2 Best Sights in Fredericton, New Brunswick

This imposing 1828 Palladian mansion on the south bank of the St. John River is the official residence and office of New Brunswick's lieutenant governor. Guided tours take in elegantly restored state rooms and art galleries exhibiting New Brunswick art and crafts. The 11-acre grounds, once a 17th-century Acadian settlement, border an early Maliseet burial ground. It's also the venue for a number of festivals and other events every year.

The interior chamber of this imposing building, where the premier and elected members govern the province, reflects the taste of the late Victorians. The chandeliers are brass, and some of the prisms are Waterford. Replicas of portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds of King George III and Queen Charlotte hang here. There's a freestanding circular staircase, and the library (506/453–2338) owns a complete four-volume set of hand-color copper engravings of Audubon's Birds of America, one of only five sets in Canada. Wander in for a look around, or call ahead to arrange a tour.