Shediac's Shore

The Atlantic Ocean has its own cadence.  There is an incredible feeling when you arrive, like you are seeing something so powerful...so wonderful...so amazing.  It is far bigger than any of the towns that front it.  It must be the vastness and sheer force, but being by the ocean is good for the soul.  It makes you marvel at the large world around you.  It puts things into perspective.

 Shediac, New Brunswick, is a town of less than 7,000 people right on the Atlantic.  Our first stop was Adorable Chocolate, the local chocolate shop.  It boasted chocolate covered wafers, almonds, nut concoctions, and everything delicious.  We ordered one of everything and ate them all en route to the beach, the wharf and the big lobster.

Shediac's giant lobster, the world's largest, is one of the most photographed installations in New Brunswick.  34 years old and still looking stellar, it sits right on the Atlantic Ocean.  You can climb on it and explore.  It is realistic and was sculpted by a local, weighing 180,000 pounds and measuring 36 feet long.  It is surrounded by row houses of varying colours and an attractive seascape.

The Point du Chene Wharf is wonderful, stretching in a long line of colourful houses to the ocean.  In winter, it is frozen and a somewhat bleak vista, but it is obvious how vibrant and enjoyable it must be from the May long weekend to Labour Day in the summer.  There are restaurants and a lighthouse and local fisheries.  There would be boats bobbing in the ocean and people selling food and admiring the water.  Spa services, ice cream, coffee, and incredible sunsets are all on offer.

Our final destination in Shediac was Parlee Beach.  It was frozen when we were there, but in the summer it boasts sun and sand.  You can watch the tides come in and out and play in the parks surrounding the beach.  There is a large campground.  The views of the ocean are marvelous.

Shediac was a charming East Coast town with everything necessary for a wonderful day of exploring.  Fueled by chocolate, the smell of salt water, and the ruggedness of the ocean coast, we left vowing to return in summer.  Experiencing the Shediac shore in summer would leave one with a different perspective than in winter.