New Brunswick Staycation Summer ideas in Bathurst

Next up in our Staycation Summer Series: Bathurst!

This summer, we’re asking folks from around New Brunswick to share the hidden gems and must-see spots in their hometowns. In this podcast episode, travel blogger Jenna MacDonald (check her out at There’s a Shoe for That) gives us her guide to the Bathurst region.

Click the play button below for all the details, but here are a few of the highlights she mentions:

If you’re coming to Bathurst from an adventure in Miramichi (listen to our previous episode with Miramichi Mayor Adam Lordon for his guide to the area), Jenna suggests making the drive along the Acadian Peninsula and visiting communities such as Tracadie, Caraquet, and Shippigan. A few notable attractions in this area include the Village Historique Acadien and the New Brunswick Aquarium.
For your stay in the Bathurst region, she suggests the Atlantic Host Hotel (just off the highway, amazing breakfast, and the Pickle Planet kiddos’ favourite hotel pool ever!) or renting a local cottage, such as Motel and Cottages L’Acadien By The Sea. For a couples’ getaway, Jenna recommends Gîte Toutes Saisons (and their seafood omelette).
And when it comes to eating, make sure to plan a trip back in time to enjoy an authentic drive in meal (Jenna says to get the Danny Burger) at the Big D Drive In.
There are incredible beaches throughout the region, including Beresford and Youghall Beach for those looking to enjoy sand bars and park amenities (including a great ship-themed playground), Petit Rocher & Baie Verte for sea glass, and Belledune for fossil hunting on the rock wall.
Jenna shares a few playground recommendations on the podcast, including her favourite spot to take the kids: Inch Arran Lion’s Club Playground in Dalhousie, where you can enjoy the campground, swimming pool, spalsh pad, beach, Inch Arran Lighthouse, and the best ice cream around at Bon Ami Bar Laitier.
We know lots of families love exploring waterfalls; if this is your family, make it a point to visit Pabineau Falls. For those up for more adventure, plan to hike the Nepisiguit Mi’gmaq Trail, a 130-kilometre trail that winds along the Nepisiguit River, taking you from Daly Point Nature Reserve in Bathurst to Mount Carleton Park. (This year was meant to be the inaugural Mi’gmaq100 Race, a 100-mile journey that you can now do at your own pace and share in the fun on Strava.)
For a less intense, yet also amazing natural experience that’s still a hidden gem, be sure to visit Paul at the Jacquet River Gorge. Tell him Jenna & the Pickle Planet podcast sent you — and make plans to visit again in the fall for the colours.

And as you explore this area of New Brunswick, be sure to keep an eye out for the phantom ship that’s said to haunt the Bay of Chaleur!

Have more fun spots you’d suggest in the Bathurst & Chaleur Region? Drop them in the comments below – we know we’re only scratching the surface of each region we profile! Don’t forget to listen to our other episodes for great ideas on how to make the most of a #StaycationSummer in New Brunswick!