PLACES TO EXPLORE
Cape Breton Life was created to bring people together. Through comfortable, durable apparel and everyday accessories, we celebrate community, tradition, and the lifestyle that makes the island unlike anywhere else.
Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Winding through 950 km² of stunning highlands and rugged coastal wilderness in northern Cape Breton, the world-renowned Cabot Trail offers an unforgettable experience for every traveler.
Explore 26 scenic hiking trails, ranging from gentle woodland walks to challenging mountain climbs. Whether you’re camping with family or venturing off the beaten path, Cape Breton Highlands National Park welcomes outdoor enthusiasts with a variety of accommodations and experiences.
Enjoy world-class golf and cycling routes, relax on pristine beaches, and take in panoramic views from dramatic coastal look-offs. With the Gulf of St. Lawrence on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, fresh seafood is never far from your destination.
From natural beauty to maritime culture, the Cabot Trail is where unforgettable journeys begin.
The Cabot Trail
The Cabot Trail is a scenic 298 km highway loop on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. It's renowned for its stunning coastal and mountain scenery, and it's a popular route for road trips, cycling, and hiking. The trail winds through Cape Breton Highlands National Park, offering breathtaking views and numerous opportunities for outdoor activities and exploration.
The Fortress of Louisburg
Fortress of Louisbourg is the largest reconstructed 18th-century French fortified town in North America, located on the southeast edge of Louisbourg Harbour adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean in southeastern Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. It is composed of the site of the original fortress as well as associated outlying lands and islands, and contains rare remnants of 18th-century French and British life in North America. Part of the fortress and town of Louisbourg has been reconstructed to assist visitors in understanding its scale, complexity and dimension. The designation refers to original surviving 18th-century elements of the landscape and built resources.
The Worlds Largest Fiddle
Standing tall at a height of 60 feet, It’s The World’s Largest Fiddle and it greets visitors from all over the world who arrive by cruise ship at the Port of Sydney. You can find it next to the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion.
The Big Fiddle, as many call it, was designed and constructed by Cyril Hearn in 2005. It is a tribute to the folk music and traditions of the province’s Celtic community.
Made of solid steel, the giant fiddle was dubbed FIDHEAL MHOR A’ CEILIDH or the “Big Fiddle of the Ceilidh”. Ceilidh is a Gaelic word which translates in to “visit”.
Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site
Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site is a 25-acre property in Baddeck, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, overlooking the Bras d'Or Lakes. The site is a unit of Parks Canada, the national park system, and includes the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, which contains the largest repository of artifacts and documents from Bell's years of experimental work in Baddeck. This site was designated a National Historic Site in 1952.
The site also features memorabilia associated with Bell's experiments, including: the original hull of a hydrofoil boat, the HD-4, that set a world marine speed record in Baddeck by reaching speeds of over 112 km/h in 1919; a full-scale replica of that boat, the AEA Silver Dart, which in 1909 J.A.D. MacCurdy piloted up into the air over the ice of Baddeck Bay to become the first controlled heavier-than-air craft to be flown in the British Empire. Plus many other exhibits and documents from Bell's years of research activities on the transmission of speech and sound by wire and by light, as well as his experiments with kites, planes and high speed boats.
Link: https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/ns/grahambell/index
Chapel Point Battery
Chapel Point Battery Site is a World War II era fortification site located at Church Street and Amber Drive, Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Island, built to guard Sydney Harbour. Chapel Point includes an observation post and gun batteries and several below ground fortifications. The buildings and underground fortifications are all included in the designation as well as the surrounding property.
Chapel Point is valued historically as it played a significant role in the defense of Sydney Harbour during World War II. It is also valued architecturally for its massive construction and such details as deeply placed magazines. It is unique among Canada's wartime coastal defences.
North River Kayak Tours
Come spend some time with us for a taste of the sport everyone is raving about here on the East Coast! After an introduction to basic paddling techniques and on the water safety instruction, we will paddle off into relatively protected waters to practice your skills and explore the untouched beauty of our Cape Breton sea coast. On a secluded granite stone beach we stop and prepare a light lunch which includes home made bread, a pot of tea & home made rhubarb jam.If you do our full day guided tour you carry on to visit a favorite beach of ours and prepare a delicious lunch for you of Home made baked beans and fish cakes, home made bread, a pot of tea, rhubarb strawberry jam and if lobsters are in season……one never knows!
Baddeck Lobster Suppers
Arriving in 1828, from Leurbost Scotland, John Montgomery and his wife planted their roots in the small coastal community of Jersey Cove, Cape Breton Island, where they farmed the land and fished the waters to provide for their family. Throughout the six generations to follow, their homestead has served as somewhat of a neighbourly hub, wherein iron was forged, flour was sold and post delivered.
The lines they cast so long ago, have unassumingly woven a fine net around our family heritage, encompassing who we are today. Our families crew, continues to fish the very same shores, providing the finest in fresh lobster, for us here at Baddeck Lobster Suppers during fishing season.
During the summer season, you'll want to anchor your ship out at the fire pit, where we’ll show you the ropes of hot smoking Atlantic salmon. Inside, the other local clansmen are here as well; helping our family to bring you a memorable (and yummy!) Cape Breton experience.
From our traps to your tables, we are led by the lasting light, shining in our family lantern, and oh; how it warmly glows. We have some wonderful stories to share and local seafood to savor; hope to see you soon!
Eskasoni Cultural Journeys
Eskasoni First Nation is the largest Mi’kmaq community in the world. Deeply rooted within Eskasoni is the Mi’kmaq culture. We are proud to say that we are home to the largest Mi’kmaq speaking community with close ties to traditional culture and beliefs.
The community of Eskasoni has a proud history of supporting its young population with events that promote a healthy and active lifestyle among its 4,000 community members. With a dedication to improving the lives of its future generation, the Eskasoni community strives to be culturally rich and respectful of its ecosystem based on concepts of shared responsibility.
A true acknowledgement of the life of the Mi’kmaq, historically and modern day, Goat Island invites visitors to share in a unique story while preserving its First People’s culture. As one of the first market ready Mi’kmaw experiences in the Atlantic, Goat Island leaves a lasting emotional impact on all who visit.