Is Tracadie Bay sand dunes worth the drive? Where do you park to see them?

Hi Diane,

Greetings from Prince Edward Island! I was so happy to be assigned your question, as our family’s homestead was in Tracadie, and I had a cottage there for 20 years…the area has a special place in my heart!

For starters, YES, Tracadie is definitely worth a visit. It’s a historic part of the Island – according to Wikipedia, “the name Tracadie, which is of Mi'kmaq origin, means "ideal camping location" and is pronounced tǔlakǎdǐk”.

To see majestic sand dunes in the Tracadie area, plan to spend some time at Blooming Point Beach: take the Blooming Point Road/Route 218 to the MacDonald Road (clay road) and turn left; follow it to the end – you’ll see a parking lot on the right, park there and walk to the dunes; when you get to the dunes, follow the footpath over the dunes to the beach (stay on the footpath and don’t climb over the dunes anywhere else at all, as this destroys the fragile marram grass).

On your way to Blooming Point Beach, you’ll pass Glenaladale House, a 529-acre estate overlooking Tracadie Bay that was established by Captain John MacDonald, 8th Laird of Glenaladale and 7th Laird of Glenfinnan in Scotland, in the late 1700s. Here, you’ll learn about the rich history of the area’s Mi’kmaq, Acadian and Scottish people; if you time your visit well, you’ll also be able to participate in the educational and cultural programming that they offer.

I also suggest you head to the beach near Tracadie Harbour. You can enjoy the dunes from a distance, or you can walk around the beach to get closer to them. Onsite, you’ll also find Blackbush at Tracadie Harbour, a thoughtful resort development with a gentle footprint that welcomes both visitors and locals to enjoy the beach, as well as the public bathroom facilities at no charge. The restaurant, Fin Folk Food, serves delicious food, and there’s an ice cream bar nearby. Plan to spend a few hours there.

If you happen to be in the area on Sunday, August 20, drop by the Tracadie Community Center for the Lions Club Sunday Brunch (10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.); $10 for adults, $5 for kids, pre-schoolers are free (I’m pretty sure it’s cash only). You’ll meet lots of great people, and they’ll feed you well!

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Enjoy your time in Tracadie!

Nicole