FEBRUARY 2024
Spend 3 Days in New Brunswick’s Acadian Peninsula this winter
Want to explore more of New Brunswick but don’t know where to start? In this itinerary, we suggest some of the best places to visit in North Eastern New Brunswick, starting in Shippagan, touring around Caraquet and Tracadie-Sheila, and ending with a day trip to Bathurst. You will never have a dull moment on this adventure.
Find more destinations to add to your adventure list
WINTER NAVIGATE NB™DAY 1: Explore Caraquet
Ceilo Glamping Maritimes | Haut-Shippagan
Stay at this stunning glamping site at the tip of the province. Surrounded by a serene forest with hiking and breathtaking views, this will be the highlight of your winter. Each dome is a luxurious private space with a hot tub and a charcoal barbecue. Pat and Emilie opened this eco-tourism accommodation site over 5 years ago with the intention of promoting local products by curating custom gift/charcuterie boxes and having a boutique onsite for the community, visitors, and producers to network and learn. As a matter of fact, Ceilo makes their products right on site from the goodness their property offers them, like jellies, syrups, bath products and spices, ready for you to try on your visit.
Origines Cuisine Maritime | Caraquet
Eat at Origines Cuisine Maritime for a dinner of delicious food while you watch the sunset on the water. While New Brunswick is covered in lakes, rivers and miles of coastline along the ocean, it is rare to find an establishment serving quality, exquisite food while enjoying a panoramic sea view. With a five-course tasting dinner menu that changes weekly, their chef's creativity and passion to serve you an amazing meal is grand. Thought to be one of the best restaurants in the province, be sure to add this to your bucket list.
Caraquet Outdoor Club | Caraquet
Have you ever wanted to skate, cross-country ski, or ride a fat bike through a city? Now is your chance! Caraquet Outdoor Club offers a 500-meter ice ring or a classic hockey rink for you to try, cross-country skiing trails, and over 5 km of snowshoeing trails. With this many choices on having fun in the snow, you will never have a dull moment. Whether you are a beginner just starting to get joy out of winter or a seasoned expert, this is the place for you. With over 8 km of groomed snow bike trails, this is where you learn to love Canadian winters.
Le Centre d’artistes Constellation bleue | Caraquet
Visit this gallery that displays the work of artists in the region and beyond with the hopes of supporting them to fulfill their dreams. From when they opened to now, they have exhibited over 120 collections, contributing to the professionalization of the visual artists in Northern New Brunswick. From developing cultural mediation activities to organizing networking with other art centers, Le Centre d’artistes Constellation bleue does everything in its power to support local artists and their work. Visit this gallery to find pieces that speak to you and support the artists that need your attention.
Le coin des Artistes | Caraquet
From being able to buy artwork on display to selling the supplies to make your masterpiece, this gallery has it all when it comes to visual arts. Le Coin des Artistes aims to help artists in the Acadian Peninsula have access to the tools they need to make art, carry out their artistic projects without constraints, and offer a way to showcase their talent. Their support of local artists goes beyond offering training taught by experienced instructors, such as “How to put a value on an original painting.” If you want to see their latest installations or get inspired to create something of your own, this is the place for you.
DAY 2: Along the Coast
Le couvent cuisine de saison | Tracadie
It is an eatery with delicious food, amazing for a cold winter day. From delicious soups and appetizers to mouth-watering hearty meals, this restaurant is the perfect place to have dinner with friends and family or even a romantic night on the town. Acadian hospitality at its best, this place is known for its amazing service and people that make you feel welcomed and at home in their warm, unique atmosphere.
Centre plein air Les Gailurons | Haut-Rivière-du-Portage
With over 40 years of providing outdoor experiences, this is the place to go if you want to get moving this winter. They offer cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and even snow scooters! A unique sledding sport now available in the Acadian Peninsula thanks to Centre Plein Air Les Gailurons. With trails from just 1km to over 6km, this place has something for everyone of all difficulty levels and interests. You can rent your equipment from them and even book at a discounted rate with a large group! Plan your visit now to try something new this winter.
Pinokkio Resto-bar | Shippagan
This restaurant bar has a moody atmosphere, tasty drinks, and a to-die-for menu, making for a great visit any day of the week. They have a woodfired pizza oven to make their pizzas with traditional practices, ensuring the best quality for you to savour. With a wide selection of dishes from steak and seafood to pasta and international cuisine, this restaurant has something for everyone. Pair your meal with their selection of wines and domestic and imported beers. Check out their social media to get a sneak peek at the mouth-watering dishes they serve.
DAY 3: Trip to Bathurst
Sentier Nepisiguit Mi’gmaq Trail | Bathurst
This 144 km long trail is open year-round and starts in Bathurst. With amazing views of rivers, waterfalls, and paths through the forest, this is a must when visiting the Acadian Peninsula. You can start at the beginning of this trail and turn around when you have had enough or take a joining trail back to your starting point. Or you can start anywhere along the route and make the hike as challenging as you want, from a little walk in the woods to a full-day hike up to a viewpoint. Enjoy the iced waterfalls and the serene scenes of the frozen forest from one of New Brunswick’s most iconic trails.
Mercado General | Bathurst
To improve your health, lifestyle, and mindset, Mercado General is an amazing boutique offering hand-selected Canadian products to help you live your best life. Stop in and say hi to the friendly staff that can help you discover the best products for your needs or just have a chat. Their products are of the highest quality, including skin care, jewelry, housewares, cannabis accessories, coffee and teas, stationery, and gifts for your loved ones. This boutique is designed to give you a leisurely shopping experience while showcasing the best that the Chaleur Region and Canada offer.
Bathurst Heritage Museum | Bathurst
This non-profit organization is run by volunteers passionate about preserving the history, heritage, and genealogy of the Bathurst community. They have a database of thousands of names and facts in their archives and are waiting for YOU to stop by and find your ancestral connection to Gloucester Country, New Brunswick. They have artifacts on display varying from photos, archives, genealogical documents and histories of the native indigenous culture, as well as exhibits that represent the general life of people in the area in the early days. Ready to make the past come alive? Stop by next time you are in town.
B&G Motorsports | Bathurst
Ready to get outside and explore the great outdoors? B&G Motorsports has snowmobile rentals ready and looking for their next adventurer. With fast, easy booking and a trail pass included in your rental, you can explore northern New Brunswick’s wilderness the most East Coast way possible by snowmobile. Being a family business with over 40 years of experience, this is the place to go if you want to rip around in the snow this winter. They even offer a service where a guide tags along with you and your group to show you the ropes and take you on a customized trip that will ensure you have a good time. Book now to set out on your next adventure.