(image from postcard)
Grand Manan Island, part of the provence of New Brunswick, is reached via a 90-minute ferry ride from the province's south coast. Its 2500 residents reside in five villages spread across the island. Fishing is its primary industry, although scores of tourists visit in the summer months for bird and whale watching. To see a map of Grand Manan, click here.
(image from postcard)
The Grand Manan V transports passengers and vehicles on a 90-minute voyage between Grand Manan and Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick. We saw several schools of dolphins from the upper deck and whale sightings are reportedly common.
Being the only transportation to and from the island aside from private boats, residents line up early for this ferry. For the trip to Grand Manan, we arrived an hour early for a 5:30pm departure...and didn't make it on! (The ferry holds about 50 vehicles.) The next run was 4 hours later, giving us plenty of time to explore the rocky shore. A billboard advertised a restaurant in the nearby village of Black's Harbour which delivers to folks waiting for the ferry!
Seal Cove, one of five villages on Grand Manan. Most residents live close to the sea on the western side of the island. Aside from the western coast, much of the island is undeveloped forest. (image from postcard)
Airial view of Seal Cove. Fishing and boating are the main industries and each village has its own wharfs. (image from postcard)
By the wharfs at Ingalls Head.
Dramatic cliffs are characteristic of the undeveloped eastern side of Grand Manan. (image from postcard)
The view from Swallowtail Point. It's hard to think of Grand Manan without remembering the views of water and sky.
On to the Grand Manan, Part 2 page...
To see a map of Grand Manan, click here.