Jacquet River
WHO
Our family has traveled to New Brunswick, Canada three different times. The first was when Eden was 2 and Averhy was 5 years old, then again the following year when Eden was 3 and Averhy was 6, and most recently when Eden was 10 and Averhy was 13 years old. These were all 24-hour road trips, and you can read lots of trips for traveling with kids in this post.
WHAT
Because these were all road trips in our van, and we were staying in a house with extended family, we didn’t pack as light as we would if we were flying. However, the areas we visited in New Brunswick are fairly remote, so flying would not be a practical option. Generally, we took enough clothes for 7 days of cool weather (highs around 65-70F) and snacks/entertainment for the 24-hour drive.
WHEN
Each time we have visited New Brunswick, it has been in late July or early August, to take advantage of longer, warmer days. We first visited in July 2009, then July 2010, and most recently August 2017.
WHERE
For our trips in 2009 and 2010, we drove straight through from Illinois to Jacquet River, NB and stayed at Sky’s grandma’s house.
In 2017, we stopped at Niagara Falls on the way to Jacquet River. You can read about that fun day in another post - but it is a good way to break up the long drive.
Near Jacquet River, there are hotel options in nearby Belledune and Bathurst. In the Jacquet River area, our favorite places are marked with yellow stars on the map.
WHY
We enjoy visiting this area of New Brunswick because it is quiet, remote, and everything moves at a slower pace. There is very limited internet/cell service - which means you’ll be free to spend your days reading a book, walking the waterfront, and enjoying time with your family. Our favorite places to explore are listed below.
HOW
One beautiful park we visited was Jacquet River Gorge. There is a lovely lookout spot at “Paul’s Cabin”, where you can learn a bit about the history of this area and have a great view over the wooded gorge. There is also an 18-mile point-to-point hike through the Gorge, but we did not do the hike.
Chaleur Bay
The coastline of Chaleur Bay from Belledune to Jacquet River is filled with rocky outcroppings, little caves, and fun places to explore. We would spend hours walking the pebbled beach every day, and our girls enjoyed finding natural treasures around every bend.
A few hours drive southwest of Jacquet River is Mount Carleton Provincial Park. We hiked a wooded trail to a viewpoint (about 2.5 hours up and back) and enjoyed the lake views as well.
The little town of Benjamin River is a few minutes drive west of Jacquet River, and there is a fantastic swimming hole just south of the main road through town. We spent a full afternoon here, jumping off the rocks and enjoying the clear, cool water.
One place we always stop is the local ice cream shop - Dairy Delight! With lots of flavors to choose from, and colorful picnic tables where you can relax and enjoy your ice cream cones, this place is on our “must visit” list every time.
When we’re in New Brunswick, we try to end every day with a bonfire on the beach, roasting marshmallows and skipping rocks in the lake.
If you’re looking for a great off-the-grid relaxing location for a week with your family, Jacquet River NB is the place to visit!
Final Tips
Cell service is basically nonexistent here, so be ready to truly be off the grid this week.
Summertime temperatures are mild. Each time we’ve visited there have been some rainy days, so pack cool-weather clothes and a rain jacket.
