Kings County: Heritage, Nature and Activities

Kings County brings together a range of travel interests: Sussex’s railway history, the Hampton Marsh wetland and activities from kayaking to winter sports. Each place and offering appeals to different interests—from architecture and history to nature watching and outdoor activities.

Railway Heritage and History in Sussex

The Intercolonial Railway Station is a one-and-a-half-storey brick railway station in the Craftsman style. A covered passage connects the station to the freight building. The station is designated a Local Historic Place because it played a formative role in the early development of the community of Sussex. Today, it houses the 8th Canadian Hussars Museum. Its architecture, local history and present-day use as a museum make the station a multifaceted historic attraction.

The station is not the only historic site: Sussex has 21 historic places designated under the Local Historic Places Program. Another place to learn about the county’s history is the Kings County Museum and Old County Gaol. It presents changing exhibitions on the history of Kings County. The museum is located in the Centennial Building and the adjoining old Kings County Gaol—two buildings that provide the setting for the exhibitions.

The Agricultural Fair is also part of the event calendar: it still takes place every year at the Agricultural Museum. If the fair is an important reason for your trip, check the event dates in advance.

Wetland, River and Walking Trail

Hampton Marsh is located in the floodplain of the St. John River and within a network of oxbows, tributaries and backwaters of the Kennebecasis River. This setting gives the wetland its landscape context. It offers opportunities for birdwatching and photography; recreational boating, canoeing and kayaking are also possible there. This means you can include Hampton Marsh in your travel plans as both a natural area and a destination for water activities.

For a hike, the Sussex Nature Walkway follows Trout Creek through an area with diverse flora and fauna. The trail is 5 km long and self-guided. Its length, route and focus on nature give you a clear idea of what makes this walk distinctive, without mistaking it for a guided excursion. Dutch Point Park is also the access point to the Hampton section of the Trans Canada Trail.

Hampton offers another way to explore the Kennebecasis River: visitors can do so in a rented kayak. This adds a specific river option to the water activities at Hampton Marsh. Those who prefer to stay on land can watch birds or take photographs at Hampton Marsh.

Quilt Patterns and Covered Bridges

The Quilt Barn Tour follows winding country roads through scenic Kings County. Along the way, it visits painted quilt blocks at farm markets, historic sites and craft shops. As a themed route, it connects the rural landscape with quilt motifs and a variety of types of stops. Visitors can reach Kings County’s historic covered bridges by bicycle, canoe, on foot or by car. This gives you several ways to include these bridges in your trip.

Places to Visit in Hampton

Hampton’s Railway Heritage Site at the Hampton Visitor Information Centre focuses on railway history: visitors can view railway artifacts and displayed information there. The Lighthouse River Centre offers a different focus, with a picnic area, wharf and boat launch. The two sites offer different points of interest in Hampton, whether you’re more interested in railway exhibits or the facilities listed at the Lighthouse River Centre.

Golf is another option: the Hampton Golf Club is an 18-hole championship golf course, with daily green fees available. Its amenities include a driving range, putting green and short-game area, as well as golf carts, club rentals and golf lessons. These details cover the course itself, practice areas and additional offerings.

Winter Activities

Two different activities are mentioned for a winter trip: downhill and cross-country skiing are available at Poley Mountain, and there are snowmobile trails in the Sussex area. This makes it easy to distinguish the options by the winter sport you prefer. Along with the annual Agricultural Fair and outdoor activities in other seasons, these offerings provide varied reasons to plan your trip around your interests.

Discover more destinations: Sussex, Rothesay, Norton, Penobsquis, Hampton, Queens County, Charlotte County, Northumberland County.

For the broader travel overview: New Brunswick.