Planning 2005 Cape Breton trip - still confused by overload of info! Can you help?
 

Hi - I am planning a one week vacation for end of July, 2005 with another couple. I have been reading posts here and done searches for some time. Wonderful info, but I am still unsure of how best to do this. We are into scenic hiking (about 3-4 hour type hikes or less), kayaking, sightseeing, scenic driving, exploring. We love to be active - not beach sitters. We are flying into Halifax and plan to rent a car there to drive to Cape Breton. I plan (unless advised otherwise) to stay the first night at Liscomb Lodge. From there I need help.

I think we should split our trip up to at least 2 places so that we can take advantage of all the great hiking and sights to see.

First: Trying to decide whether it would be better to be in Mabou Highlands or closer up to Cheticamp to do that side. Forgot to mention that, while we don't need luxury, we would like air conditioning.

Second: Ingonish sounds like a good bet for a couple of nights. How many with our interests? Keltic Lodge may be out as the lodge does not seem to have A/C. Maybe Seascape Resort?

Now - is it then overkill to stay a night or two in Baddeck? If we do - is it easy to do Fort Louisbourg from there or better to be near the Fort? Other nature things to do near Fort?

Whew - I know this is detailed - I'm making myself crazy, but want this to be a really fun trip, but I don't want us to be exhausted going from inn to inn either. What do you think is a happy balance?

Thanks for any help!! sue

Liscomb Lodge used to be owned by a man who served with my father in the Canadian military in World War 2, and I visited it once about --- it just hit me how long ago it was -- about 40 years ago.

Well, it was a wonderful place then, and I can't imagine it not being just as wonderful today.

If you find a silver Parker fountain pen... I lost one there.

Have a great time.

BAK

By all means stay a night or two in Baddeck. It's a great base from which to travel to the east side of the Cabot Trail (including the Celtic College at St. Ann) and has a number of attractions in and of itself (sailing on the Amoeba on the lake, the Alexander Graham Bell Museum, etc.). A great place to stay in Baddeck is the Inverary Resort, which is air conditioned. (check it out at www.capebretonresorts.com) It seems like it's about a 2-hour drive from Baddeck to Louisbourg, which is doable in a day. (If you want to stay overnight in Louisbourg, there's a theater built to replicate Shakespeare's Globe Theater that features Celtic music/comedy.) When at Louisbourg, make sure to get the guided tour, which takes an hour or two. Several people said it really helped them appreciate the fortress more fully, and we were sorry we did not participate.

Don't forget that you're right beside the ocean, and it cools down quite a lot at night, so AC isn't absolutely necessary. My husband and I spent a few days at the Normaway Inn in Margaree Valley during the second week of July a couple of years ago, and we had the wood stove going. It's a lovely spot, by the way (www.normaway.com), and, if you're into celtic music, there's a barn on the property where they hold a ceilidh once a week

Keltic Lodge in Ingonish is now partially air conditioned. (The Inn at Keltic and the cottages have air conditioning. The main house is still without).

We stayed in a wonderful place one night in Cheticamp and I could've stayed there for a week. http://www.baywindsuites.com/

It was so relaxing sitting on the small boardwalk looking at at the water. We stayed in the Lighthouse Suite.

We were going to eat upstairs at the restaurant, but we were tired of restaurant food, so we got a pizza that was good. Cheticamp is VERY small but quiet and relaxing.

We hiked the Middlehead Trail near Ingonish and it was gorgeous. We liked it more than Skyline. We stayed at http://lanternhillandhollow.com/ for a night after we hiked there. That place was also very quiet and relaxing. We stayed in the Moonbeamer Suite.

If you go through Mahone Bay, which I HIGHLY recommend, stay at http://www.bbcanada.com/1324.html
The hosts were wonderful and made the best salmon omelette. The town is quaint and has a few little shops and an excellent restaurant, called Mimi's Ocean Grill.

I have a Nova Scotia page on www.virtualtourist.com with tips and some pictures. I'm not sure if this will link you or not
http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/75e9d/534/

it's listed under Soon To Be Mrs Hawk.

I wasn't too thrilled with Baddeck as far as staying there overnight.

Feel free to email me at [email protected]

I can give you more info or send pics.

There is a little cottage you can rent exactly one mile from Liscomb Lodge. Call 923-2220 - it is a local couple that have it - small but directly on the water. Liscomb is lovely as well and goes through renos every year so keeps updated. You can hike back to the trout ladder which is a great spot - get the Lodge to pack you a lunch or pop into Sherbrooke to pick up supplies.

If you are heading out of Liscomb and want to stop for lunch in Antigonish, I would recommend Gabrieaus - great food.

As for Cape Breton, my personal fav is Baddeck. You can rent kayaks and do some of the Bras d'or Lakes. Take a trip on the Amoeba or have Sal on the Loch Breagh take you out for a very informative tour. You will appreciate the Alexander Graham Bell Museum after you listen to the stories the captain tells you. As for a place to stay, I would recommend you check out the MacRae House which is rented by the Telegraph House. A 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath house is located centrally in the village and walking distance to everything. From here you can day trip around the trail or head to Louisbourg for the day (but it will be a long one). Louisbourg is a charming little village - especially when it is sunny.

Cheticamp is charming and close to some of the best hiking trails.

I'd vote for a/c! We were at Cape Breton in October a few years ago and hit a late heat wave...and spent a rather uncomfortable nite at Normoway. We keep saying we're going to carry a small fan with us when travelling - even some US hotels with a/c can be surprisingly stuffy. (Do be sure to make time to seek out/enjoy some celtic music!)