Family Fun and Adventure on the Northern Odyssey

Take it easy or find a new adventure with the family on the Northern Odyssey! There’s so much natural beauty to discover and plenty of activities for all ages. Pack up and get ready to make new memories!

Acadian Peninsula

Are you heading out on a road trip to discover the Acadian Peninsula? There are plenty of indoor and outdoor activities for the whole family! Here are 8 things for you to discover this summer. 

Make sure you pack your bikes! The Véloroute de la Péninsule acadienne is “610 km of happiness” consisting of trails that connect 14 municipalities. Over half the trails are paved, and the Peninsula is relatively flat...it's perfect for an afternoon with the kids.

The New Brunswick Aquarium and Marine Center is located in Shippagan and is Atlantic Canada's largest aquarium. They have a touch tank, lobster collection, and lots of activities. Make sure to time your visit to watch the seals get fed (11am and 4pm every day)!

The Acadian Village (between Grande-Anse and Bertrand) is a cultural experience that you can't get anywhere else. The Village is a historical site depicting the lives of the Acadian people from 1770-1949, including original buildings and costumed bilingual guides. There are workshops, great restaurants and they even have escape rooms right in the heart of the village! 

If you're looking for a great family-friendly campground, Camping Aquaparc de la Rivière Tracadie is perfect! The campground features an inflatable water playground with a trampoline, waterslides and an obstacle course. The kids will love it (and the adults too). 

Want to get out on the water? Sup Péninsule and Kayak Péninsule in Tracadie are perfect for an afternoon of paddleboarding or kayaking with the kids. They offer guided tours, lessons, and have all the gear for an afternoon of fun and exercise! 

Ready for an adventure? Akrö Outfitters provides guided striped bass fishing tours in Miscou. They provide all the gear, great tips and will even show you where to find the fish! You never know, you might catch a big one!

Arrr, matey! Treasure hunts are usually found in fiction, but not here! Deux îles, Mille Trésors will send you and your family on an adventure around Lamèque and Miscou islands.

After your treasure hunt, you can check out the Miscou Lighthouse! On your way, check out the Miscou Peat Bog Boardwalk. When you arrive, climb to the top of the lighthouse to view the Chaleur Bay and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Then, stay for a meal at the Lightkeeper's Café, and browse through locally handcrafted goods at the la Grange du Guardien!

Did you fall in love with Miscou Island? If you want to stay close to the beach, Camping LaVague has tenting sites right on the water and campers and chalets to rent for the week for a more extended stay! 

Chaleur Region

The Chaleur region stretches from Pokeshaw to Belledune. It is a tranquil and friendly place to bring the family for a vacation this summer! Stretching 100km along the coast of the Bay of Chaleur (voted one of the most beautiful bays in the world!) you're sure to have a memorable experience discovering what there is to offer.

The Chaleur communities are known for their warm saltwater beaches, hospitality, and hidden gems as a coastal area.

Belledune

Located off Roherty Point Road, Roherty Point Beach is great for beachcombing and finding treasures! It's also a great place to bring a blanket and watch the sunset from the shore.

Hungry? Make sure to grab lunch at Culligan's Take-Out before you go! 

Petit Rocher 

The Parc de la Plage in Petit-Rocher is a great place to let the kids explore! There are washroom facilities on site, a small playground and a picnic area to have lunch. 

Craving a sweet treat after your beach day? Make sure to swing by L'igloo Petit-Rocher... they're serving up delicious ice cream treats all summer (we hear they have Oreo dipped cones)!

Beresford 

Located in the town of Beresford, Beresford Beach is a great place to spend the afternoon! There are kayak rentals to use in the neighbouring lagoon, picnic tables, and of course, the beach! You can walk forever along the shore collecting treasures or jump in for a swim! 

If your family would rather swim in freshwater, there's a local swimming hole close by! La Parc du Vieux Moulin is located on the Nigadoo River, and is a great place to spend the afternoon. 

Bathurst 

Youghall Beach Park is where you'll find the best sand! The beach is cleaned with a beach-combing machine early every morning, leaving pristine sand for beachgoers. If you're a boating family, there is a boat slip at the furthest tip of the park. The canteen is open daily from 11:30am to 6:30pm, and washroom and shower facilities are available.

Youghall Beach stretches for over 5 kilometres and there are several areas for you to access this gem. Cottages and homes line this area, and people come from all over to stay in this beautiful area! 

Other access points: 

Access via Youghall Drive: 

• Where Youghall Drive meets Queen Elizabeth Drive, there is a boardwalk for public access, leading to the best sandbars. 

Access via Kent Lodge st:

•  At the intersection of Kent Lodge st and Jacques Cartier st is also public access. A great place to walk and pick up sea glass or have a bonfire! 

Just outside Bathurst towards the Acadian Peninsula ('downshore' as the locals say), you'll find Pokeshaw Beach. This beach is a real gem! Surrounded by steep banks, a fantastic lookout faces Pokeshaw Rock, where there is always a cormorant gathering! Make sure to come at low tide to observe hidden rock formations. Keep in mind there is a $2 entrance fee per person.

If you find yourself in that direction, Daly Point Nature Preserve is a wonderful spot for a family walk. Bring a bag of bird seeds and maybe you’ll make a chickadee friend! On your way back, stop at Emma’s Shake Shack on the side of Theriault’s Grocery for the best milkshakes in town. 

If you're staying around the Bathurst area, there are plenty of things to see and do. 

Coronation Park has something for everyone! There is a splash pad and a playground for the younger kids, and a basketball court and a disc golf course for those a little older! The paved walking trail stretches in a loop and is great for biking, rollerblading, and longboarding. The park also features shelters with picnic tables so you can have lunch and relax while the kids play! 

For something a little more challenging with bigger kids, you'd probably want to check out the Nepisiguit Mi'gmaq Trail. This trail is 150km of backcountry between Bathurst and Mt. Carleton Provincial Park, and it is broken up into smaller sections. The trail has a rich Indigenous history, incredible scenery, and teepees you can reserve to sleep in! 

Before you leave, you have to check out Andrea's Confectionery! Andrea was just named top 5 places for candy in Atlantic Canada by Atlantic Business Magazine! The kids will fall in love with this candy store. Andrea has everything from Jelly Belly jellybeans to handcrafted small-batch chocolates! There are so many delectable treasures in this store, you'll have a hard time choosing!

Wanting to stay and looking for a kid-friendly campground? 

Malybel Camping has a pool, a waterslide, mini-putt, an arcade and… need we say more? Malybel is conveniently located close to Youghall beach, so there won't be a shortage of fun activities! 

Restigouche 

If you're heading to the Restigouche, you must love the outdoors! Camping, canoeing, hiking… it's an outdoor enthusiast's paradise! So get ready to have some fun and check out these great activities. 

Have you ever wanted to 'run the river'? GP Canoe Aventure in St-Jean Baptist gives you the freedom to experience the Restigouche River up close and personal! Grab the family and head out for a day trip or an overnighter, and fall in love with this mountainous, wild region. 

The kids will love Sugarloaf Provincial Park. Camp in a yurt, hike up Sugarloaf Mountain, or hit some downhill trails at the bike park! There's so much to do in this natural area; you're guaranteed to have a great day!

If you travel a bit south of Campbellton, you'll come upon the quaint town of Charlo, where you'll be delighted to find the Charlo Honeyhouse! They offer full tours with bee suits to experience the day-to-day of a beekeeper. At the end of the your visit, you'll head back to the interpretation center and have the opportunity to extract your own honey (Mmmmm). 

Hungry after spending the afternoon with the bees? You have to grab a fresh woodfired pizza from Atelier Gourmand!

Madawaska 

The Madawaska region of New Brunswick is located in the Northwestern 'panhandle' that borders Quebec and Maine. It's a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you're here for a day or staying a while, there are plenty of things to discover! 

It's time to get outside and discover all the biking trails the region has to offer! The Petit Témis biking trail is perfect for everyone. Choose your own adventure with over 134km of trail following the Madawaska, passing through the New Brunswick Botanical Garden and République Provincial Park, and eventually reaching lake Témiscouata in the Province of Quebec.  

For the adrenaline enthusiasts, just two minutes outside of downtown are 60km of single-track Mountain biking trails. 

Need to cool off on a hot summer day? Lac Baker Beach is where you need to be! Relax by the lake, swim, bring a picnic… the day is yours! Kayak, pedal board and paddle board rentals are available at the Rest-O-Lac Campground. 

Edmundston is home to the New Brunswick Botanical Garden! Get some fresh air with the family, and discover beautiful species of flowers and plants. At the end of your visit, we recommend heading over to Le Patrimoine restaurant for a delicious wood-fired pizza. 

Have you ever wanted to try kayaking but haven't had the opportunity? Kasakayak is a canoe and kayak rental service located in St-Joseph of Madawaska. You'll have a great day paddling down the Green River (and they'll even drive you back to your car at the end)! We suggest packing your own lunch and refreshments from a local café!

Are you convinced yet? Grab the family and come see what awaits!