When you’re exploring the glorious Miramichi River in New Brunswick, it feels like you are uncovering a really well kept secret. It’s remote and low-key, but populated by the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. Here’s what you should do there:
Stay in a tree house
Camping Miramichi currently has four tree houses (they are building more) that come equipped with double beds and bunk beds, with a deck outside that (cleverly) looks over the campsite playground so you can sip on a beer while the kids run free at ground level. Each tree house has a private bathroom just a short walk away, as well as a BBQ and fire-pit.
Make your lazy way down the river
Head to Stewart’s Tubing where they’ll equip you, your dog and your cooler with a tube and then drop you off up river so you can float your way back down. The trip takes one to three hours depending on the current, and is a thoroughly lethargic and leisurely experience.
Then Zipline across it
Halfway down the river, you float under Over the Hill Zipline’s 1100ft line, and can stop and have a go before continuing on your way (or just drive up there afterwards). What’s especially neat is that they let small children ride tandem with their parents.
Fish where royalty and presidents do
The Miramichi has the best salmon fishing in the world, which is why George Bush, Dick Cheney, Prince Philip, Bobby Orr, and Tom Selleck have all stayed at the 4.5 star Ledges Inn in Doaktown and fished there. Everything in this tiny village is dedicated to salmon fishing, and if you’re on a more meager budget, then the Atlantic Salmon Museum there will help you get out on the river, or teach you to tie a fly.
Eat the fish
At the Angler’s Reel restaurant in blink-and-you’ll-miss-it downtown Miramichi, you can get salmon prepared 20 different ways (the blackened was darned fine), as well as various other delicious seafood dishes and non-fishy dinners. The restaurant has a huge deck over the river where you can sit sipping on a cocktail as the sun sets, watching pleasure boaters cruise past.
Absorb some Acadian history
When the English chased the Acadians out of New Brunswick, many took sanctuary on beautiful Beaubears Island, only to die of disease and starvation. The island later became a ship building site, and playground for locals, before being set up as a National Historic Site. Parks Canada organizes tours where actors take you on an interpretive tour of the Island, after getting you out there by boat.