Cape Breton Island perches at the northeast tip of Nova Scotia, boasting rugged hills, pink sandstone cliffs, and plenty of fresh Atlantic air. The island is the traditional territory of the Mi'kmaq people, but today, it has a distinctly Scottish feel on account of the descendants of long-ago settlers. It's a place for nature lovers and music enthusiasts, with an abundance of hiking trails and a fiddle-strong music scene. Things to do on Cape Breton include driving and hiking along the famous Cabot Trail, eating your weight in fresh-caught seafood, and visiting Membertou Heritage Park.
Cape Breton Island is best visited in the summer and early fall, when the island starts to thaw and the whales return to the local waters. The island fills with visitors this time of year, and the locals roll out the welcome with festivals, markets, and concerts. If you don’t mind bundling up, visit in October for the gorgeous foliage and the Celtic Colours International Festival, when fiddle music rings out across the island and you won’t be able to resist dancing along.
It’s best to have your own car on Cape Breton, as there’s little in the way of public transit. One of the main draws here is the scenic Cabot Trail, which runs 185 miles (298 kilometers) around the island. The route makes for an excellent road trip, taking you along the windswept coastline with views of whitecaps and colorful cliffs and through the rolling green hills of the Cape Breton Highlands.
Located in the town of Sydney, Membertou Heritage Park gives visitors the chance to learn about the island’s first residents through exhibits covering the Mi’kmaq people's culture and history, with cultural items on display such as birch bark canoes and wigwams. The park also offers plenty of workshops and experiences where you can make beaded earrings, play a traditional Mi’kmaq dice game, and learn the Seven Sacred Teachings, which are found throughout many North American Indigenous traditions.
