Alexander Graham Bell once said, “I have travelled around the globe. I have seen the Canadian and American Rockies, the Andes, the Alps and the Highlands of Scotland, but for simple beauty, Cape Breton outrivals them all.”
I'll admit that I was a bit skeptical of this quote upon first reading it. I mean, the Rockies, the Alps, the Scottish Highlands… those are all pretty impressive and beautiful things. Could a sparsely-populated island in the Canadian Maritimes really compare?
Well, the truth is that it kind of can.
When my family found out we were stopping in Sydney, Nova Scotia, on our last shore day of a family cruise, we were a bit perplexed. Everything I was reading said there wasn't much to see/do in Sydney apart from a giant fiddle and some historic houses. How would we fill 8 hours?
The trick, we discovered, is to get out of Sydney and explore the rest of Cape Breton Island. Because, as Bell asserted, the beauty of this place will surprise you.
A DIY Cape Breton shore excursion
When we got to Sydney, we rented a car and immediately took to the famous Cabot Trail, a scenic route that skirts the coastline of Cape Breton Island and takes you through Cape Breton Highlands National Park. We didn't have time to drive the whole trail since we had a ship to catch, but we did drive a few hours into the Cape Breton wilderness.
At our halfway point, we stopped in a sleepy little fishing village that I have now dubbed The Prettiest Place You've Never Heard Of.
This is Margaree Harbour.
The Wikipedia page for this town consists of one sentence; the town itself consists of a small collection of houses and cottages; and the only living things we saw at the harbor were sea birds.
On such a warm, sun-kissed day, Margaree Harbour absolutely took my breath away.
I now understand completely what Alexander Graham Bell meant.
It just goes to show you that sometimes it's the unexpected places that end up sneaking up on you to steal your heart.
And Cape Breton Island? Most definitely a place I need to return to!
What do you think? Can Cape Breton compete with those other scenic places?
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
I can’t agree with “it outrivals them all” statement. Yes it is beautiful, but you can’t compare with Rockies as it totally different landscape.
Yeah, it definitely isn’t snow-capped mountains. But it IS very beautiful!
Yes, I don’t want to argue about beauty. East of Canada is on my list to visit.
I love unexpected places like this! Your pictures are beautiful and depict a lovely town that looks so peaceful. Makes me want to visit!
It’s definitely convinced me that I need to spend more time in Cape Breton! Such an unexpectedly pretty part of the world.
Having spend every summer vacation of my life here (my Dad was born in Ingonish, Cape Breton), it was the only choice for a honeymoon destination when my hubby and I got married. After returning to Ontario at the end of the trip, my husband agreed with my feelings about this place: we HAVE TO return! Well, 5 years after that trip, we handed in our resignations, packed our belongings and moved east. We’ve been living a dream here in Ingonish, Cape Breton for the past 12 years now! Do we miss the crazy, noisy, hectic, crowded city life? NO WAY! We fall asleep to the sound of the surf each night and wake to a postcard-perfect view of the coast every morning. If you want to see more reasons why it’s easy to fall in love with Cape Breton Island, visit this website: http://www.capebretonstockphotography.com . And come play on OUR island!! 😀
What an awesome story, Lori! I can definitely understand the appeal of dropping everything and moving to Cape Breton. Do you still love it as much in the winter?
That’s a big sky…
Kinda eerie how much it looks like Orkney. And for that reason, I’m totally sold.
Big sky indeed. One of the reasons why I loved it so much, I think!
I was born in Cape Breton yet never think of it as the prettiest place, maybe because tourists see it in the summer but I know what its like in the winter.
Hahaha, totally understandable! I’m sure I’d have a different attitude, too, if I had grown up there.
I grew up here & have lived here for most of my life & my attitude’s not at all like Ayngelina’s. I have rarely vacationed outside of Cape Breton in summer. I am always commenting on what a beautiful place we live in – you’ve gotten only a small taste. It so happens I’ll be driving part of the Cabot Trail tomorrow to overnight at a beautiful resort (Island Sunset) in Belle Cote, just a few miles beyond Margaree Harbor. The resort is aptly named as the sunsets are spectacular.
Enjoy your holiday!
I too grew up there and I have travelled the world but there is no where in the world as BEAUTIFUL as MARGAREE HARBOUR even in the middle of winter!!!!!!
It sure is amazing!!
Blue sky puffy white clouds and sparkling blue/green sea on white landscape can be just as beautiful
as summer or fall! Cape Breton is beautiful all year long! There are stormy days all over the world!
I definitely need to go back!
I’ve been here before! When I was younger I had an international choir festival in Sydney, Nova Scotia and we followed the same trail. It IS breathtaking. I love Nova Scotia though with all its coastal beauty. I need to head back East sometime soon!
The coastlines and lakes and all the TREES! It certainly is beautiful.
Cape Breton is one of my favourite places in the world! The fiddle tunes, the people, the scenery, oh my… It’s damn pretty. 🙂
It’s gorgeous. (And the sunny weather definitely helped!)
Looks beautiful, to me it’s the secret of the location that makes it all the more magical!
Oh, I totally agree! If we hadn’t stumbled upon it accidentally, it wouldn’t have been as special.
Wow! Such a beautiful scenery! Thanks for sharing the story and photos!
You are most welcome! Glad you liked the post.
I love discovering places that I had no idea would be beautiful or that I would fall in love with. Gorgeous pics!
It’s always a great feeling, isn’t it? One of the things I love most about travel!
You’re quite right about the beauty and there is some astounding beach glass to be found on the some of the shores of Cape Breton. It’s a great place to visit in October during the Celtic Colours music festival. Incredible!
Ooo a Celtic music festival sounds like tons of fun!
Being from Nova Scotia, I’m biased, but I’ve been to a lot of beautiful places in this world and Cape Breton (and Nova Scotia) can stand up there with the rest of them.
You’re allowed to be biased; you come from a beautiful province! I’d really love to go back and see more of it.
Yup! I agree. Although Guatemala will give it run for it’s money (google Lake Atitlan).
-Rich
I have to find more about this area. Have to confess I don’t know a lot about it. A cruise seems like the perfect way to visit the Canadian Maritimes.
I didn’t know much about this part of the world, either, and was pleasantly surprised! I really enjoyed it.
@Ruth: If you ever do a cruise up to Canada, you HAVE TO visit Quebec City. I saw cruise ships docking there.
Best “European” city in the American continent!
-Rich
I agree it can compare 🙂 you should see it in the Fall
Oh my gosh, I can’t even imagine how gorgeous it must be when all the leaves are changing! I will definitely have to come back in the fall sometime.
You’re absolutely right about visiting Cape Breton in the fall. It. Was. Amazing.
When I was planning my overland trip from North America to the Chilean Patagonia, I thought to start from Alaska and make my way down. Because of timing reasons, I chose instead to go all the way to the northermost part of CB, Meat Cove, and make my way down.
Best decision ever. Here’s where my CB leg of the trip started: http://unwireme.com/part-i-driving-cape-breton-nova-scotia-world-top-10-scenic-drive/
If you ever go to Margaree, you have to stop by The Dancing Goat. The have the best soups and delicious freshly-baked cinammon rolls. Great sandwiches too.
If I had gobs of money, I’d buy me a little cottage in CB and live there during the fall months.
Good post!
-Rich
A fall cottage in Cape Breton would be amazing!
And we actually did notice the Dancing Goat, but didn’t have time to stop in.
If you go in autumn you should time your trip around the “Celtic Colours” music festival.
Went there 27 years ago,and never forgot it , Five years ago we returned to buy a cottage on the Cabot Trail. Now every summer this is our home – the beauty of this place is unmatched, there are gems all over this island-beautiful hidden beaches and small harbor towns, the national park and rolling interior farmlands. The Margaree area is our special summer place. And if you are a music lover, it has the the added bonus of having some of the best traditional music in the world. The people, the dancing, warm-enough water to swim and a rich musical night life. There is nothing not to love about Cape Breton, wild, remote and beautiful!
where at in margare I am from there my mom and dad still live there on the Cabot trail.
I am from north east Margaree just two minutes from the dancing goat bakery( great food).the owner went to school with our daughter.my mom and brother still live there I live in northern Ontario but try to get home at least once a year.not often enough.didn,t really notice how pretty it was until I went back for holidays.people seem to live longer there. …….no stress could have something to do with it.
It’s great that you can appreciate it now. 🙂
You said: If I had gobs of money, I’d buy me a little cottage in CB and live there during the fall months.
I Say: Do it!! Property is so bloody cheap in the Maritimes compared to the rest of Canada. I’m from that neck of the woods so I know. I also know that Germans are slowly buying up all the good plots, so strike while the iron is hot! 🙂
I agree that Cape Breton is a magnificent place to travel through.
But please do not dismiss Sydney so glibly. The Historic North End is more than just a bunch of old houses. Check out the History behind them. The two stone churches … ST Patricks on the Esplanade and ST Georges on Charlotte ST. Both churches were made from the stone rubble at the Fortress of Louisbourg.
You will also find a people friendly park with walking trails, outdoor exercise equipment, football field, tennis courts, children’s playground and baseball field, where once stood the biggest eco disaster “The Tar Ponds” and the Sydney Steel Plant. This park is an amazing accomplishment and the city is to be congratulated for the enormous undertaking. I have visited the city for the last three summers. I used it as a home base to see the rest. Oh…. Don’t forget to visit the Fortress of Louisbourg. Something different every week. Time period … French controlled fortress set in 1775. Life as it was. Much to see and do … enjoy “The Island”
I’m actually from around the area of Meat Cove. My Dad was born and raised there. Its truly a place you have to visit to experience the beauty within! Glad you enjoyed yourself!
It’s one of the prettiest places that I have ever been. We spent 5 nights in nearby Baddeck a few years ago and loved it!!
We stopped briefly in Baddeck on our way up the Cabot Trail. It seemed like a cool town!
You need to return and keep going. You didn’t see half of the Trail and believe me, you need more time.
Agreed! I definitely need to go back and see more.
I grew up in Cape Breton. Purchased a summer home on the Bras D’Or. Dont use it as much as I would like, but god willing, will spend my retirement summers there. Love it.