Bras D'Or Lakes Grand Tour

OVERVIEW

Delve into Cape Breton’s history by browsing two museums in the island’s Bras d’Or Lakes region, one focusing on the Gaelic culture, the other on the island’s most famous resident. While meandering about the Highland Village Museum, you will begin to understand what island life what like in the 18th and 19th centuries. This outdoor museum boasts a collection of historical buildings with costumed guides that will demonstrate traditional skills such as quilting and wool dying. It offers an entertaining way to learn about the once prominent Gaelic lifestyle. After lunch at a local restaurant, explore the village of Baddeck. The area’s most celebrated resident was Alexander Graham Bell, a Scotsman who lived in nearby Baddeck. At his namesake museum, you will learn about some of his inventions, which go far beyond the telephone. Bell held or co-held 30 patents in fields as diverse as medicine and marine engineering. Inside, you will find full-scale replicas of his co-inventions, including the Silver Dart airplane.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Get a glimpse of the island’s early Gaelic culture at the outdoor Highland Village Museum.
• Browse historical buildings and watch costumed guides perform traditional chores.
• Tour Alexander Graham Bell’s namesake museum for a look into his life and inventions.
• See models of some of his co-inventions in fields such as aeronautics and electricity.
• Spend free time independently exploring Bell’s hometown of Baddeck.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.