Explore With Reshma’s Cape Breton Island Tour

We invited Ottawa-based content creator @ExplorewithReshma to explore Cape Breton Island to experience our vibrant living cultures, coastal trails and unforgettable food. Her multi-day adventure brought her from Downtown Sydney to the Cabot Trail, with memorable stops that showcased the Island’s history, culture and hospitality.

Things to Do in Sydney and Louisbourg

Reshma’s journey began in Downtown Sydney, where she strolled the waterfront and snapped photos with the iconic Big Fiddle. She then enjoyed a taste of the local food scene at 7 by 7 Restaurant, known for their Whitney Pier Chicken dish, a local favourite..

Her next stop was the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, one of the top attractions in Cape Breton . Exploring the reconstructed 18th-century French town felt like stepping back in time, she even got to fire a canon! She also toured the Mi’kmaw Interpretive Centre to learn about Indigenous culture on the Island and how they interacted with the French settlers when they arrived in the New World. For outdoor adventure, Reshma hiked the Louisbourg Lighthouse Trail, one of Cape Breton’s most scenic coastal walks. She ended the day with a seaside stay and dinner at North Star, a wonderful choice for Louisbourg dining and accommodations.

Cultural Experiences in Eskasoni and Iona

The next morning, Reshma travelled to Eskasoni Cultural Journeys, a must-visit Cape Breton cultural experience where she learned about Mi’kmaw traditions through stories, song, dance and demonstrations.

Lunch was enjoyed at the Wheelhouse Café in Grand Narrows, with beautiful views of the Bras d’Or Lake. She then explored Gaelic heritage at the living museum, the Highland Village Museum | Baile nan Gàidheal in Iona. She especially loved seeing all the farm life and interacting with the interpreters.

Her evening was spent at Iona Heights Inn, one of the most welcoming inns on Cape Breton Island, with dinner at the on-site Frolic’n Folk Pub & Grill.

Exploring Acadian Culture on the Cabot Trail

Day three started with breakfast at The Dancing Goat Café & Bakery, a Cabot Trail favourite in Margaree.

In Grand Étang, she visited the Centre de la Mi-Carême, which celebrates Acadian mid-Lent traditions. She then toured Les Trois Pignons: Museum of the Hooked Rug and Home Life in Chéticamp to learn about Acadian culture and hooked rug artistry.

Dinner was at L’abri Café, Restaurant and Bar, one of the best seafood restaurants on the Cabot Trail. She finished her journey with a luxurious stay at La Pointe Chalets on Chéticamp Island, offering oceanfront accommodations in Cape Breton.

Why Visit Cape Breton Island?

From Mi’kmaw and Gaelic traditions to Acadian celebrations, @ExplorewithReshma’s tour highlighted the cultural mosaic that makes Cape Breton Island one of the best travel destinations in Canada. Her trip blended history, outdoor adventure and local cuisine into an experience that captured the heart of the Island.