| The most easterly resort on the bay is BONAVENTURE , whose tiny
centre, beside Hwy 132, edges the marshy delta and man-made lagoon of
the river that sports its name. The town is, uniquely, a centre for the
production of fish-leather products such as purses and wallets, but it's
usually visited for its salmon fishing and sandy beach. A wildlife
observation centre, Bioparc de la Gaspésie , 123 rue des Vieux Ponts (early
June to early Oct daily 9am-6pm; $10), showcases the region's animals -
caribou, lynx, otters and mountain lions included - in their respective
ecosystems. But Bonaventure is really known for being a stronghold of
Acadian culture . Their traditions and heritage are celebrated at the
Musée Acadien du Québec , 95 ave Port-Royal (late June to early Sept
daily 9am-6pm; early Sept to mid-Oct 9am-5pm; mid-Oct to late June Mon-Fri
9am-noon & 1-5pm, Sat & Sun 1-5pm; $5), set in an imposing blue and
white wooden building, once the church hall, in the town centre.
Highlights of the collection include some delightful handmade furniture
dating from the eighteenth century and a whole range of intriguing
photographs that encapsulate something of the hardships of Acadian rural
life.
Next door, Bonaventure's tourist office , 91 ave Port-Royal (mid-June to
Aug daily 9am-6pm), has background information on the town and
accommodation lists. The latter include the Motel le Bocage , 173 ave
Port-Royal (tel 534-3430; $40-60; summer only); Motel Grand Pré , 118
ave Grand-Pré (tel 534-2053 or 1-800/463-2053; $60-80) and the B&Bs : Au
Foin Fou , 204 rte de la Rivière (tel 534-4413; $40-60); and Auberge du
Café Acadien , 168 ave Beaubassin (tel 534-4276; $40-60), over the
excellent Café Acadien , which serves imaginative French-Canadian food .
Cime Aventure at 200 chemin A. Arsenault (tel 534-2333) has tepees (up
to $40) to sleep in alongside the Bonaventure river and runs adventure
trips into the local area (3hr to 6 days; prices vary). Camping Plage
Beaubassin , 154 ave Beaubassin (early June to Aug; up to $40) is a
municipal campsite on the spit of land between the lagoon and the bay.
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