Caraquet calls itself the capital of Acadia, and for once the slogan has some bite. This is not a large town, but it sits on a long, open sweep of Chaleur Bay where fishing boats, Acadian flags, seafood restaurants, and French-speaking Maritime life all meet in one place.
The strongest reason to come is the Village Historique Acadien, a living-history village just outside town that follows Acadian life from the late eighteenth century into the twentieth. It is more than a few reconstructed houses: costumed interpreters work farms, shops, mills, kitchens, and workshops across a large site, and the visit can take half a day without feeling stretched.
Back in town, Caraquet is at its best along the water. The Oyster Eco-Museum explains the industry that still shapes the bay, while Sainte-Anne-du-Bocage gives the coast a quieter, older note. In August, the Festival Acadien turns the place loud and proud, ending with the Tintamarre parade, when the whole point is to make as much noise as possible.