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August 3, 2006
Cape Breton: Nova Scotia's gem
Canadian Press
HALIFAX -
Bali, Kauai and Maui often rank at the top of the
list when it comes to island paradises. Now half a million
readers of a leading travel magazine have added Cape Breton
to that list. The August issue of Travel and Leisure
magazine includes the results of an online survey that forms
the basis for their 11th annual Worlds Best Awards. Over
500,000 readers participated in the survey, which asked them
to rate vacation destinations around the world, including
cities, hotels and travel destinations.
When it
comes to the world's best islands, Cape Breton
was ranked as number in the continental United States and
Canada, and number four in the world, behind only the
tropical islands of Bali, Kauai, and Maui. Meanwhile, Hawaii
ranked seventh in the world. Of course, this comes as no
surprise to those who live here. The island - renowned as
Nova Scotia's scenic masterpiece - offers visitors a range
of experiences in a setting that could only be described as
idyllic.
Only 50
years ago, Cape Breton was joined to the mainland with
permanent access. That unique geography forged a strong,
independent spirit among its people and a
culture that embraces their heritage, traditions and music.
Even today, when you cross the Canso Causeway, you're well
aware that you're about to encounter a place unlike anywhere
else in the world. Cape Breton owes much of its natural
beauty to the ocean surrounding it. Lying between the north
Atlantic and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, its shores have been
carved and caressed by these waters for countless millennia.
Further
inland, the Bras d'Or lakes - the largest salt water lakes
in the world - have influenced both the surrounding land and
its people. As a result, expect to see countless forms of
boats, ships, canoes and a myriad of other water craft
dotting the waters in and around the island.
Perhaps
the most striking feature of the island lies on its
north-western tip in the form of the Cape Breton Highlands.
The tree-covered peaks and valleys, offering magnificent
views of the ocean, have enchanted visitors since they were
first carved out of the land during the last ice age. The
Cabot Trail, which winds its way up and down some of the
province's highest hills, takes drivers and passengers alike
on what's been described as nature's longest roller coaster.
The jewel of this scenic drive is the Cape Breton Highlands
National Park, which was created to help preserve the area's
sensitive beauty.
It is also
a popular destination for campers and hikers, who
share the wilderness with moose, lynx, bald eagles, and
owls.
Cape Breton's landscape has also made it a premiere golf
destination. In fact, Golf Digest has ranked the island as
the 29th best golf destination in the world. Cape Breton's
golf courses offer players some of the world's most
challenging courses surrounded by some of the world's most
breathtaking scenery. The most famous of these courses -
Highlands Links, Bell Bay, Le Portage and Dundee - have been
called the Fabulous Foursome and are renowned as the
ultimate golfing destination.
Of course,
the land is only part of what makes Cape Breton so special.
The people who have settled the island - beginning with the
Mi'kmaq and followed by Scots, Acadian, Irish and Africans -
have coloured the land with their culture's traditions and
values. Today, echoes of their experiences can be heard and
felt across the island. For a glimpse into the lives of the
first people to settle this land, the Wagmatcook Culture and
Heritage Centre offers visitors the chance to experience the
past and present of Mi'kmaq culture. In addition to the
centre's exhibits and artifacts, visitors can also be
treated to demonstrations of Mi'kmaq drumming, dancing and
storytelling.
One of the
most popular places to discover Cape Breton's rich past is
at the Fortress of Louisbourg. Visitors can experience a day
in the life of 1744 in the largest reconstructed
18th-century French fortified town in North America.
Soldiers patrol the ramparts, children skip through the
streets, while artisans like the blacksmith and the baker
ply their trades. Cannons on stone ramparts, a busy
waterfront tavern and the crackling of a kitchen fire all
tell how people of a different age lived and worked.
The
Highland Village is a living history museum and cultural
centre that celebrates the Gaelic experience in Nova Scotia.
On a hillside overlooking the world renowned Bras d'Or
Lakes, Nova Scotia's rich Scottish Gaelic culture comes
alive with costumed staff, farm animals and period buildings
and artifacts. The village is a popular destination for
school groups and families interested in learning more
about the Gaelic language and their crafts, including
weaving, lace making, candle making, rug hooking, sewing,
and much more.
Coal was
once the life-blood of Cape Breton. Generations of men made
their living underground, working veins of coal that were
then used to fuel homes and factories throughout the world.
The Miners' Museum in Glace Bay provides visitors with the
opportunity to briefly experience what life was like for the
miners both below and above ground. Former miners take
visitors down into the Ocean Deeps Colliery, where they can
see for themselves the conditions miners faced on a daily
basis. The miners village is an authentic replica of a
miner's house and company store in 1850s Cape Breton. During
the
summer, the world-famous Men of the Deep choir entertains
audiences with a distinctive mix of traditional mining
songs.
No visit
to Cape Breton would be complete without a visit to the
Alexander Graham Bell Museum - a tribute to an inventor who,
among many other things, gave the world the telephone.
Located in Baddeck, the museum takes visitors through the
life of this fascinating man through a vast collection of
artifacts, photographs and personal mementoes. The nearby
Bras d'Or Lakes were also the scene of another of Bell's
accomplishments: the first heavier than air flight in
Canada. It's undoubtedly a testament to the inspirational
beauty and tranquility of the area.
There is a
Gaelic saying common in Cape Breton: Ciad mile failte. It
means "a hundred thousand welcomes" and it's typical of the
warm greeting the island's visitors can expect. While Cape
Bretoners are no doubt flattered by the ranking of Cape
Breton as one of the top island destinations in the world,
they are just as likely to tell you that it is something
they have always known.
For more
information on Cape Breton or to request a free copy of the
Nova Scotia Doers and Dreamers Guide, visit:
www.novascotia.com.
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Above photo:
Margaree (by Victor Maurice Faubert)
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