The Cabot Trail.
A true natural beauty, Cape Breton is consistently lauded for its outdoor attractions—sprawling coastline and mountainous vistas among them. Head to the Cabot Trail first to see why the island has earned its share of accolades as a bucket list destination. The coastal highway winds for 185 miles, hugging Cape Breton’s rocky northern shore, looping inland through Cape Breton Highlands National Park, and passing along the salmon-filled Margaree River, connecting eight significant communities with varied backgrounds. North America’s answer to Europe’s Wild Atlantic Way, with spectacular views that take you along the island’s rugged coast on the road cut into mountains high above the gleaming Gulf of St. Lawrence below. Look to the sky for bald eagles or to the sea for pods of migrating whales from spring through fall, when you can spot fin, minke, humpback, pilot, and other behemoths guiding the waters. 

The Fortress of Louisbourg.

The Fortress of Louisbourg is an unexpected treasure for visitors to Cape Breton. One of the busiest harbours in North America during the 18th century and one of France’s key economic and military centers in the New World, today, the Fortress of Louisbourg in North America’s most prominent historical reconstruction.


Check out a Ceildh.

(Pronounced Kay-lee).  Visit Cape Breton. Understand how big a role music plays in the lives of its residents. Popular acts like Rita McNeil, Stan Rogers, and Ashley McIsaac were either born in Cape Breton or lived there and became influenced by the music.

Whale Watching.

Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Breton waters are some of the best places to catch sight of a whale or go on an organized tour in Cheticamp.


Feast on Lobster.

You can eat it morning, noon, and night in Cape Breton. Lobster is caught fresh daily in Cape Breton from May through July. You'll see lobster dinner signs across the island.