New Brunswick's Acadian Coast Offers Specialty Whiskey, Seaside Glamping, and Colorful Festivals

The Acadian people, descendants of the original French settlers occupying the northeastern region of North America, have called New Brunswick home since the 1600s. The Acadian Coast spans nearly 250 miles along the eastern seaboard of the province, with the Acadian Peninsula jutting into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. English and French are both spoken in New Brunswick, Canada's only bilingual province, and its Acadian heritage offers rich cultural experiences all along the coast.

National Acadian Day is honored every August 15, and in 2019 travelers can celebrate in Dieppe, New Brunswick with the World Acadian Congress, an international festival that has taken place for 25 years. The festival invites travelers to discover Acadian music, cuisine, and traditions for the entire month of August with events and workshops leading up to the great parade of Tintamarre on National Acadian Day. During the parade, visitors will march through the community with improvised instruments and noisemakers to demonstrate the vitality of Acadian society. Afterwards, an outdoor concert will take place, featuring traditional music by emerging and established artists.

New experiences on the Acadian Coast in 2019 include:

Seaside Cielo Glamping

A place to reconnect with nature, the Cielo Glamping Maritime is a new four-season resort in Haut-Shippagan, offering five all-equipped glamping domes. The domes are located in the heart of the Acadian Peninsula, and visitors can watch the sun set over the sea each night. Skylights enable guests to stargaze from the comfort of a sofa on the second floor, and domes come equipped with a private patio, wood-fired hot tub, seasonal outside shower, barbecue, and waterfront hammock. Price starts at $180 CAD per night.

Taste and Tour at an Acadian Distillery

Distillerie Fils Du Roy, a local family-owned distillery founded in 2011, is committed to recognizing historical events and creating limited edition bottles in tribute to their Acadian heritage. This year, the team created 415 bottles of a limited-edition single malt whiskey, one for each of the 415 years since the French settlements and birth of Acadia in 1604, and dedicated the production to the World Acadian Congress. They also produce a signature Sour Mash Brut with sour mash typically used to produce whiskey, which is an experimental technique unique to the distillery. In 2019, the distillery will begin constructing its own Malt House spanning over 700 acres. Once completed, all whiskey will be made from the malt processed onsite. Complimentary tours and tastings are available year-round.

Kayak Seafood Excursion

Travelers can eat like a local on a three-hour journey with NB Explorer through the Tracadie River by kayak. Participants will go clamming and fishing for mussels along the sandy coast, using the traditional techniques practiced by fisherman with their families and friends. The trip begins in the traditional Acadian fishing village of Val-Comeau, located between the Grand Tracadie River and the Gulf of Northumberland. After working up an appetite kayaking through salt water channels, an experienced guide will cook the fresh clams and mussels directly on the shore. The seafood feast will be paired with seasonal fruits and beverages. The excursion is priced at $75 per adult, $60 per child, and $220 for a family pass (includes two adults and two children).

New Flavor and Traditional Techniques

New culinary adventures also await travelers' taste buds on the Acadian Coast. The Origines Cuisine Maritime restaurant was established last spring by owner and Chef Benjamin Cormier after returning to his home region of Caraquet, New Brunswick. The restaurant sits on the shore of the Acadian peninsula, offering beautiful views of the sea. A gourmet tasting menu is dedicated to serving the freshest local foods which change seasonally with the tides.

Visitors can take a cooking class in a 19th century kitchen at the Village Historique Acadien, a historic site with more than 40 restored buildings, including several farmsteads, a tavern, and a school. The living museum is staffed with interpreters portraying the daily lives of Acadians. Culinary enthusiasts will prepare an entire meal from start to finish and learn to cook over an open fire in Madame Savoie's home. Afterwards, guests can visit the general store and boutique, or stop by the Café-Bistro du Village for a slice of famous sugar pie. Cooking classes are available daily June 23 - September 14 and priced at $75 per person.

For more information on New Brunswick, visit https://www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca/.

About Atlantic Canada Agreement on Tourism (ACAT):
This project has been made possible through funding provided by the Atlantic Canada Agreement on Tourism (ACAT). ACAT is a nine-member pan-Atlantic initiative comprising the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the four Atlantic Canada Tourism Industry Associations, and the four Provincial Departments responsible for tourism.

For more information on the four provinces, visit these websites or follow on social media:

New Brunswick
Web: http://www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca
Instagram: @DestinationNB
Twitter: @SeeNewBrunswick
Facebook: @DestinationNB

Nova Scotia
Web: http://www.novascotia.com
Instagram: @VisitNovaScotia
Twitter: @VisitNovaScotia
Facebook: @NovaScotia

Newfoundland and Labrador
Web: http://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com
Instagram: @newfoundlandlabrador
Twitter: @NLtweets
Facebook: @NewfoundlandLabradorTourism

Prince Edward Island
Web: http://www.tourismpei.com
Instagram: @tourismpei
Twitter: @tourismpei
Facebook: @tourismpei

To post a comment, you must register and login.