Hi,

We are planning our honeymoon for July 2007, and would like to spend it in Cape Breton. We only have 4 days, and we don't want to have a lot of logistics to deal with. Specifically, we want to stay in as few places as possible.

My question is, should we plan to drive the entire Cabot Trail, staying at different places along the way, or is there a "home base" that we can take day trips from? We'd like to see the entire Trail, but we also want to do a little hiking, kayaking and whale watching, not just driving.
What is the best way to maximize our short time there?

Thanks!

Congratulations! Cape Breton in July is the absolutely perfect place for a honeymoon!
Baddeck is considered the "beginning & end" of The Cabot Trail With that in mind, I wld stay the first night in Baddeck(Inverary Inn). Book a cruise on the Bras D'or Lakes. Enjoy a wonderful, romantic dinner. Stroll around the village. Next morning head out to begin your tour of The Cabot Trail. I like to do it "counte-rclockwise" but opinion varies on this. I would spend at least 2 nights in Ingonish at The Keltic Lodge.( Main Lodge, not the Inn). From there you can hike, kayak, whale watch. When you leave Keltic continue going "around the Trail". End up back in Baddeck. Or maybe stay in Margaree.
Get a copy of the Nova Scotia Doers' and Dreamers' Travel Guide to help plan your trip. www.novascotia.com

When you say four days, does that include travelling time from airport, etc.?

i think i would spend the first night on the northern side of the island - maybe around inverness http://www.macleods.com/
then you can drive the cabot trail in a clockwise direction the first day - then stay one or two nights around igonish. from there you can go back to some of the spots/hikes that you missed on your first trip on the trail.
this is what i did and i thought it worked out great. you can easily spend at least 2 days exploring sites along the trail. then for the last night or two, go to baddeck. are you going to have time to fit in the fortress louisburg? that's worth a couple of hours.

I highly recommend this one, you better check this site, www.whoisintown.com. You'll meet here your fellow travellers that could give you more tips and suggestions on your plan to travel. Have a safe and nice trip

You can drive the whole Cabot Trail in one day or more pleasantly in 2. We come from BC and found everything closer together in Cape Breton. On day 1 we easily drove from Syndey airport to Mabou with a long stop in Baddeck.

It really depends what you are hoping to see in Cape Breton. We went for the music and culture. We drove through Natalie MacMaster's home town and then slept overnight in Mabou (home of the Rankin Family). We thought it would be half way around the Cabot Trail but we could/should have gone farther north to split it more evenly.

I would recommend staying somewhere in Margaree Harbour (maybe near the water). It was very central and quaint. From this point, you could head north to Cheticamp (French Acadian area); south to Mabou and Judique (music central); or east to Sydney and points on the far coast (you absolutely have to see the Fortress at Louisbourg if it is at all possible).

If you don't want to drive too much, you don't have to do the whole circle. You could go to Margaree and then drive south as far as you wish and then north as far as you wish, doubling back each time. The far north is barren (at least it was in May -- just us and a moose). The far south is not very populated between Baddeck and Mabou.

BTW, the place we stayed at in Mabou was quite romantic and had a nice view overlooking a river. It was called The Duncreigan Country Inn of Mabou and it included a lovely breakfast.

Be sure to take in a ceilidh or two. There should be a fiddle party within 1 hour of you each night in the summer. Just ask the locals -- they'll be glad to let you know where to go.

Enjoy your trip! I am sure you will. It will feel like you've ended up in Ireland or Scotland with the rolling hills and all.