Discover the Cabot Trail with our travel itineraries...
Every great journey involves some thinking and planning before your feet ever hit the soil. There is only so much you can do during a single vacation to the Cabot Trail, and you want your stay to be memorable. But no worries, people are always coming back for more!
Margaree
The Margaree Valley is an amazing place to visit. If you have a day, start out early in the day with coffee or juice and a pastry from Dancing Goat Bakery and Cafe. Then head out for a day filled with lots of fun with the family take a drive down to the Margaree Valley to visit the Margaree Salmon Museum (the history of salmon fishing in the area is over 100 years old, visit the Margaree Fish Hatchery (the 2nd oldest in North America).
Take the gravel road to Big Intervale Fishing Lodge for some amazing European style food in a relaxed ambiance. The road seems to bring you further and further back in time, passing by beaver ponds, huge trees, farms and relics of the past. But drop by Anne Morrell Robinson's studio. The walls and floors are covered with amazing, colourful, handmade quilts and hooked rugs.
After a suculent meal at the Big Intervale Fishing Lodge, take a walk along the river. Enjoy the peace and quiet as well as an opportunity to watch salmon or salmon fishers. By late afternoon, head back through the Margarees, stopping for a browse at Cape Breton Clay, view pottery which brings sea creatures alive. Then head to the Margaree Lodge for a evening of music and great foof or head to the Normaway for a Dance and Cape Breton Fiddle Music at the Barn. Or if you would like a relaxing canoe in the Lake O'Laws or a more stimulating Go-Cart race, head to The Lakes Campground.
No visit to Margaree is complete without a visit down to the beach at Margaree Harbour, photo opportunities abound and the shallow warm water is ideal for swimming.
Cheticamp
The Acadian Region from Belle Côte to the entrance to Cape Breton Highlands National Park is rich in Acadian history and culture and a 101 other things to do. A day won't do this area justice, try out some of the many cultural offerings and take a hike, whale watching tour, or browse through this unique village. If you are coming from the Margaree area, one of the first stops to make is at Cap Le Moine, at Joe Scarecrows. This originally was Joe's garden, but each time he put up Scarecrows tourists went into his fields to take photos so he gave up farming and his family is carrying on the tradition of making scarecrows instead.
For a contemporary/traditional art, visit La Bella Mona Lisa Gallery in St. Joseph du Moine, speak with Cape Breton painter Michael Williatte-Battet, or to text tile artist Jennifer Drummond.
Then stop by Le Centre de la MiCareme to watch the artists make masks.check out all the mask making at the former fire hall. La MiCareme or mid lent is a 200 year tradition in Cheticamp, that still continues today.
Cheticamp still retains an old time air about it with narrow streets, a boardwalk by the ocean, unique architecture in its downtown core. Three museums in the area expand upon the local culture. Drop by the Acadian Museum, La Pirogue Fisheries Museum or the Dr. Elizabeth Lefort Museum and VIC, for the Acadian history and the finest examples of hooked rugs.
All 10 restaurants in Cheticamp serve Acadian fare, amongst the many, enjoy the Acadian Restaurant where servers are dressed in period costume and try their Chicken Fricot, Chiard, or Pâté. As well, Cheticamp provides a great jumping off place for a myriad of activities such as golfing at Le Portage Golf Course, or Cheticamp Whale Cruisers, Captain Zodiac Whale Cruise, Seaside Whale and Nature Cruises.
Pleasant Bay
Pleasant Bay is a beautiful community nestled between two mountains. It has always been known for its hiking, especially to Pollett’s Cove (at the end of Red River Road), and the Lone Sheiling, a unique Scottish Crofters hut that pays homage to the local Scottish culture. Visitors to Cape Breton Highlands National Park often stop at the many look-offs for the great views, visit the Whale Interpretive Centre or go on the water to get a little closer to the whales and catch a few photos with:
The cruises are possible from 9 am in the morning until 6 pm in the evening from May until October!.
While in Pleasant Bay, eat at one of the many restaurants with views of the water MidTrail Motel and the Rusty Anchor located on the Cabot Trail. There are also a variety of accommodations available in this village from hostels, motels, Retreats or B&Bs. One attraction which is quietly making itself known is Gampo Abbey, a Buddhist Monestary (retreats are available for several days or several months).
So spend some time with the whales, enjoy some hiking, relax, stay awhile …..
Our Three Days Spent At The Top Of The Island www.northerncapebreton.com
Day 1:
We met the staff of Sea Spray Outdoor Adventures in Cape North www.cabot-trail-outdoors.com for the half day guided “Learn About Lobstering” bike tour we’d reserved. The route took us along harbours and out to the ocean, and at each stop the guide described a different fishing technique used to catch not only lobsters, but other species as well. The kids learned loads, and we all enjoyed the easy pace and fresh air.
We bought oysters at the Hideaway Campground and Seafood Market http://www.campingcapebreton.com, and then headed for Aspy Bay and John Cabot’s Landing Place. We ate our lunch on the picnic tables beachside and then took a long walk on the beach. (We were the only ones on the whole beach, but a seal followed us, just offshore!!!)
After our walk we headed for Bay St. Lawrence and our whale watching experience with Oshan Whale Cruise http://www.oshan.ca/. What a treat! We not only saw two species up whales up close, but since it was lobster season the skipper hauled a trap and showed the kids (and us ogling adults) how to remove lobsters and re-bait the trap.
After a chowder at the Bay St. Lawrence Community Center’s “Bay Cafe” http://www.baystlawrence.org/events.php we headed back to our cottage for a game of Scrabble and some well earned rest.
Day 2:
We treated ourselves to an early morning beach walk, and after breakfast headed to Eagle North for an hour’s kayak paddle http://www.kayakingcapebreton.ca. We explored the quiet harbour and were thrilled to see two bald eagles, but nothing prepared us for the momma moose and calf lying on the bank as we paddled by.
We feasted on fresh Dingwall mussels for lunch, and in the afternoon the skies opened up. We used the showers as an excuse to visit the North Highlands Museum www.northhighlandsmuseum.ca/ and learned about the hardships faced by both early pioneers and shipwrecked sailors (We also got to check our email). We then took in Arts North, www.arts-north.com where over 24 Cape Breton artisans retail their exceptionally fine craftwork interpreting the Island environment. We were amazed by the variety: shorebirds and eagles on pottery, incredible driftwood whales, striking floral and scenic prints, seagrass baskets, intricate quilts, fat “fish cats” on floorcloths and the work of three wonderful jewelers...and all “local”! Since they ship world-wide, I filled some of my Christmas list early.
We walked across the road to T&R gifts http://www.tandr-craftsandgirfts.piczo.com to check out the local knitting and quilts, and for a pre-supper ice cream cone, and then drove to Neils Harbour for supper via the “Scenic Route”. After more seafood we took pictures in front of the lighthouse and then drove to the top of South Mountain to look for moose, but I think we were too noisy, so we headed home to the cottage and let the surf lull us to sleep.
Day 3:
Off to Meat Cove! We drove the (surprisingly good) dirt road to this isolated community, stopping first for a walk on the beach in Capstick. Again, we were alone on the beach. Upon arriving in Meat Cove we checked in at the Welcome Center www.iccns.ca/meatcovecap/index.htm for hiking info (and to pick up some drinks). We decided to “go for it” with a climb up the trail to Meat Cove Mountain for some photos. While the climb was steep, we all made it, although slowly, and found the view from the top to be more than worth the trouble. We whooped and waited for our echoes from up the valley, took our photos, lounged in the grass watching eagles overhead, and begrudged our next morning’s departure for home.
Upon our return to the village we took a late lunch at the Chowder Hut, and then after driving to the “end of the road” we headed back...but not without stopping twice on the cliffside road to seach for whales. We saw three pods!!
Last stops of the afternoon were for more shopping, first at Tartans and Treasures, where the kids searched for the tartan of their maternal grandmother. They found it and now have one more piece of their heritage! We then moved to Country Crafts, www.courtneyscountrycrafts.com just down the road, to look for fisherman’s sweaters.
After dinner we took in a Scottish Ceildh at “The Octogon” www.marklandresort.com that we found on the local web site’s Festival and Events calendar, and one of the local musicians showed the kids how to finger a fiddle. A full moon provided light on the walk back to the cottage, and we counted four shooting stars.
A family vacation just can’t get better than this!
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