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There are numerous ways to embrace New Brunswick’s Acadian culture and history across the Peninsula. A visit to the town of Caraquet, located on the shores of the Acadian Peninsula, is a perfect summer destination to experience Acadian culture, history, and coastal charm.
Credit: New Brunswick Tourism
From exploring the Acadian Historic Village and strolling the Caraquet Heritage Circuit, here are the top activities and ways to make the best of your trip.
Acadian Culture, History, & More in Caraquet
Village Historique Acadien/ Credit: New Brunswick Tourism
- Musée acadien de Caraquet has a wealth of artifacts to help visitors learn about the first Caraquet families, early industry, and local culture. Dive deeper into Acadian culture and history with a visit to the Acadian Historic Village (open June-September); the open-air museum includes interpretive trails and historic buildings to explore.
- The museum is along the same route as the Caraquet Heritage Circuit. This self-guided walking tour brings you to 21 different heritage sites. The tour follows the scenic roads which run parallel to the waterfront.
- Seafood is often sought after by visitors to the Maritimes. And a visit to Caraquet will bring you to several options for the region’s biggest seafood export, oysters! Learn about the delicacy and how to properly eat and savour the oysters with Caraquet’s Oyster Eco-Museum! The tasting experience includes many opportunities to learn about the Dugas family, who started and still own the museum, Acadian privateers, and the history of the oyster industry in Caraquet.
- No matter when you visit Caraquet this year, there will likely be time to fit in one of the live shows at the Caraquet Cultural Centre, playing all summer long. The community is home to a second venue, the Théâtre populaire d’Acadie, whose season runs during the late winter and early spring.
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Local Beaches and Waterfront Parks
Caraquet’s Plage Foley is a scenic local park with a small sandy beach area, a lighthouse, picnic tables and shelters, and trail access. Follow the shoreline for a short drive to Bas-Carquet, home to its own local and larger beach.
Credit: New Brunswick Tourism
- Bas-Caraquet, a smaller village to the east of Caraquet, is home to a beautiful Municipal Beach with picnic space, a swimming area, a splash pad, and facilities like washrooms/changerooms (next to the Les Chalets de la plage de Bas-Caraquet).
The Best Hiking & Cycling Trails near Caraquet
Sightseeing around the Caraquet region is made easy and convenient with e-bike rentals available at the local Tourist Information Centre on St. Peter Boulevard. From here, the guides can offer route recommendations and ideas on where to stop. Whether you choose to explore by car, foot, bike, or e-bike, the area has several trails and route options. Each route will offer differing scenery, ranging from coastal shorelines and beaches to forests, meadows, and creeks.
- The Acadian Peninsula Cycle Route includes over 600km of bike path. And of those, roughly 70km are off-road and paved. The cycle route can connect those in Caraquet with Bas-Caraquet, Shippagan, Bertrand, and much further around the peninsula. The Caraquet section of the Cycle Route is 8.5km in length.
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Summer Events in Caraquet
There will be summer festivals in Caraquet from early to late in the season. Experience the local culinary and drinking scene, explore various aspects of Acadian culture, indulge in shopping, and discover a range of art exhibits through several events in Caraquet this summer.
- FestiVin and The Great Tastings are considered to be one of the major kick-off parties to summer and tourism season on the Acadian Peninsula. The festival is a celebration of local cuisine and drink through tasting events, seminars, and workshops.
- Caraquet’s Atlantic Visual Arts Festival (or Festival des arts visuels en Atlantique) is currently releasing the festival lineup week-by-week, which includes a variety of artists and their different media.
- The Acadie Love Pride Rendezvous is the region’s annual pride festival set to include fun and activities for all ages, live music and concert events, talks, and workshops.
- The Festival Acadien de Caraquet is a decades-long tradition in Caraquet, with popularity among residents of all the Atlantic Provinces. This celebration of Acadian and French culture will include three weekends of concerts and the Great Downtown Event in Caraquet.
The Best of Caraquet Dining
New Brunswick Tourism
It is not difficult to find excellent local food and drink experiences around Caraquet, especially during the warmer months, with patios open, or the food trucks and smaller vendors out on the streets. Plus, Caraquet’s annual market is open for summer and fall only, and offers a huge array of fresh eats.
- The annual Caraquet Regional Market has a wide array of tasty treats available from different vendors. Browse fresh oysters and seafood, berries, maple syrups, baked goods and sweets, or many other non-edible goods! The market has several great options for picnic foods, also available from Les Blancs D’Arcadie Cheese Factory.
- Get delicious takeout and casual dining options from Caraquet fixtures like Dixie Lee, Double D, Restaurant L’Oriental, Greco Pizza, or Pizza Delight.
- Gather with friends or family at Caraquet’s local restaurants that are better for a sit-down meal, like Restaurant du Quai, La Brôkerie Bistro Bar by the sea, Tarrazu, and Mitchan Sushi.
- Sip and savour the locally made drinks of all kinds, or those from local pubs, from places in Caraquet like Distillerie Fils du Roy, Bobby Comptoir Lunch, L’appât Café, or Dooly’s.
Caraquet Accommodations
New Brunswick Tourism
There are several different ways to stay in Caraquet! When it comes to camping alone, there are options for tent and trailer sites, glamping options, or cabin and cottage rentals. And aside from camping, Caraquet is home to numerous types of lodging, including hotels, motels, historic inns, and more.
- Take in the area’s natural beauty with a waterfront stay at historic Hotel Paulin, Les Chalets de la plage de Bas-Caraquet, Auberge de la Baie-Hôtel, the Super 8, or the L’Isle-Du-Randonneur B&B.
- Elevated camping experiences are available with both the Hotel Estrella Glamping and the Dugas Tourist House. Also available at the Dugas Tourist House are cottage rentals and room rentals for the historic mansion.
- More campsites and lodging options are available with the Marina de Bas-Caraquet, or Camping Colibri.
- A handful of private rental options, from apartments to multi-room homes, cabins, and cottages, are available on sites like Airbnb.
