’s largest aerial adventure parks, nestled in a beautiful old-growth forest next to the sandy shores of Dominion Park beach. Experience up to 11 courses with over 100 creative obstacles curated from around the world,

Next up in our Staycation Summer Series: Bathurst!

This summer, we’re asking folks from around New Brunswick to share the hidden gems and must-see spots in their hometowns. In this podcast episode, travel blogger Jenna MacDonald (check her out at There’s a Shoe for That) gives us her guide to the Bathurst region.

Click the play button below for all the details, but here are a few of the highlights she mentions:

If you’re coming to Bathurst from an adventure in Miramichi (listen to our previous episode with Miramichi Mayor Adam Lordon for his guide to the area), Jenna suggests making the drive along the Acadian Peninsula and visiting communities such as Tracadie, Caraquet, and Shippigan. A few notable attractions in this area include the Village Historique Acadien and the New Brunswick Aquarium.

For your stay in the Bathurst region, she suggests the Atlantic Host Hotel (just off the highway, amazing breakfast, and the Pickle Planet kiddos’ favourite hotel pool ever!) or renting a local cottage, such as Motel and Cottages L’Acadien By The Sea. For a couples’ getaway, Jenna recommends Gîte Toutes Saisons (and their seafood omelette).

And when it comes to eating, make sure to plan a trip back in time to enjoy an authentic drive in meal (Jenna says to get the Danny Burger) at the Big D Drive In.

There are incredible beaches throughout the region, including Beresford and Youghall Beach for those looking to enjoy sand bars and park amenities (including a great ship-themed playground), Petit Rocher & Baie Verte for sea glass, and Belledune for fossil hunting on the rock wall.

Jenna shares a few playground recommendations on the podcast, including her favourite spot to take the kids: Inch Arran Lion’s Club Playground in Dalhousie, where you can enjoy the campground, swimming pool, spalsh pad, beach, Inch Arran Lighthouse, and the best ice cream around at Bon Ami Bar Laitier.

We know lots of families love exploring waterfalls; if this is your family, make it a point to visit Pabineau Falls. For those up for more adventure, plan to hike the Nepisiguit Mi’...