Miramichi is a spread-out city on the Miramichi River in northern New Brunswick, formed from the old towns of Newcastle and Chatham and nearby villages. It is not a compact postcard town, but it has a strong river identity, Irish heritage, and enough historic stops to reward a day if you are already in the region.
The best sights explain how the river shaped the place. Middle Island tells the story of Irish immigrants quarantined during the famine years, while MacDonald Farm and The Enclosure reach back into Scottish and English settlement along the river.
Miramichi is also a practical base for summer river time. Boat tours leave from Newcastle, tubing trips run on the Southwest Miramichi, and Canada's Irish Festival fills the city with music and food in July.