Moose and chips with extra trips

New Brunswick in Canada is so often overlooked but TOM BLOW finds it offers wild beauty, lessons in history and the best sunsets and cheesy chips around

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Down East Comfort B&B

There’s nothing quite like a road trip. Forget timetables and delays, every inch of the open road is there for you to explore. And there aren't many better places to traverse than New Brunswick.

This understated Canadian province is blessed with big roads, vast forests, winding rivers and epic mountains. It’s a joy for drivers, while passengers can keep an eye out for those two great Canadian icons: the moose and the bear.

New Brunswick is a place steeped in history. Canada’s story can be traced back to 1867, when the British Empire united Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to create a single dominion. Yet their history goes back much further.

A big part of this province's story is the Mi’kmaq, a community of First Nations Indigenous peoples.

My fellow road trippers and I learned about their culture at Metepenagiag Heritage Park near the Miramichi River. We even found out how bread was once cooked - buried in scorching hot sand before being dug up and served. The result is a light, fluffy loaf. Just don't eat the sand-infused crust! We also tried moose meat, which is rich and slightly tough.

Just down the road lies the peaceful city of Miramichi, forged around the river of the same name. It's the perfect place to rest for a night.

We stayed at the Down East Comfort B&B, a delightful spot with three charming suites and a two-bedroom guest house. Their breakfast is exceptional: homemade eggs Benedict, pastries, fruit and yogurt, all freshly prepared. Down East even gives guests a postcard to send home and a tea mat inspired by the region’s heritage - touches that make the stay extra special.