Hotels in Miramichi, New Brunswick

A little about Miramichi...

Miramichi is the largest city in northern New Brunswick, Canada. It is situated at the mouth of the Miramichi River where it enters Miramichi Bay. It was formed in 1995 through the forced amalgamation of two rival towns, Newcastle and Chatham, and several smaller communities, including Douglastown, Loggieville, and Nelson.

Local festivals which celebrate Miramichi culture, and the ancestral roots of the original settlers include:
Miramichi Folk Song Festival
Annual Pow-wows hosted on the nearby Eel Ground First Nation and Metepenagiag Mi'kmaq Nation
La Fête nationale des Acadiens - Acadian Day
Celebration of Scots
Irish Festival on the Miramichi
Miramichi Fiddle Festival

Other local festivals include:
Canada Days Festival
Downtown Miramichi Rock 'n Roll Festival
Miramichi Salmon Classic
Miramichi Exhibition

The city offers a full range of summer and winter sports programs and facilities, including recreation centres, swimming pools, a golf course, and rinks for skating, curling and ice hockey. The city, however, is best known as a haven for outdoor sport enthusiasts. The river offers gently meandering, and challenging whitewater opportunities for canœ and kayak, and superb angling for Atlantic Salmon and brook trout. About one-half of the sport catch of Atlantic salmon in North America are landed on the Miramichi River and its tributaries. The warm waters of Miramichi Bay offer an ideal setting for sailing enthusiasts during summer. The snowy winters are welcomed by cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. An extensive network of trails is available for hiking, cycling, birding, skiing, and snowmobiling.

Miramichi River:
The Miramichi River is the centre of all activity. The communities that compose the city lines its banks.


Beaubears Island:
Beaubears Island, located in the middle of the Miramichi River between Newcastle and Nelson-Miramichi, is is home to two National Historic Sites, Boishébert National Historic Site of Canada and Beaubears Island Shipbuilding National Historic Site of Canada, J. Leonard O'Brien Memorial. The island is recognized for its role in the Acadian Expulsion, and as the former home of a major shipbuilding industry.


Enclosure Campground:
Also known as Wilson's point, this location marks the area of Miramichi that was first developed by settlers. It, along with Beaubear's Island, was involved in the Acadian Expulsion. It now serves as a campground and contains kilometres of walking trails.


French Fort Cove:
French Fort Cove, Miramichi, New Brunswick (IR Walker 2007)French Fort Cove is a nature park located between Newcastle and Nordin. The park contains regular and advanced walking trails, canœing, kayaking, paddle-boats, a children's playground, and an ice-cream shop. The park holds many events and activities during the summer.
It is the former site of a gristmill, lumbermill and shipyard. It is also the former location of a rock quarry which was used to build many local buildings and the Langevin Block of the Parliament Hill, among others.
It is the setting for the local legend of the Headless Nun.


Middle Island:
Irish Memorial on Middle Island, Miramichi, New Brunswick (IR Walker 2007)Middle Island was used as a quarantine station when, in 1847, typhus and scarlet fever spread throughout the ship Looshtauk as it crossed the Atlantic Ocean. Of the 462 passengers on board, at least 146 people died en route and 96 died while in quarantine. Initially those who died on the island were buried in caskets, but as the death toll continued to rise personal resting places could no longer be an option. This resulted in large mass graves being placed on the island. Some of these graves were discovered as recently as 1996.
Many people are able to trace their family roots back to the journey taken by the Looshtauk.
The island now serves as a tourist location and memorial.


Rankin House:
Alexander Rankin and James Gilmour came to the area in 1812 to establish a lumber and shipbuilding enterprise (Gilmour, Rankin & Co.) at Douglastown (then known as Gretna Green). Rankin House was constructed in 1837 as the home of Alexander Rankin.
Rankin House is now a museum containing a collection of objects relating to early life in New Brunswick. It is located in Douglastown on the King George Highway.


Ritchie Wharf:
Ritchie Wharf is a park located on the waterfront of Newcastle-Miramichi. It is the location of many events that take place on the river, and is often the location of choice for local musicians.
Its boardwalk is lined with restaurants, art galleries, and souvenir shops, and it is also the location of a tourist information centre. In addition, there is a children's playground with a small water park.


Marine (Seamen's) Hospital:
Marine Hospital, Miramichi, New Brunswick (IR Walker 2008)The Marine Hospital was built in 1830-1831, and was used to provide care to members of the shipping community involved in the lumber trade. It is the oldest surviving marine hospital in Canada, and now serves as a hall for a local church and the general public. It last opened its door to patients in 1921, and was commemorated by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada in September 2000.