Round Trip Cabot Trail 

The Cabot Trail, named one of the best road trips in the world by Lonely Planet, is a trail that winds through stunning landscapes, along the Margaree River, a Canadian Heritage Salmon River, and through spectacular rugged highlands of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park of Canada.

The trail itself takes its name from the Italian explorer John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto) who reached our shores in 1497, sailing on a mission for King Henry VII of England. The name also celebrates the meeting of Cabot and the Mi'kmaq people, the original inhabitants of Cape Breton Island, at Aspy Bay over 500 years ago.

The Cabot Trail, completed in 1932, joined previously isolated fishing villages along an approximate 300 km loop. Today the Cabot Trail connects eight major communities with intriguing histories, ranging from the Acadian Region, to Irish and Scottish settlements. These vibrant communities are gateways to outdoor adventures and cultural events.

 Alexander Graham Bell Museum Baddeck

A unique exhibit complex where models, replicas, photo displays, artifacts,     and films describe the fascinating life and work of Alexander Graham Bell. Special events such as Harvest Home complement the offering of activities on this site, situated on 10 hectares of landscaped grounds overlooking scenic Bras d'Or Lake and Baddeck Bay.

Website Alexander Graham Bell Museum

Fortress of Louisburg

A visit to the Fortress of Louisbourg — the largest reconstructed 18th-century French fortified town in North America — is a series of experiences that set a mood. Ramparts, streets, households and interpreters help to create the look, texture and mood of another century. Cannons on stone ramparts, a busy waterfront tavern and the crackling of a kitchen fire all tell how people of a different age lived and worked.

Website Forterss of Louisbourg

Gaelic College

Situated in the heart of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts was founded in 1938 as a school devoted to the study and preservation of the Gaelic language, arts and culture. Students of all ages and abilities from around the world take courses at our Cape Breton campus, USA campus, and online. Our world-class instructors offer programs in Scottish traditional disciplines including Gaelic language and song, music, dance and crafts.

Website Gaelic College

Iona Highland Village

Fàilte gu Cridhe Gàidhealach Albainn Ùr
A Gaelic welcome to the "Highland Heart of Nova Scotia" awaits you in Iona, Cape Breton Island. Experience Nova Scotia's Gaelic culture at one of many community events or at the Highland Village outdoor pioneer museum. View some of the most breathtaking scenery that this Province has to offer on the shores of the mighty Bras d'Or. The Iona Peninsula is well worth the visit.

Highland Village Living History Museum
• June 1 to October 14 (2007) - Daily 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
• Other times are available for group tours by appointment.

Website Iona Highland Village

Bell Bay Golf Course

Bell Bay Golf Club is situated in the scenic village of Baddeck, Cape Breton Island. This beautiful Thomas McBroom course sits high above the Bras d'Or Lakes, North America's beautiful inland sea, overlooking the Bay from which it derives its name. The course offers incredible views from virtually every hole. Four distinct teeing areas on each hole have been provided to ensure challenging and enjoyable golf for players of all skill levels. Our bentgrass tees, greens and fairways have been nurtured by Bell Bay's turf-care specialists, making golf at Bell Bay a pleasurable experience.

Baddeck

10 minutes

Highland Links Golf Course

The Highlands Links is a special place where nature has been sculpted into a one-of-a-kind golf course. Under the watchful eye and delicate hand of renowned golf course designer, Stanley Thompson, the majesty of Cape Breton’s Highlands has embraced every golfer who has come to take up the challenge laid down by the master over 60 years ago. With each stroke, they travel back to 1939, when Thompson designed his “mountains and ocean” course.

 Ingonish

1 1/2 hr.

Le Portage Golf Course

It offers you the extraordinary chance of playing your favorite sport in a majestic decor on the rugged shores of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, at the entrance of the famous Cabot Trail in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

Cheticamp

Dundee Resort Golf Course 

Dundee Golf Club on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia offers magnificent golf and spectacular views. This Robert Moote-designed course nestled on the side of South Mountain offers spectacular vistas of the Bras d'Or Lakes from virtually every hole.  This championship course is one that demands excellent control and shot placement.  

Dundee

1 1/4 hr

Cheticamp Whale Watching Whale Cruisers, Cheticamp N.S., phone 1-800-813-3376

As you amble onto Government Wharf across from Eglise St.Pierre you sense a new dawn is beginning to unfold for you to experience. The gentle cadence of the lapping of the water against the timber of the wharf transcends you into a time when the appeal of the sea was hypnotic and an adventure. No wonder the poets were so enthralled with the lure of the sea.

Stepping onto the deck of the Whale Cruisers and the well appointed boats leaves the land-lubber with a nervous sense of expectation and excitement. A friendly and well informed crew point out the safety features of the vessels and enumerate the species of whales to be on the look-out for on our travels. You become immersed in the gentle rocking of the boat and the music of the sea. Don't forget to bring a warm coat or sweater since it gets chilly on the water, as well as lots of film and binoculars to see the distant whales and bird-life we are to view. Also, bring a sense of adventure and a jolly mood to enliven your spirits and others on the journey.

Website Whale Cruises Cheticamp

1 hr

Seabird Watching  Puffin Boat Tours, Englishtown N.S., phone 1-877-278-3346

You will board the Highland Lass at the Government wharf in Englishtown. After departing, you will be given a brief history of the small fishing port that you are in that dates back to 1597. Your tour guide will also be showing colour pictures of the birds that you will have a chance to see and given information on each, concentrating mainly on the Atlantic Puffin. The sail to the Bird Islands takes about 45 minutes. The boat idles around the two islands and various species are pointed out. On the way back in, you will be told about a typical day in the life of a lobster fisherman and shown a real lobster trap. We specialize in quality service, with a tour guide devoted to narration and a fully certified captain.

Website Puffin Boat Tours

25 minutes

Amoeba Sailing Tours, Baddeck N.S., phone 1-902-295-1426

Observe the majestic Bald Eagles as they circle the boat, see Alexander Graham Bell's mansion Beinn Bhreagh, and the beautiful Baddeck shoreline. Relax and enjoy an entertaining, and educational narrative of the area on the deck of a boat unique on all of the Bras d’Or Lakes.

Website Amoeba Sailing Tours

10 minutes

North River Kayak Tours, North River N.S., phone 1-888-865-2925 

Website North River Kayak

30 minutes

Bannockburn Tours, Baddeck N.S., phone 1-902-295-3310

Tour the Island in comfort and style with our experienced drivers. Bannockburn Discovery Tours will show you the sights that have made Cape Breton famous, tell you the stories that go with them, then take you down the backroads to the hidden gems and secret hideaways that make our home unique. Every corner is as spectacular and memorable as the last.

Website Bannockburn Tours

Pick-Up Service

Crown Jewel Resort

Nestled away in the Baddeck River Valley on Cape Breton Island is a hidden gem where tranquil nature meets spirited eco adventure and learning. A place where the adventurer in you can discover local culture, explore a slice of pristine, remote wilderness, and indulge in four seasons of spirited fun. A place with all the comfort and amenities of a world-class eco-resort, a private airstrip and hundreds of acres of private nature reserve.

You've found the Crown Jewel Resort Ranch in Nova Scotia, Canada - truly a traveler's adventure destination.

 Website Crown Jewel Resort