From Wikitravel

Cape Breton Island[1] is the northernmost island in Nova Scotia.

Contents 1 Understand 2 Get in 3 Get around 4 Buy 5 Eat 6 Drink 7 Sleep 8 See 9 Do

Understand

Cape Breton Island was a separate colony until 1820 when it was merged into Nova Scotia against its will. It is the only place in North America where there is still Gaelic spoken. There is strong pro-island anti-mainland sentiment, and a strong sense of community, which increasingly unifies the Mikmaq population of the Island as well.

Despite its rich culture and strong community and commitment to its natural heritage, the island has consistently lost industrial investment and jobs in the past ten years. The closing of the coal and steel industry however have no doubt contributed to its very positive ratings for ecological stewardship.

Get in

Cape Breton Island is serviced by Sydney Airport. Most flights to and from Sydney go to Halifax and then to major destinations such as Toronto and Montreal.

You can also drive into Cape Breton Island, and there is bus service offered by Acadian Lines.

Get around

Car, motorcycle, or bicycle. You can rent a car in Sydney if necessary. The Cabot Trail is mountainous - experienced cyclists only. Watch out for moose on the roads.

There are many small cable ferries between the islands. They usually go every few minutes and charge $5.

Buy

Many of the smaller communities have only a general store that sells groceries, sundries, acts as a post office, etc. The small general stores have a very limited selection of groceries - better to stop in a bigger centre like Baddeck or Cheticamp for groceries.

• Floras, Point Cross, +1 902 224-3139, [2]. Handcrafts. Especially traditional Acadian rug-hooking made by locals. Demonstrations.
• Local pottery sold along the Cabot Trail.

Eat

Seafood, especially lobster, is the thing to eat on Cape Breton. The Aspy Bay oysters are also good.

• Rusty Anchor, Pleasant Bay, +1 902 224-1313. Great seafood, fantastic seaside patio. If you are lucky you can spot a bald eagle hovering above you. Sandwiches $C10, special seafood plates $C20.
• Cedar House, TCH 105m Boulebarderie Centre, at the Seal Island brige between Baddock and Sydney, +1 902 674-2929. Bakery and restaurant. Good seafood chowder at reasonable prices. Open 10AM8PM, May-Oct.
• Glenora Inn & Distillery [3], Route 19, Ceilidh Trail, Glenville, +1 800 839-0491. Breakfast 7AM-9AM, lunch 11AM-3PM, dinner 5PM-9:00PM. Nova Scotian, Scottish, and North American fare. Daily tours of North America's only single malt distillery 9AM-5PM, $6.

Drink

Sleep

• Keltic Lodge [4], Middle Head Peninsula, Ingonish Beach, +1 800 565-0444. This resort and spa is located on the spectacular Middle Head peninsula. There is views of the sea to both sides. Just behind the main lodge is the start of the hiking trail to the tip of Middle Head. Double room ca $C 190 in high season, $C 290 including 2 X gourmet dinner and breakfast. The dresscode is casual smart.
• Glenora Inn & Distillery [5], Route 19, Ceilidh Trail, Glenville, +1 800 839-0491, email: info@glenora1.ca. Sleep at North America's only single malt distillery. Has restaurant and bar. Rooms from $C 120.
• Silver Dart Lodge [6], 257 Shore Road, Baddeck, +1 902 295-2340.

email: sdladmin@maritimeinns.com. Open May-Oct. Rooms from $C 99-119.

• Cabot Trail Hostel [7], Pleasant Bay, +1 902 224-1976. email: hostel@cabottrail.com. Bed C$20 / night. Clean establishment, friendly owners!

See

The island as a whole ranked second in the world in a National Geographic study of ecotourism, which was conducted in 2002 and 2003.

• Cape Breton Highlands National Park. You need an entry permit at C$ 7 a day per person (there are group and family discounts). The Cabot Trail runs through the national park. There are many hiking trails starting along the Cabot Trail.

Scenery is the reason why most people come to Cape Breton. Plan to stop along the many spectacular lookoffs on the Trail - this will lengthen your travel time between destinations.

• Fortress of Louisbourg, 259 Park Service Rd, Louisbourg, +1 902 733-2280, [8]. This is a reconstruction of the 18th century fortified French town whose presence plagued the British colonies of New England. Its busy harbor was once one of France's most signifiant economic and military assets in North America. If you enjoy the colonial restoration at Williamsburg in the United States, don't miss Louisburg. May 1-June 30, 9:30AM-5PM. July 1-August 31, 9AM-5PM. Sept 1-Oct 15, 9:30AM-5PM. Closed Nov 1-April 3.
• The Bras D'Or is a unique brackish lake with its own unique ecological characteristics, and some islands in that lake are sacred to the Mikmaq.

• Bay St. Lawrence and Meat Cove. Two scenic fishing villages along a scenic drive off the Cabot trail. Turn north at Cape North.
• Joe's Scarecrows at Cheticamp on the Cabot Trail. Scary gallery of scarecrows with halloween masks. Entrance is free, but they ask for a small donation.
• Les Trois Pignons, 15584 Cabot Trail Highway, Cheticamp, +1 902 224-2612. Museum of Acadian culture based on collection of antiques started by Marguerite Gallant.
• Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site of Canada, Chebucto Street (Route 205), Baddeck, [9]. Open 9AM-6PM (Jun 1-30), 8:30AM-6PM (Jul 1-Oct 15). Entrance $C 6.50.

Do

• Celtic Colors Festival [10]. Spanning hundreds of events across dozens of towns, the music options at Celtic Colors are not strictly Celtic but include folk and some Acadian Zydeco (Acadeco) and jazz, and an increasing amount of world music.
• Whale watching tour. There are boat tours all along the coast. Sighting of whales is almost guaranteed. Tours takes two hours or more.

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