Cape Breton Island lies on the Atlantic coast northeast of Nova Scotia Province, Canada. The Strait of Canso separates Cape Breton from the mainland. For its sheer simple beauty, the island ranks as one of the best in the world. The local inhabitants are also known for their friendliness and hospitality.
To reach the island, most people fly to Halifax International Airport or Sydney Airport, Cape Breton . You can also take a ferry if you are coming from Portland or Maine Harbor. Ferry services regularly serve routes between Nova Scotia and other Canadian territories like New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island.
Major Attractions
Cabot Trail is a popular 300 km landmark situated in Cape Breton’s east coast. It rises from the Highland plateaus and loops dramatically around the mountain. The Cabot Trail provides the most breathtaking views of island’s rugged coastline and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. This trail can be best explored by driving, riding a bicycle and even walking.
With a land area of 948 square km, Cape Breton Highland National Park is home to magnificent mountains, forests, waterfall, valleys and diverse wildlife. This national park also nestles the breathtaking Highlands plateau which offer striking steep cliffs, river canyons and an incredible view of the Atlantic Ocean.
If you want to learn more about the history of the island, visit the Acadian Museum which showcases Acadian history, and St. Ann’s College, North America’s remaining Gaelic school. The school maintains a hall called the Great Hall of Clans that provides pictures and information about the early Scottish settlers.
One must-see cultural site in Cape Breton is Cheticamp. It is actually a local fishing village that still observes the traditional Acadian culture. There are a number restaurants in the village that offer local cuisine at a reasonable price. Just beside Cheticamp is the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
Top Activities
There are numerous fun-filled activities to choose from during your visit to Cape Breton. Camping and hiking are the most common activities at Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The park conveniently has a variety of hiking trails that allows you to closely behold the wildlife and environment. The designated camping grounds within the park have basic facilities like showers that are open to the public from May to October.
One distinct and increasingly popular activity on the island is Geocaching. This modern day treasure hunt adventure is treated like a sport. The game involves the use of GPS or Global Positioning System device and geographic coordinates to find a box called ‘cache’. The cache contains a special logbook where the names of successful players are recorded. At the moment Cape Breton Highlands Park offers four types of geocaches.
Golfing is a prominent sport in Cape Breton. In fact the island boasts four golf courses that meet world-calls standards. These courses are Bell Bay, Highland Links, Le Portage and Dundee. You can also participate in whale-watching excursions or go beach-hopping. Some of the more notable beaches on the island are Black Brook, La Bloc and Warren Lake. The Ingonish Beach is quite unique as it offers both fresh and salt-water.
