The drive from Quebec City, Quebec to Moncton, New Brunswick is 480 miles. We have driven more than 400 miles in a single day but we only would consider doing so if we are time constrained. Since we were not pressed for time, we stopped part way across New Brunswick. We chose a campground called Camping Panoramic ’86 primarily because it is only a few miles from the New Brunswick Botanical Garden.

When we arrived, we were surprised at how close in proximity we were to the Maine border. In fact, we were so close that Sue’s phone thought we were in the states. We realized this because the time on Sue’s phone switched to the Eastern Time Zone. New Brunswick is in the Atlantic Time Zone, which is an hour ahead.

If you have been reading our recent posts, what we are about to comment on will sound familiar. When we checked into the campsite, we were immediately greeted with kindness and inclusiveness. Our hosts invited us to the amphitheater for “the hockey game” (The Edmonton Oilers were in the Stanley Cup Playoffs). We also were encouraged not to miss the “Very” Happy Hour on Friday, which was the next evening. A campsite with a Happy Hour was a first for us, and we were not going to miss it. We had a great time!

We discovered that the restaurant at Camping Panoramic ’86 used to be located in the community but was unable to keep its lease. Camping Panoramic ’86 reached an agreement with the restaurant owner to relocate into the campground. The restaurant is now open on weekends during the off season and almost full-time during the summer. In fact, the food is so good, local residents stop by the campground to either take-out, or dine in. The food was great and it was a very busy night for them!

The Botanical Garden is less than two miles from the campground so we bicycled there. Entry to the museum was half price because the gardens had not yet fully opened. We saw a little work being done but nothing that would warrant a half-price admission. As you can see from the photos below, the sky was clear and the weather was spectacular.

It was not until we left the gardens and bicycled through the parking lot that we realized a sculpture installation was still underway. The Garden had elaborate “moss sculptures” staged in the parking lot waiting to be installed. Some were quite large and were delivered in multiple pieces. We saw the top of the horse first and laughed when we discovered the bottom half.

Camping Panoramic ’86 is primarily occupied by seasonal campers but has a dozen full-service sites for travelers. We enjoyed our time there and recommend this campground if you are in the area.

We are setting off tomorrow to visit Moncton, New Brunswick to get another opportunity to see a Tidal Bore. Thanks for following along.