M_J

We are planning our first trip to Cape Breton and will stay for 4 days. We want your suggestions for a
"home base." We prefer a two room suite or perhaps a cottage with kitchen and separate sitting area. That way, if one of us wants to read late at night or wake up early, we won't disturb the other.
Thanks for the help.

capebreton01

Dear MJ, I would suggest Baddeck a your home base Its centrally located for just about everything. You could get a cottage up there no problem it just depend on what time of the year. How are you getting to cape breton are you driving or flying in could make suggestions forthat also as long as you don't mind. The Inverary Inn would be able to accommdate you also if you couldn't find a cottage.

Tanya

I know I must sound like a broken record, but check out MacRae House in Baddeck - 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bath, $169/night. Clean, clean, clean! Call the Telegraph House to enquire - they don't advertise it.

M_J

Thanks for the suggestions. We will fly into Halifax. Spent the night and then drive to Cape Breton the next morning. I finally found a map of Cape Breton and Baddeck certainly looks central for a "home" during our travels.

stillhouse

We visited Cape Breton in late June and it was the highlight of our trip. I had originally intended to stay in Baddeck for several nights since, as you note, it is centrally located. However, we ended up spending one night in the Margaree Valley at the Normaway Inn, one night at the Keltic Inn in Ingonish, one night in Baddeck and continuing on towards the ferry for the fourth night we had originally intended to spend in Baddeck.

Many people drive the Cabot Trail in one day, but find they don't have time for hiking because of the distance. We took all of the detours recommended in the Doers and Dreamers Guide and found them delightful. We also took several of the hikes under 5k. Leaving the Margaree Valley at 8:30 we didn't get to Ingonish until 6:30-and that's without any stop for lunch. I'm sorry I didn't arrange for two nights at the Keltic Lodge. I loved the property and the surrounding area which offered many lakes and hikes. We tarried at Ingonish until about 2pm the following day and didn't get to Baddeck until 5-just in time to spend an hour at the Alexander Graham Bell museum and catch a 6:30 boat on the lake. I liked Baddeck, but didn't feel I missed anything by only spending one night there.

gopack

Hi stillhouse,

I noticed you really enjoyed the Keltic Lodge and its trails, etc. We are staying there for only one night also, in October. Do you think there is enough to do in that vicinity to warrant 2 nights?

By that I mean, are there some nice short hikes? I cannot take long hikes as I have really bad feet, but I can take short hikes. Also, are the views from the lodge itself worth staying another day to enjoy?? You also mentioned lakes in the vicinity. Can you drive to them, or only hike to them?

I feel like by the time we get there it will be late and we must leave fairly early the next morning, so am thinking of staying a second night.

Would you recommend it? Thanks!!

capebreton01

Dear Go pack its worth staying at the Keltic Lodge for an extra night just because of the scenery alone, there a a few hiking trails on the grounds of the keltic lodge & they are not to long. They are easy o get to.There are also a few more located with in a 15 min drive which are on the short side also.

cmp

We just returned from a Nova Scotia vacation. The best part was 4 nights in Ingonish at Lantern Hill and Hollow in one of their cottages right on the beach. These are 2 bedroom cottages with an equipped kitchen and a grill on the porch. They are new, and at $189/night, we thought a great value and hated to leave! Having a kitchen is the way to go - fresh seafood is cheap and we were spoiled. We could see the Keltic from our beach, and several evenings at their bar chatting with the bartenders Cory and Betty. Very welcoming. We were also close to The Thirsty Hiker, another small bar (recommended by our Keltic frinds) with good local music. The best hike we took was to the end of the "peninsula" behind the Keltic where we found ourselves standing on rock outcroppings watching whales. Incredible. We did take a whale watching tour with SeaQuest, and the hosts were terrific and determined to find us some whales and eagles. There are also sailboat tours to the whales, and that looked like fun if you are a bit more daring. We never made it around the entire trail, but of the parts we did there is plenty of raw, natural beauty of this land to enjoy from the car or pulling off to walk one of the trails to the edge of the ocean. Our only surprise was how long the drive was from Halifax. Everything I read said 3hrs to Cape Breton. True. Then Ingonish was another 1.5-2hrs. Worth it!! I suspect Baddeck is more "built up" so it depends on what you are looking for. I am sure you will have a wonderful time.

capebreton01

Dear CMP, You really found out what Cape Breton Island is about. You made friends at The Keltic lodge with betty who has been there for years & has won the Pineapple award for customer service for all of Nova Scotia. Cape Breton is not only about scenic beauty but its her people who make a difference also. For anyone coming here, befriend one of the locals it will really make your trip worth while you'll have a locals insight & you will have a friend for life.