Lobster sculpture

Shédiac is a town of 6,700 people (2016) on the north coast of New Brunswick. It calls itself the "lobster capital of the world".

Understand

Shediac is a French-Acadian community about a 15-minute drive from Moncton, New Brunswick. 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

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

Most transportation options other than driving include some connection in Moncton, New Brunswick, the closest metropolitan area 20 km west of Shediac.

By plane

The Greater Moncton International Airport is on Route 15 in Dieppe, a fifteen minute drive from Shediac.

By train

Moncton Via Rail station is a 15-minute drive from Shediac.

By car

• 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

Maritime Bus has service once a day from Moncton that follows the coast northward as far as Miramichi.

Get around

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

• 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. (updated May 2019)

Do

• 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. (updated May 2019)
• 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! (updated May 2019)

Buy

Many shops are located around the city, mostly within the Main Street/downtown district.

Eat

Shediac has some of the finest cuisine in Atlantic Canada, especially seafood!

• Gabriele Restaurant, 296 Main St (in the Auberge Gabriele), ☏ +1 506 532-8007. Seafood, meats, burgers, poutines. Mains $15-30. (updated May 2019)
• Maison Tait, 293 Main St, ☏ +1 506 532-4233. Th-Su from 5PM. Fantastic food, in an inn on Main Street. Seafood, steaks. (updated May 2019)
• Captain Dan's, 50 Pointe Du Chêne Rd (on Point-du-Chene Wharf), ☏ +1 506 533-2855. Su-M W Th 11:30AM-midnight, Tu F Sa 11:30AM-2AM. A local hangout. Great atmosphere. Lobster, seafood, burgers, wraps. (updated May 2019)
• Le Moque-Tortue Games Bistro, 402 Main St, ☏ +1 506-532-4911. Daily 11AM-11PM. Seafood, pastas, soups, and desserts. It's equipped with a fully-stocked bar and a large board game collection. (updated May 2019)

Sleep

• Le Griffon Bed & Breakfast, 426 Main St, ☏ +1 506 532-5412. Victorian villa in Downtown Shediac with spacious and comfortable rooms with WiFi, A/C, TV, a private bath, and Queen bed. Breakfast with fresh fruit, eggs, breakfast meats, something from the griddle, great coffee, and continental staples. From $96. (updated May 2019)
• Hotel Shediac, 222 Belliveau Ave, toll-free: +1-855-836-6100. A full-service, 5-star, 60-room hotel in contemporary style, From $140. (updated May 2019)
• Auberge Gabriele Inn, 296 Main Street, ☏ +1 506 532-8007, toll-free: +1-877-980-7222. 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. (updated May 2019)

Go next

Routes through Shédiac

Bathurst ← Miramichi ←	N  S	→ END
END ← Moncton ←	W  E	→ ENDS at W E