options for sydney nova scotia

[Arizona traveler]

What would consider as the main attractions here? Is most everything local or are some "must sees" out of town?

[sapper1]

What would consider as the main attractions here? Is most everything local or are some "must sees" out of town?

http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ns/louisbourg/index.aspx

 

Hands down, when in the area we always visit the Fortress of Louisbourg---about a 45 minute drive from Sydney. If you rent a car, when allocating time consider that you have to park at the visitor centre, get your ticket and wait for a shuttle bus to the fortress. Then on the way back you have to do the process in reverse. The road to Louisbourg is a two lane highway with little opportunity to pass. Personally I would take the ship's tour.

You can spend hours roaming around the fortress and it is very interesting. Meals are available in period appropriate restaurants.

One little tip------the Fortress sits out on a point of land which seems to be constantly enshrouded in fog---which means cool----so even if it is very warm in Sydney you should take along a fleece or windbreaker---or both, depending on the time of year.

 

Second to the fortress, I would go to Baddeck and visit the Alexander Graham Bell home and museum. It is run by Parks Canada and is very well done. You cannot do both the fortress and Baddeck in one day.

 

Although the Cabot Trail is spectacular and is Cape Breton's premiere attraction, you cannot see it satisfatorily in the hours alloted in a cruise ship stop. It would take several hours to get to the really gorgeous part of the trail on two lane twisty roads which is slow going. There would not be time to complete the circuit so you would have to find a place to turn around and come back and hope you were not held up by slow moving traffic on the way. Personally, knowing the area, I would not chance it. Taking the ship's tour would allow you to relax and not worry about getting back, but if it is foggy, you will not see a thing and will have wasted your money.

It is really a trip in itself, and not to be crammed into a few hours. When we do the complete loop we are stopping for supper before we get back to our starting point, which is usually Baddeck.

[Krazy Kruizers]

In Sydney -- one time we did an all day tour.

 

One of our stops was at the Nova Scotia Highland Village in Iona - we got to tour the grounds at our own pace. At the end where we all were to meet, in the information building they served us shortbread cookies - yummy. They have resurrected what a typical scottish village would have looked like 180 years ago. From the village you can look down onto the Bras d'Or Lakes - which we passed by on our way here.

 

In Baddeck - home of Alexander Graham Bell - we stopped at an inn for lunch. This was the only bad part of the excursion. We just happened to be seated at the last table to be called for the buffet lunch. When we got to the tables, there was hardly any food left - the chicken was gone, the fish had only a couple of pieces left, green beans - only a couple of spoonfuls left, potatoes nearly gone and they weren't making any attempt to bring out anything more. The 6 of us at our table had a roll and a dessert (pastry) for lunch. The workers said they were working on getting out more food. But unfortunately we could not wait as our bus driver and tour guide told us that it was time to leave. A few miles down the road we stopped for some shopping - only a couple of stores were open - really a waste of time.

 

Our last stop before returning to the ship was the Alexander Graham Bell Museum which we were able to tour on our own. it was very interesting. You could barely see Bell's home across the lake from here because of all the trees that have grown over the years.

[maryann ns]

I concur: Number one choice has to be Louisbourg. However if you are in Sydney after Oct. 15 this will not be so good as louisbourg will only be partially open with no animators (people dressed in costume playing the parts of actual people who lived there.

 

Second choice is to drive to Baddeck and Iona for the Alexander Graham Bell Museum and the Highland Village. These can easily be combined for a pleasant day. There is little traffic and great scenery. Rent a car and go.

[Putterdude]

My choice is the Fortress of Lousbourg as well. They have done a first class job restoring the fortress and it is time well spent.

[Bowie MeMe]

You will want to go to the Cruise Critic Board under ports CANADA. I have found out so many great things to do on our September cruise. We have decided to rent a car from Budget and go to the Highland Village or the other direction and go to the Fort. Excellent advice and fun to read posts for your Canadian Cruise.