Besides being home to Canada's finest jazz and blues festival, and being set in a region of stunning natural beauty, Fredericton boasts plenty of historical sights, sporting attractions and shopping opportunities.
Visitors can wander around the historic Garrison District with ease, where they will pass by street musicians and other performers and have the chance to witness superbly staged historical re-enactments of the city's past. There are also craft workshops which provide handy tutorials, as well as an excellent historical museum.
Fredericton is also a city of artists, and there are many galleries to explore. Head to the Beaverbrook Gallery to see some of the finest works by Canadian painters or the 78 Gallery to see what's hot in the current crop of artists. The town is also a musical Mecca, with an annual Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival which attracts world famous names. Musical events carry on all year round at great venues like the Capital Complex, and all genres are catered for.
The region is also home to wonderful outdoor attractions. Enjoy a round at some of the area's excellent golf courses, enjoy a game fishing trip with an expert guide, or rent mountain bikes and hit the trails of beauty spots like Centennial Park or Odell Park.
The area around Fredericton produces a dazzling array of foods as well, and the best place to find these is at the city's fabulous farmers' market which hosts stalls selling foods from around the world. There are also shops selling a wide selection of everything from records to vintage clothes, as well as plenty of affordable restaurants serving traditional Canadian fare.
And outside Fredericton, there are natural wonders to enjoy like the islands of the Bay of Fundy, whale-watching, cruising along the St. John River or scaling the peaks of the Acadian Mountains.