French
DeutschShédiac is a town of 6,700 people (2016) on the north coast of southeastern New Brunswick. It calls itself the "lobster capital of the world".
Understand
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Shediac is a French-Acadian community about a 15-minute drive from Moncton. A sort of resort town, Shediac boasts many public and private beaches, quaint bed and breakfasts, and ok food! It is quite active during the summer months and not so much the rest of the year as it is a tourist community.
History
[edit | edit source]Hundreds of years ago, the Mi'kmaq encampment of "Es-ed-ei-ik" was one of the major camps in southeast New Brunswick. The Mi'kmaq word "Es-ed-ei-ik" which means "running far in" (in reference to the tide, which has a long range over the shallow, sandy beaches) eventually transformed into Gédaique.
Acadians first arrived at Shediac in 1751 as a result of the Acadian Exodus from peninsular Nova Scotia. During the French and Indian War, French officer Charles Deschamps de Boishebert made his headquarters at both Shediac and Cocagne, New Brunswick. In the autumn of 1755, Boishebert established himself on the south shore of Cocagne Bay, a place known as Boishebert's Camp. The following year, Boishebert moved to Miramichi, New Brunswick, specifically to Beaubears Island. After the war, Acadians returned to the region in 1767.
Today many Francophone residents use the spelling Shédiac; however, the town's name upon its incorporation did not feature an accented "e", and correspondingly the official geographic name for the community is Shediac.
Get in
[edit | edit source]Most transportation options other than driving include some connection in Moncton, New Brunswick, the closest metropolitan area 20 km west of Shediac.
By plane
[edit | edit source]The Greater Moncton International Airport is on Route 15 in Dieppe, a fifteen minute drive from Shediac.
By train
[edit | edit source]Moncton Via Rail station is a 15-minute drive from Shediac.
By car
[edit | edit source]- From Moncton (highway): New Brunswick Route 15 East.
- Moncton (scenic) : New Brunswick Route 134 East.
- From North Eastern New Brunswick: Route 11 South.
- From Nova Scotia: Trans-Canada to Route 15 East in Moncton until Shediac.
- From Maine: I-95 to 95 to Route 2 East.
By bus
[edit | edit source]Maritime Bus has service once a day from Moncton that follows the coast northward as far as Miramichi.
Get around
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Getting around Shediac is easiest with a motor vehicle, however depending on where you are staying it is easy to get around the little town on foot or bicycle. Main Street connects most of the main tourist attractions in Shediac, though traffic is heavy in the summertime.
See
[edit | edit source]- Pointe-du-Chene Wharf, From your seat in one of the restaurants, gaze into the ocean, take a look at the many boats who call the wharf home. Or, do as the locals often do and take a jump off the pier to cool off after a warm day in the sun.
- 1 The World's Largest Lobster (at the western entrance to the town). A sculpture called "The World's Largest Lobster". The statue is 11 metres long and 5 metres tall, weighing 90 tonnes. It isn't the largest -- that's in Qianjiang, Hubei, China -- but it would need 110,000 sticks of butter (melted) to serve properly.
Do
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- 1 Parlee Beach Provincial Park, 45 Chemin Parlee Beach, Pointe-du-Chêne, ☏ +1 506-533-3363, toll-free: +1-800-561-0123. Late May to early Oct. Beautiful beach boasting the warmest water north of Virginia. Restaurant, changing facilities, canteen, shops, cottages all available. It is very busy during the summer months. Campsites $28-38,. $13 per car entry/$100 season pass.
- Plage L'Aboiteau Another beautiful beach, 10-minute drive outside central Shediac. Full restaurant, changing facilities available only steps from the beach.
- Lobster Festival. A fun-filled week in mid-July of just about everything in Shediac. Fun for the family, parties for the adults, rides and live entertainment, lobster for everyone!
- 2 Croisières Shediac Bay Cruises, 60 Pointe-du-Chêne Wharf Rd, Pointe-du-Chêne, ☏ +1 (506) 532-2175, toll-free: +1 (888) 894-2002, info@shediacbaycruises.ca. Take a cruise around Shediac Bay and learn about the lobster industry that supports the local economy for generations.
- Neptune Drive-In (Cinéparc Neptune), 693 Route 133, Pointe-du-Chêne (near the Parlee Beach entrance), ☏ +1 506-351-0367, info@neptuneshediac.ca. May-Oct: Fri-Sun in May and Jun; Fri-Tue in Jul and Aug; Fri-Sat in Sep and Oct. Gates 8PM in high summer, earlier as dusk falls; closed November to April. Drive-in cinema open since 1965, showing double features on a 72-foot screen with sound over FM radio; room for 350 cars. French-language screenings on Tuesdays. The canteen serves smoked barbecue, poutine, and popcorn.
Buy
[edit | edit source]Many shops are located around the city, mostly within the Main Street/downtown district.
Eat
[edit | edit source]Shediac has some of the finest cuisine in Atlantic Canada, especially seafood!
- 1 Gabriele Restaurant, 296 Main St (in the Auberge Gabriele), ☏ +1 (506) 532-8007, toll-free: +1 (877) 980-7222. Wed, Thu, Sun 4PM-8PM, Fri-Sat 4PM-9PM. Seafood, meats, burgers, poutines. Mains $15-30. [dead link]
- 2 Maison Tait, 293 Main St, ☏ +1 506 532-4233, taithouseshediac@outlook.com. Thu-Sun from 5PM. Fantastic food, in an inn on Main Street. Seafood, steaks. Mains $20-$30. [dead link]
- 3 Captain Dan's, 50 Pointe Du Chêne Wharf Rd, Pointe-du-Chêne (on Point-du-Chene Wharf), ☏ +1 506 533-2855, info@captaindans.ca. Mon-Thu 4PM-9PM, Fri-Sun 11AM-9PM. A local hangout. Great atmosphere. Lobster, seafood, burgers, wraps.
- 4 Le Moque-Tortue (Bistro Le Moque-Tortue), 402 Main St, ☏ +1 506-532-4911, info@moquetortue.ca. Summer 11:30AM-9PM daily; winter 11:30AM-8PM. Alice in Wonderland-inspired French bistro: lobster, oysters, and mussels, Acadian dishes, a cocktail bar, and local craft beer. A board game library of over 2,300 titles; $10 per table, waived when everyone at the table orders a main. Reservations on OpenTable. Sandwiches $19-35, mains $29-33.
- Adorable Chocolat, 395 Main St (corner of Main and Smith), ☏ +1 506-351-0367, info@adorablechocolat.ca. Summer 7:30AM-9PM daily; winter 7:30AM-4:30PM. Chocolatier and European-style café making its own chocolate from organic cacao, with espresso, drinking chocolate, croissants and kouign-amann, macarons, and house ice cream and sorbet on a shaded terrace in summer. Vegan and gluten-free options.
- Morse et Marteaux, Smith & Main, 395-B Main St (beside Adorable Chocolat), ☏ +1 506-351-0367, info@morsemarteaux.ca. Barbecue smokehouse with a 1,000-gallon wood-fired offset smoker; takeout window and ice cream. Open year-round; hours vary by season.
- Morse et Marteaux, Parlee Beach East, 185 Parlee Beach Rd, Pointe-du-Chêne (inside Parlee Beach Provincial Park), ☏ +1 506-532-4006, info@morsemarteaux.ca. Summer noon-9PM. Beach canteen and tiki bar serving slow-smoked barbecue.
- 5 The Sandbar Restaurant & Lounge, 70 Pointe-du-Chêne Wharf Rd, Pointe-du-Chêne (on Point-du-Chene Wharf), ☏ +1 (506) 532-0074. Dockside seafood restaurant.
Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Le Griffon (Le Griffon Bed & Breakfast), 426 Main St (corner of Main and Gallagher), ☏ +1 506-532-5412, info@legriffon.ca. Check-in: 4PM-9PM, check-out: 11AM. Four-star B&B in an 1896 Italianate villa downtown. Five rooms, each with a private bathroom (four en suite), queen beds (one king), Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and TV; guest kitchen; free parking. Breakfast is served at Adorable Chocolat (395 Main St) from 7:30AM. Open year-round.
- 2 Hotel Shediac, 222 Belliveau Ave, ☏ +1 (506) 532-6100, toll-free: +1 (855) 836-6100, reservations@hotelshediac.ca. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. A full-service, 5-star, 60-room hotel in contemporary style. From $140.
- 3 Auberge Gabriele Inn, 296 Main Street, ☏ +1 (506) 532-8007, toll-free: +1-877-980-7222, info@aubergegabrieleinn.com. Check-out: 11AM. 12 rooms with a mix of antique furnishings and modern amenities, private bathroom, a queen, double or 2 twin beds and free wi-fi throughout. Full American breakfast, on-site restaurant. Free parking. From $109. [dead link]
Connect
[edit | edit source]Stay safe
[edit | edit source]Cope
[edit | edit source]Go next
[edit | edit source]| Routes through Shédiac |
| END ← Moncton ← | S  N | → Kouchibouguac National Park → Miramichi |
| END ← Moncton ← | W  E | → Port Elgin → END |