Two
provincial parks complement the region and add to the enjoyment
of visitors and locals alike.
The
Mount Carleton provincial park
situated in the highlands of New Brunswick's north occupies
an area of 17,022 hectares. Mount Carleton itself towers
820 meters above sea level and is the highest peak in the
Maritimes. Snow often persists until June and lakes only
shed the ice that covers them in May. Rivers, streams, lakes
and valleys favor recreational activities that have minimal
effects on the environment. The park enjoys a remarkable
amount of biodiversity. This region is home to many species
of animals. It is also possible to admire rare species of
plants as well as various species of birds. The park is
dedicated to outdoor nature activities. There is no electricity.
The installations and commodities include a reception area,
a campground and walking trails.
The
Sugarloaf provincial park is
situated in the northern part of the Appalachian mountain
range. With an area of 1, 142 hectares, it annually attracts
between 260,000 and 290,000 visitors. Sugarloaf Mountain,
with an altitude of 304.8 meters (1000 ft), serves as a
beacon and emblem for the park; it also offers a breathtaking
view of the City of Campbellton, the Restigouche River,
the Bay of Chaleur and the Gaspé Peninsula. Presently
the park has alpine skiing facilities as well as cross-country
skiing, snowmobiling, walking, snowshoeing and bicycling
trails. Services offered include picnic areas, tennis courts,
skating rink, slides, campground, ski school, restaurant,
bar, paddle boats and a tourist information booth. This
park strives to become a center for high calibre recreational
activities, no matter which season.
Among
other important recreational installations in Restigouche
one must mention the Inch Arran Park
in Dalhousie. It includes a camping area with sandy beaches,
tennis courts, a playground, a refreshment area, a souvenir
shop and a day adventure kiosk with kayak rentals available.
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On
the Bay of Chaleur in Charlo, the Blue
Heron Camping offers 140 camping sites and an outdoor
pool. Close by, lies Heron's Nest,
15 fantastic cottages available year round. The beach is situated
on the second largest sandbar in the world with salt water
on one side and fresh water on the other.
Also
of interest are two recreational centers, which offer the
possibility of enjoying many sport-related activities under
one roof: the Recreaplex in
Dalhousie and the Memorial Civic Center
in Campbellton. These two centers offer services that more
than meet the needs of hockey, swimming, running and body
building enthusiasts.
We also
have a regional marina in Dalhousie
that can accommodate up to 66 recreational vessels.
Eel
River Bar First Nation also has many new tourism developments
underway. The Tesnegeg Tour Boat,
a state-of-the-art passenger ferry will transport you from
the mainland to Heron Island,
site of ancient Mi'gmag summer encampment and early Scottish
settlement. This emerald of the Bay of Chaleur measures
5 kilometres long by ¾ of a kilometre wide. The Island
is home to more than 180 species of birds, 20 km of interpretive
trails, 16 traditional farm settlements, screened gazebos,
a lookout tower and six lookout platforms.
A new
attraction, the Aboriginal Heritage
Garden, is being constructed on a 110 acre site located
adjacent to the Chaleur Park in Charlo. At the Garden, the
relationship between people and plants - including the Mi'gmag
traditional and modern day use of plants in material culture,
for medicine, for food and in ceremonies - as well as sustainable
development principals, will be interpreting through a 9,000
square foot visitor center, display garden, a series of
four trails, a gathering circle and a living history area.
The Aboriginal Heritage Garden is scheduled to commence
full operations in Spring 2004.
For
additional information on these exciting new developments
visit www.heronisland.ca
or www.aboriginalgardens.com.
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