Hey guys!! If you've been following along on stories, you may have seen our dreamy vacation to the Acadian Peninsula this past weekend! This was our first time exploring the area, and we are already planning our next trip back! I'm going to go into some detail on what we did and you can bookmark this page for when you're planning!

Check-in at Chalet de la Plage
Upon arrival we checked into our sweet little cottage at Chalet de la Plage. The cottages are located steps from the beach and as soon as you slip off your shoes you get that vacation feeling. We stayed in a two bedroom cottage (Chalet 22) and it had a full kitchen, bathroom, living room, everything you need to be comfortable for a few days! The beach is stunning, there are beach loungers and cabana umbrellas that truly make you feel like you're somewhere down south! The resort is perfect for families, the whole time I was there I was thinking this would be such a perfect spot for my cousins to come with all their kiddos. Right outside the cottages there is a splash pad and playground. Everything feels super close and comfortable. The water (while we were there) was also very calm and you could walk so far out without it passing your knees. Serene! On their website it also shows what the cottages are like during the winter months, which I also think would be so fun to experience!

Explore Carrefour de la Mer
Before dinner we headed down to Carrefour de la Mer, it's a cute little boardwalk with so much going on. It hosts cultural events, there are all kinds of restaurants, little shops, and a gorgeous view of all the docked boats on the water. My favourite part was stopping into all the artist studios and galleries along the boardwalk. There, you can shop their work and in some cases, watch them work. The scene is so pretty and there is a little bench & seating area perched at the furthest point by the water, another stunning spot to catch the sunset!

Diner at Origines Cuisine Maritimes
Okay - this dinner was amazing at Origines Cuisine. We experienced their 5 course tasting menu with wine pairings with each. Holy cow. It was awesome. The restaurant is so pretty with an urban vibe. We took the occasion to dress up and call it a date night, which I would also suggest! hehe. The restaurant is located by the water and if your seated near the window, I bet the sunset is spectacular. I can't say enough good things about the food, and also the cocktails. Oh, and the desert too. The staff were so cute, Justin doesn't speak any french and they were so accommodating to that and were so so so so nice! We can't wait to go back there!!

Explore the Acadian Isles
After breakfast we hit the road en route to Miscou Island. It feels like the edge of the world over there. It's so peaceful, remote and picturesque you literally feel like you're inside of a painting. The beaches are so beautiful, I could have stayed there all day. We climbed to the top of the lighthouse and the view was absolutely breathtaking, it feels like the view you'd see from a drone! It is the pefect spot to plan to stay for a couple hours for a beachside picnic, with so many photo ops!

Lamèque Island
Pop in to the famous candy-coloured church in Petite-Rivière-de-l’Île, called Sainte-Cecilia Catholic Church. This little church was the cutest thing ever. It feels like a movie set. The gentleman there explained all about the process of painting the church and the meanings behind all of the symbols leading up the walls. You'd never guess that this church looks like it does by just passing by. Definitely worth a stop in! The history mixed with the colours and the grandness of the church is such a sight.

Shippagan
Nestled between Chaleur Bay and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Shippagan's seafaring tradition is as alive today as it was in the past, with the largest fleet of inshore and offshore fishing vessels in New Brunswick calling the harbour home. The sight of the giant boats at the Shippagan marina is nothing short of impressive! And a great photo op! All of the colours are so vibrant and you need to see the scale of these ships for yourself, in person!

Café Maris Stella
After our mini road trip to Miscou Island, we stopped into Café Maris Stella for lunch! This cafe is adorable and has seating inside, on hanging chairs in their sunroom, their rooftop terrace as well as their downstairs patio. Their menu had both breakfast and lunch options, as well as their locally brewed coffee. I tried the eggs benedicts, and Justin ordered their club sandwich, highly recommend both! The atmosphere is calm and relaxing and the staff were so sweet!! We couldn’t have picked a more perfect day to enjoy lunch on their outdoor patio.

Fils du Roy Distillery
Make your way to Petit-Paquetville to visit Fils Du Roy Distillery, famous for the award winning “Gin Thuya”. A little tour takes you through barrels aging, copper stills, bags of barley and oats fill the space while you’re being guided through and explained the process of making beer, whiskey, vodka, gin, rum and specialty liquors. The tour ends by a thorough tasting experience. Their staff is so knowledgeable and passionate about their process, it was fascinating to see all of the steps that go into the distilling process! They have been expanding their space over the years as their family owned business keeps growing! I bet they will be even bigger by out next visit! There you can also pick up some product to take home, we left with their award winning brandi! Definitely an experience you don’t want to miss if you’re in the area!

Diner at Mitchan Sushi
Mitchan Sushi is based an ancestral Acadian house located in Caraquet where you can discover their varied menu which includes typical Japanese dishes (tempura, teriyaki, maki, sashimi, etc.) as well as some original creations inspired by local produce. We enjoyed our dinner on their outside terrace surrounded by string lights, lush vines and floral window boxes. We ordered so much sushi, you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but my personal favourite was the Acadian roll and a cosmopolitan! It was the perfect date night with incredible food.

La Brokerie
A local favourite hang-out on the waterfront boardwalk, La Brokerie! It’s a cheery spot for a drink on the wharf both day and night, with string lights glowing all around their sprawling patio. When the ocean breeze gets too chilly you can always find a comfy spot inside to sip on one of their specialty cocktails or local beers. We enjoyed a seat outside with some live local music. The atmosphere was so fun and felt like you were in the homiest spot in the heart of the maritimes. Being on a boardwalk with drinks and live music are the kind of summer nights you strive for. Definitely recommend, something about it just makes you feel like home <3.

Breakfast at Grains de Folie
If you're looking for a Parisian experience in the Maritimes, head to Grains de Folie. The pastries are out of this world. You can opt for breakfast there, or like we did, and a plate full of croissants, cake, etc, because they looked way too good to order just one. We also ordered iced mochas, highly suggest. We sat outside and the vibe is just so cute and chill. Each time we drove by the restaurant and outside patio were always filled with guests, It's a popular spot, and now we know why!

Village Historique Acadien
The Village Historique Acadien located in Bertrand, is exactly the wholesome fun you didn’t know you needed! We loved learning about the 1700 and 1800s through preserved general stores, hotels, barns, and various family homes. It's such a fun little adventure and I think kids would love it too. Seeing the insides of all of the little houses and buildings was so fascinating. The storytellers in each spot recount real stories and history of the time. There are horses, chickens, sheep, and other farm animals throughout, It feels like you're in a storybook! After a couple hours strolling the grounds, we took a seat on their outdoor terrace at the Bistro for a very tasty 21st century Poke Bowl and the best traditional sugar pie around!

Grande-Anse
Grande-Anse is a drive where you feel like you need to pull over every 600m because there is a new view of the ocean that you need to see. The houses on these properties stare out into the endless ocean, and you really start thinking about picking up your life and moving here! My favourite view would have to be the Pokeshaw Rocks. They are so stunning, and are one of those things that make you say, man New Brunswick is beautiful. Before heading home we grabbed a last bite at le Cantine De La Plage and spent the morning swimming at the beach and collecting sea glass.

I can’t wait to see about your travels to the Acadian Peninsula!! Definitely let me know if you use this as your guide for your next trip and let me know what you think!! Let me know your favourite spots so we’ll be sure to hit them the next time we’re in town!

xx

Allie

*This post was in partnership with Destination NB