Hello Everyone.

The wife and I are heading to Cape Breton. I've done a bit of research and have an itinerary. There's a lot on the itinerary, some of which I concede we won't have the time to get to. There's also restaurant, shopping, & round trip drive times.

Please feel free to comment and thanks for all your help.

Sunday
Bras d'Or Lakes Inn

Monday
St Peters to Ingonish (Lantern Hill and Hollow) via Port Hawkesbury & The Ceilidh Trail & West and Northern Cabot Trail - 303k, 4.5 Hours.
Inverness - Glen Breton Distillery.
Aucoin (Boulangerie) LaPointe Road, Petit Etang, just after Broussard on the left.
Cheticamp:
Lunch - Hometown Kitchen, just north of Fraser Doucet Lane.
Hiking:
Skyline Trail, west coast, just north of Cheticamp, 2-3 hours;
Bog, north of Skyline, 15 minutes;
Benjie's Trail, east of Bog, 1.5 hours;
MacIntosh Brook, North of Bog, 30-45 minute.
Where to buy Seafood - Seafood Stop, 14803 Cabot Trail, Cheticamp - between Redman and Plateau Roads, just after car wash.


Tuesday
Southern Cabot Trail - Ingonish to Margaree Harbor 320k, 4.5 hours. Only 4 hours if we keeping going counterclockwise on the Cabot Trail. Take 19 south at Margaree Forks and head north on Shore Road.
St Ann's Artisan Shopping District:
Glass Artisans Studio, 45054 Cabot Trail, North Shore;
Shape Shift Pottery, North River Bridge.
Food Shopping - The Herring Chocker, on route 105, south of Baddeck in Nyanza.
Cape Breton Clay - Margaree Valley - need exact location??
Lunch / Bakery - Dancing Goat Café & Bakery - Margaree Valley.
Hiking - Salomon Pools, east of Cheticamp, 4-6 hours.


Wednesday
Northern Cabot Trail to Meat Cove, only if passable??
At Neils Harbor take New Haven Road, rejoining the Cabot Trail in White Point .
Lunch - Rusty Anchor in Pleasant Bay, Lobster Rolls and Oysters, eat on Terrace if nice day, south of Highland Breeze & Captain Marks Whale Cruse.
Bakery - Celtic Touch Bakery & Pizzeria, 570 Dingwall Road, Dingwall.
Meat Cove Chowder Hut, Meat Cove Road, overlooking ocean and cliffs.
Hiking:
Franey, just north of Ingonish, 2-3 hours;
Middle head, west of Ingonish, 1 hour;
Fresh Water Lake Lookout, west of Ingonish.
Hideway Campground for Oysters.
Shopping - Arts North, on Cabot Trail, after Cape North, before Sunrise.
Boat tour of coast / bird island, not sure whom to book with?

Thursday
Full day kayaking trip, not sure whom to book with?
Hike Usige Ban Falls, 15 miles north of Baddeck, 90 minute hike.
Drive to St Peters, Bras d'Or Lake Inn .

Wow -- you're kidding, right? Or you are not going to sleep... Way too much on every day.

Artsbabe,

I know I can't do everything on the list but I want as many options as possible.

Weather is a factor, if its raining I'm not going to feel like hiking, nor can I expect to do every hike on the list.

I could very well end up blowing off an entire days activities and just stay in Ingonish and drink a couple of bottles on the of wine on the beach while contemplating nature.

Sounds like you are going to Ingonish clockwise on Monday then Tuesday coming around to Margaree Harbour then Wednesday back to Ingonish. then Wednesday counterclockwise to Meat Cove and then Thursday clockwise back to Baddeck.

A lot of duplicate driving there.

I know there is a kayak place around Cape North and also at Baddeck and St.Peters. There should be a website called something like kayak Nova Scotia, look for that .

Bird Island at Englishtown, go with Donelda, SHE's great .

Seafood in Cheticamp, go to All Aboard or Hometown Kitchen for the most for the least .

I'm going to suggest you leave St.Peters and head for Margaree Harbour area or as far as Dingwall (Inlet B&B has a neat suite) and use that for a base for 2 days, then head for near Englishtown, or North River for next stop. This way you can reach all your spots within an hour of each place basically and not as much duplicate driving. You could even stay near or at the Glenora Distillery to get music there or nearby at the red Shoe in Mabou.

Cabottrail,

To a certain extent I'm stuck with the duplicate driving because I'm staying in Ingonish for Monday - Wednesday nights. Some of that may be eliminated if I only get as far as Margaree Harbour on Tuesday and head back via the southern Cabot Trail.

Your the second person that mentioned the kayak place in Cape North and Donelda. I'll probably go with them.

I'm staying in St Peter on Thursday because I'm driving back to Massachusetts Friday morning and the further south I am the better. The alternative would be to stay in the Mabou area. Any recommendations?