Almost 16 years ago, my family moved from mainland Nova Scotia to Cape Breton Island. Looking back, we can see that God was definitely guiding our steps. Cape Breton has been a place of growth, blessing, and great opportunities for us. And it’s an awesome place to live, too! (If you haven’t visited, you need to put it on your bucket list. Right after you finish reading this post.)

Here are 5 things I love about Cape Breton.

Friendly People

Cape Breton culture is all about relationships. You may walk in as a stranger, but you’ll walk out as a newfound friend. Our tiny, close-knit communities are filled with families who’ve lived there for generations. When you introduce yourself to someone, they’ll ask, “And who’s your father?”

People in Cape Breton are always ready to lend a helping hand to their neighbour. When tragedy hits, they’ll show up with plates of food and words of sympathy. They understand what it’s like to face hard times.

Capers like old-fashioned fun…strolling on the beach, hiking in the woods, playing centuries-old Gaelic music, and kicking up their heels at a family square dance. Almost every village or town has a summer festival with a parade, music events, kids’ activities, and possibly even fireworks. Cape Bretoners have strong community spirit and pride in their Island.

Cape Breton Music

In the 1800s, hundreds of Scottish farmers were uprooted from their land by the Highland Clearances. They came to Cape Breton by the boatload, carrying little more than the clothes on their backs. Yet they brought with them a priceless possession—their Scottish Gaelic music and culture. Fiddles and bagpipes were their primary instruments, in addition to an oral song tradition.

Because Cape Breton is relatively isolated, this music was remarkably well preserved over two and a half centuries. Today, Scottish fiddlers who want to study 19th-century Gaelic music come to Cape Breton (or bring Cape Bretoners over to teach them).

Over the last century, piano and guitar became a part of the tradition as an accompaniment to fiddle. Today, Celtic music is a vibrant part of Cape Breton culture. We have ceilidhs and square dances year round and two major music festivals, Celtic Colours and KitchenFest!. In the summer months, multiple ceilidhs and musical events are happening every night of the week! 

Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee):

a Gaelic word for a social gathering with traditional music, dance, and storytelling. In modern Cape Breton, it generally means a performance of Celtic music which can also include traditional dance or Gaelic stories/songs.

For a quick look at what’s happening across the island on a daily basis, visit Music Cape Breton’s calendar.

Breathtaking Cape Breton Hiking Trails

If you’ve ever heard of the Cabot Trail, One of the main attractions of Cape Breton is the Cabot Trail. It’s a 6-hour coastal drive on mountains bordering the sea, and it’s absolutely breathtaking. The Trail winds through the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, which shelters moose, bald eagles, and old-growth forests.

In the Park, you can choose from 26 amazing hiking trails. The Skyline Trail is a visitor favourite (pictured above). When you walk down the boardwalk along the mountain, you feel like you might be walking off the edge of the earth.  

Besides the Cabot Trail, there are a ton of beautiful hiking trails around the Island. Our family loves the Cape Mabou Highlands trail system, the Uisge Ban Falls, and the Celtic Shores Coastal Trails. Another gorgeous trail that’s on my list to try is Cape Clear.

Rich History

Although this has been disputed recently, history tells us that John Cabot was the first European to visit the Island in 1497. (Our Cabot Trail was named after him.) Portuguese fishermen and French settlers came and went, but European immigration did not begin in earnest until 1713.

Named “Isle Royale” by the French, Cape Breton became the home of French soldiers, seasonal fisherman, and servants. Their main post was the Fortress of Louisbourg, which boasted one of the first lighthouses in North America.

In the French and Indian War, most of the Acadians in the Maritimes were forcibly removed from their homes. They were not allowed to return until 1764, when they settled in Cheticamp and Isle Madame.

Later, Irish, British, and Scottish settlers migrated here, bringing their distinct cultures, language, and music.

Here’s my list of must-visit historical sites in Cape Breton:

Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site

Highland Village Museum

Cape Breton Miner’s Museum

Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site

Gorgeous Beaches in Cape Breton

In addition to Insta-worthy hiking trails, we also enjoy gorgeous beaches! On the east side of the Island, Point Michaud tops the list with surf-worthy waves. Visitors can rent surfboards and wetsuits and take lessons from surf experts. Once a year in August, locals and visitors compete in the annual Point Michaud Surf Classic competition. 

On the west side of Cape Breton, there are even more beautiful beaches! If you love finding seaglass, the Inverness beach is loaded with treasures. If you like swimming in bathtub-warm water, try one of the 5 beaches in Port Hood. To avoid too much summer nudity, we like to swim at “locals-only” beaches that get less traffic. In August, we’ve even seen whales and dolphins not far from shore! 

If you love sunsets, you’ll want to visit one of the west side beaches at dusk. God paints the most amazing masterpieces here!

And check out my brother Julien’s blog at My Cape Breton Home for the best hiking trails, beaches, and more!

Let’s Chat:

Have you ever visited Cape Breton before? If not, which of these attractions would be #1 on YOUR list? I’d love to hear in the comments!

love,

Claudine