- Welcome to the Cabot Trail.
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The Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island
in Nova Scotia is one of the world's greatest drives.
Starting in Baddeck, we took four days to travel
around the island in a counterclockwise direction
and these are the must-see sites along the way.
Some activities may be affected
so be sure to check restrictions
before traveling to Nova Scotia.
But if all goes well,
we may be on the road again this summer
and a great place to start is in Nova Scotia.
We are about to hike the Skyline Trail.
- It's one of the Cabot Trail's most epic hikes
and we're gonna be there for sunset.
- Let's go.
The Skyline Trail is a 6.5 kilometer hike
to one of the most gorgeous views.
It takes about two to three hours to see it all
so make sure to give yourself enough time
to get out in time for sunset.
Note that it's all uphill on the way back
so it'll take a little bit longer after the sun goes down.
The path is a great boardwalk that is easy to navigate
and once you get out there, it's worth every effort.
Wow, the Skyline walk is definitely worth the hype.
You got some epic views here, especially at sunset.
Come on out,
it's a nice leisurely walk
about an hour out and an hour back.
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Once you reach the viewing platform,
you will have endless views
of the Gulf of the Saint Lawrence
and of the Cabot Trail
winding down Cape Breton's coast.
- So what an amazing sunset here up at the Skyline walk,
it was definitely worth it.
The sky really went out
and it's beautiful to share it with someone you love.
- It's very peaceful.
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- We're at North River Kayak here,
ready to head out and do some kayaking
at Cape Breton Island.
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- No matter what your skill level,
you'll feel comfortable on the water
with North River Kayaks.
The tours take place in very well-protected waters
and the guides go through paddling techniques
and safety instructions before you get
into their very stable kayaks.
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Well hey, everybody. - Hey, everybody.
- I'm all comfy here.
Dave's gonna do all the work.
- Of course.
- And I'm just gonna sit around.
No. (Dave laughing)
I've got my paddle.
We're going tandem today.
Once you are on the water,
it's a great adventure,
exploring the coast while keeping an eye out
for bald eagles nesting in the high trees.
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So we just saw a bald eagle on our kayaking tour.
They're everywhere.
It's so incredible to see.
I can't believe it, we just turned a corner.
The half-day kayaking trip takes you
through the St. Ann's Bay region where eagles nest,
so you have a good chance of seeing a lot of them.
The views are beautiful
and halfway through there's a nice stop
on a secluded beach where you can go
for a hike to a waterfall, relax and enjoy a snack.
This is a great, relaxing kayaking trip.
I highly recommend it.
You just paddle along the coast, beautiful scenery,
and you gets snacks,
banana bread with homemade jam and chocolate chai tea.
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Having a blast here, kayaking!
- Had an amazing day here with North River Kayak.
Justin was fantastic.
We got to see some beautiful scenery.
If you come to Cape Breton, you better come here.
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- The Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia is one
of the best drives in the world.
- But you gotta make sure you get out
and do some hiking as well
'cause you come across views just like this.
We're hiking the Middle Head Trail here
which is the first one that you come to
when you're driving counterclockwise
and, let me tell you, it's worth it.
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- [Deb] The Middle Head Trail is one
of the most popular hikes on the Cabot trail.
It's a 3.8 kilometer loop that takes
you out to beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean,
Cape Smokey and Ingonish Island.
If there is one hike
to do on this portion of the Cabot Trail,
it's definitely this one.
It's just five minutes from Ingonish Beach.
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- Pretty amazing.
We were just driving along the road
and, boom, there's a bald eagle
right on the side of the road.
- There are so many things to do
and see on the Cabot Trail.
You have to keep your eyes peeled for wildlife,
scenic lookouts, picturesque villages and lots of turnoffs.
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Just a little further around the coast
from the Middle Head Trail
in that counterclockwise direction is Lakies Head.
It's a good spot to look for whales and lobster fishermen
but what we loved was its rocky shore.
The massive boulders are a lot of fun
to scramble over for better views
and it's a great place to grab that Instagram photograph
that you've always wanted.
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There are plenty of communities
and fishing villages along the Cabot Trail
from Ingonish to Marjorie Harbor,
Baddeck and Cheticamp,
you must spend time exploring their beauty.
Pleasant Bay is one of the premier
whale watching areas in Canada.
If you can get out on a boat tour to see the coast
from the water,
you have to do it.
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Well, it's just one amazing scene after another.
Yet another great stop on the Cabot Trail.
We've arrived at Beulach Ban Waterfall
and I think when the water is high
this would be an extraordinary waterfall.
It's a little small right now
but it's another nice stop on the Cabot Trail.
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We're about to go on a hike to Usage Falls.
- I think it's Yuge.
- Yuge?
- [Deb And Dave] Yuge.
- U-I-S-G-E.
You tell us how to say it. (laughing)
- I don't know.
The next stop on our not-to-miss places
on the Cabot trail is the Uisge Ban Waterfall hike.
It's a lovely green forested trail
that takes you out to a waterfall.
So the hike to the falls is pretty easy.
It's just a one kilometer hike on a very simple trail
but I hear it's gorgeous once you get there.
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So this is really a beautiful hike.
One thing that I'm really loving are all of the trees
that are growing out of the rocks.
Their roots are completely exposed, covered in moss.
It's really stunning.
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(sighing) And there's even scenic rest stops
along the way so you can totally take your time.
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- The waterfall's just around the bend.
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- Well, there it is, ladies and gentlemen,
the waterfalls.
Now it's a gorgeous walk here
so I highly recommend it.
The falls itself is nice.
It's a beautiful two-tier waterfall,
but the top is actually quite blocked by a large tree,
so you don't really get to see a great view
of it in full swing.
But, hey, that's what nature's all about.
A tree is more important than us seeing a view, right?
So come on out here, it's a beautiful walk,
a nice day in nature and you get to soak your feet
in the waterfall.
- So when you're doing the Cabot Trail,
make sure you come for a hike to the waterfalls
just outside of Baddeck.
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Come with us and let's learn a little bit
about Alexander Graham Bell.
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- We're at the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site
and it is a fascinating tour of the inventor's life.
We all know that Alexander Graham Bell invented
the telephone,
but he had his hand in so many more things.
He was part of the aeronautics team
that actually led the first flight
in the British Commonwealth.
Alexander Graham Bell also had his hand in medical devices.
He had a big hand also in linguistics.
He really worked with the deaf a lot
and actually was very good friends with Helen Keller.
So when you're traveling the Cabot Trail,
make sure you pop over to Baddeck
and explore the national historic site
where Alexander Graham Bell kept his summer home.
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Well, this is a very cool feature here
at the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
We're staying in an oTENTik.
Now, if you don't have any camping gear,
you don't have to worry about it.
You could camp here in Canada, come on in and check it out.
We're doing a little glamping.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is our oTENTik.
Everything I possibly need for camping is right here.
I've got my wash basin,
(utensils rattling)
I've got juice can opener.
Oh, maybe some vino tonight?
Wine opener.
They think of everything.
All right.
So we even have our sleeping bags supplied.
You can bring your own but you can also rent some
if you need them,
just ask Parks Canada about it.
We don't get to spread out that often
so we just may just be sprawling all over the place tonight.
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- So we're doing the haunted walking tour here
with Parks Canada
and we have to select a stone,
something that speaks to us.
I chose this one because it has pink
and blue and gray in it,
perfect symbols of the landscape here
at Cape Breton Highland National Park.
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- [Deb] The Ingonish Beach lantern walk tour takes you
around the Freshwater Lake Trail and the coastal lagoon.
After dark, your costume guide takes you
on a journey through history,
sharing stories of the early settlers
and local myths and legends,
as you keep an eye out for spirits in the woods.
- [Dave] We have to be very quiet not to annoy the spirits.
- Chances are you'll be staying
at least one night near Ingonish Beach
and this is a great hike to join after dark.
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One of our favorite hikes took us
off the Cabot Trail
and outside the Cape Breton Highlands National Park
to White Point.
Here you'll see a cemetery dedicated to the grave
of the unknown sailor
and another grave of a local man named Dan Dixon.
He hiked to Point Hill daily while maintaining the cemetery.
There are excellent trails taking you out
to overlook the high sea cliffs,
offering beautiful panoramic views of the harbor.
It was one of the most beautiful trails we stumbled upon.
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We're at the first high lookout
that you see just coming outside of Pleasant Bay,
if you're driving the Cabot Trail counterclockwise
and from here it's a good spot to spot some whales.
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Part of the charm of the Cabot Trail are all
of the pull-offs.
There's wildlife lookouts
and pull-offs right off the side of the road
and they even put out chairs for a more comfortable view
as you look for whales.
It's good to give time at each and every one
because they all offer different views.
When driving the Cabot Trail,
make sure you save your coffee time
for the Pumpkin Patch here in Pleasant Bay.
First of all, there's a great view out there,
but in here, Trina will help you out with skincare,
she's got organic products, coffee and chocolate.
It's all organic, free trade, delicious.
Stop here.
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So it's really worth it to explore all the little turnouts
because you may come across a little unexpected gem
like this secluded beach.
You can take fishing and whale watching tours
all around Cape Breton Island.
Lobster tours on the Cabot Trail can be booked in Baddeck
but we went a little outside the Cabot Trail to Port Hood
to learn about lobster conservation in Nova Scotia.
Let's go on a lobster tour.
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Lobster fishing is one of the main industries
in Nova Scotia and one of the best ways
to understand the culture is to get out on a tour
and learn about the fishing industry.
Woo!
Good job!
- Nathan! Nathan!
- [Deb] A lobster safari teaches you about
how the lobsters are caught
and the conservation efforts that are being taken
to make sure the lobster stock stays healthy
and keeps growing.
Fishermen in Nova Scotia take conservation very seriously.
- Here.
You place the gauge right in behind his eye socket
and measure down his back.
If it goes over there, the end of his thorax,
you have to throw it back in.
So as you can see, this lobster's legal.
- Wow.
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All right, we're having a blast here
on the Gillis Lobster Tour outside of Port Hood.
We got to learn about lobsters
and conservation and how they catch lobsters
and now we're doing some mackerel fishing
and I'm telling you, it is full of fish out there.
All you gotta do is drop the line
and you get like three within minutes.
It's a lot of fun.
This is the easiest fishing you'll ever do.
All you gotta do is let the line out
and the fish, they just bite within minutes.
I'm telling you, so you let the slack go
as fast as you can.
- [Tour Guide] Put the rods in.
- See and then I'm like that.
Lock and then- - [Tour Guide] And so,
in with the rods.
- You do that.
And then now I reel and I bet there'll be some on there.
They're just always on there.
(reel crackling)
It's a lot of fun, actually, if you do this,
you gotta do the mackerel fishing here.
Go for it.
I'm not much of a fisherman but I'm having fun with this.
Oh, I just got a little one this time.
He lives another day.
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Now that was a lot of fun.
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And these are the top attractions on the Cabot Trail
that we recommend.
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