The quiet coastal villages, beaches, and gentle surf of the Acadian peninsula have made it a favorite vacation destination. Established here since the 1600s, the Acadians have long enjoyed a reputation for prosperous farming, pretty villages and a strong folk music tradition.

In Shippagan, the small fishing town at the tip of the mainland, the Marine Centre and Aquarium  holds tanks with over 3,000 specimens of Atlantic sealife and displays on local fishing industries.

Nearby, the Lamèque and Miscou islands are connected by causeways to the mainland. On Miscou Island, a 1-km (0.5-mile) boardwalk leads through a peat bog with signs about this unique ecosystem. The 35-m (85-ft) high Miscou Lighthouse is the oldest operating wooden lighthouse in Canada.

Home to many Acadian artists, Caraquet is the busy cultural center of the peninsula. On the waterfront, adventure centers offer guided kayak trips on the Baie des Chaleurs. For those wanting an introduction to the story of the Acadians, the Acadian Wax Museum  features a self-guided audio tour past 23 tableaus from Acadian history. The scenes begin with the founding of the “Order of the Good Times” at Annapolis Royal in 1604 and focus on the expulsion of 1755.