Oscar’s Grand Adventure to Fredericton, New Brunswick

Amy Tokic
by Amy Tokic
Oscar is out and about to discover the pet-friendly vacation spots in Canada. First up: Fredericton, New Brunswick. Here are all the wonderful sites Oscar enjoyed.


A trip to Fredericton, New Brunswick was the perfect place to take a pet-friendly vacation with my jet-setting bestie, Oscar. I’d never gone on a vacation that was expressly taken with my dog’s comfort in mind, so I was excited to share this adventure with him. The trip would require us to take a plane to our destination, stay at a pet-friendly hotel, and visit tourist attractions that welcomed both humans and pooches.


If you’re travelling on a plane with your dog, there are a few essentials you’ll want in your suitcase. Along with plane tickets, here are a few things I made sure to bring before boarding/while packing:


  • Dog food
  • Dog brush
  • Collapsible dog bowls
  • Veterinarian documents with Oscar’s vaccination record
  • Dog treats (for the plane ride)
  • Dog leash


This was Oscar’s first time on a plane. I think I was more nervous than he was. We flew West Jet, and Oscar was required to stay put underneath the seat ahead of me. Oscar was comfortable – there was plenty of room for him to stand up and turn around, and he got to chill in his Sherpa Carrier. The only time there was a fuss was when we were landing – poor Oscar couldn’t pop his ears.


Getting Around


There’s no Uber in Fredericton, so we had to take a cab everywhere. But honestly, the fares were pretty cheap (compared to Toronto, they were a downright steal!) and ordering service was quick and easy. Every cabbie we had was super nice… one even offered us some candy (which I eagerly took, ignoring my mother’s sage advice).


Hotel Accommodations

Our lodging for the duration of our stay was the Quality Inn and Suites Amsterdam in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Recently named the Canadian Hotel of the Year by Choice Hotels Canada for their excellent customer service in 2018, Quality Inn welcomed us with open arms… but I think they were more excited to see Oscar than me. And really, who could blame them – Oscar is hecking adorable.


Quality Inn has everything you need for a relaxed and easy-going stay. I found the staff extremely friendly and helpful. When I realized that I had forgotten my itinerary, they hooked me up to the business center and printed it out. My favorite part of the stay had to be at 3 pm every day – that’s when they served up warm, soft cookies for my eating pleasure!


Other perks I totally took advantage of was the free breakfast (complete with bacon, eggs, bagels and other morning goodies), as well as fresh coffee that was available all day. I also took advantage of the lounge, where Oscar and I cuddled in front of the fireplace.


Another plus that came in handy was the Quality Inn was smack dab in the middle of everything. It was a short cab ride to all of Fredericton’s attractions. It makes all the difference when you can get to where you need to go in 5 minutes.

Our room was a complete delight. We were on the first floor, which had a door that led to our own lawn – talk about business time convenience. But the biggest surprise was awaiting us upon arrival – a gift basket for me and a treat bag for Oscar. Both were full of treats – mine had local wines and beers, Oscars had freshly baked nom noms. And I’m not ashamed to admit that I partook in these wonderful libations as soon as I was settled (hey, it was a long flight). Oscar decided to eat one treat, but save the rest so he could share them with his little brother, Zed, when we got home.


The staff had made the room pet-friendly for our stay. A comfortable bed was provided for the duration of the trip – although, Oscar preferred to share the queen-sized bed with me. And all the other dog essentials were waiting for us. This included bowls, a leash and poop bags. They really thought of everything that Oscar would need and made sure these items were at our ready.


A Pet-Friendly Night Out

Grimross Brewing was the first place we hit up. This dog-friendly brewery is actually right across the street from the hotel – how convenient for us! After our flight, I was thirsty, but with so much on tap, what was I to choose? Luckily, Grimross had a 4-brew sampler, so I got to pick a few tasty beverages. The one I couldn’t pass up was a dark ale called Pugalious – a beer after my own heart! Because it was raining, they let Oscar and I sit inside – usually, the patio is open, and beside it, is a food truck that serves up nommy niblets.


Walk-About

Fredericton Botanic Garden was a short jaunt from the hotel and the perfect way to start a sunny day. It’s free to visit and is open year-round, from dawn to dusk. Here, we walked among a wide variety of blooming trees, bushes and plants that begged to be sniffed. And Oscar happily obliged! We walked around the gardens for the better part of the morning, taking pictures and admiring the view. Along the walk, we came across a few friendly Frederictonians and plenty of cheerful squirrels.


Time to Shop


Before a full day of shopping, I needed to refuel – and Graystone Brewery was the perfect place to recharge my battery. This brewery is expressly dog friendly; dogs are allowed inside and outside on the patio. Food was served via a trendy food truck that catered to vegetarians. Boasting 23 rotating taps, Greystone features its own brews, plus other local beer and cider. I leisurely enjoyed a sparkling cider on the patio while Oscar filled up on water and treats. If I wasn’t so keen on shopping, I could have been persuaded to stay at Graystone all day. But the downtown shops beckoned, and I was drawn to their siren call.

First up – The Urban Almanac General Store. Not only does this store showcase unique gift and home décor items, but they also brew coffee. And this coffee, hands down, was the best cup of joe I’d ever had. And it had nothing to do with their in-house mascot, George, who greets everyone who walks through the doors. I couldn’t leave without purchasing a bar of their homemade soap, infused with, you guessed it, coffee grounds.


Our first stop on our downtown shopping excursion was Botinicals Gift Shop, Studio & Gallery. This unique little gift shop showcased a host of handmade trinkets and décor items, all made by local artists. There was so much to choose from, but I left with a handcrafted jewelry box made out of a tree branch.


Next up was Endeavours: The Artist Shop, a pet-friendly store that offers much more than just artist supplies. I was a big fan of the Obama and Sigmund Freud finger puppets/fridge magnets. And the store employees couldn’t get enough of Oscar – they were more than happy to shower him with all the attention he demands.


Rooms 2 Remember was our last stop on our doggie shopping extravaganza. We were so happy to find another pupper store resident hanging out behind the counter. You’ll always find Teddy ready to serve at Rooms 2 Remember, and ready for a little ear scratching. Teddy and Oscar sniffed each other out, and decided to become pen pals. This store offered a bit of everything – kitchen gadgets, home décor items, stationary and clothing. I picked up a couple of inappropriate birthday cards that, unfortunately, I can’t show here.

Bark at the Park


Before we headed home, I wanted to burn off some of Oscar’s extra energy. Knowledge Park Drive Dog Park was close to hotel, so that’s where we headed. This dog park was awesome – it had two fenced-in acres, benches for pet parents to take a load off, water access for parched pooches, and separate areas for large and small dogs. Oscar ran around, made a couple of new friends, and had an all-around great time.


Checking Out


What a wonderful trip! Oscar and I were sad to leave, but happy about all the new friends and experiences we made during our time in Fredericton, NB. We can’t wait to come back for another excellent adventure… and we hope that you’ll be joining us!

Amy Tokic
Amy Tokic

Amy Tokic, Editor of PetGuide.com, is a passionate animal lover and proud pet parent of Oscar, a Shih Tzu/Chihuahua cross, and Zed, a Japanese Chin. Her love of animals began in kindergarten, when she brought her stuffed dog Snoopy into class with her every day. Now, she writes about her adventures in pet ownership and tirelessly researches products, news and health related issues she can share with other animal enthusiasts. In her free time, Amy loves perusing used book and record stores, obsessing over the latest pet products available and chasing squirrels with wild abandon (a habit attributed to spending too much time with her pooches).

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