Maritimes Trip (Cape Breton) Q?

[CdnMom2]

The day after we spend a day driving the Cabot Trail with the kiddies (ages 6-15) we have designated as our Fortress Louisbourg Day for our Sept. trip. BUT how do I fit in everything I want to! LOL! We have the Glace Bay Miners' Museum and the Marconi Historic Site in our sights too as the kids are covering Cdn History, electricity, labour issues (miners), Cda's Natural Resources.... I need advice! Would you just do a Full Day at Fort Louisbourg & forego the others? Or should I try to squeeze in 1 of the others too. Can you reasonably see Louisbourg in a day or 3/4 day? We are staying in Baddeck.

Help, please!

 

[SplashMom]

You should be able to do Louisbourg in 3/4 day with kids. You could spend more time there but you can probably see everything you want in that time or possibly less. The Miner's Museum is quite interesting as well--kids like the going underground part. If you are staying in Baddeck, you are at least an hour drive from Louisbourg so make sure to account for that time. As well, if you are visiting in September, keep in mind that Parks Canada is on strike. This has affected visits to Louisbourg because the pickets are rotating. If Louisbourg is being targetted on your visit day, you may just get to drive around the park because there will be no employees or services available. Hopefully, that won't be the case but it has happened in the past week. Don't forget the Alexander Graham Bell museum in Baddeck as well--it's a great spot. Have a fabulous time and enjoy the Cape Breton hospitality! I am a Cape Bretoner so if you have any other questions, I may be able to help so don't hesitate to ask!!

 

[maddiel]

- You have a pretty significant drive from Baddeck to Louisbourg - at least an hour. It's probably about 30-40 minutes to Glace Bay and then about an hour from Glace Bay back to Baddeck

- The Miners Museum is pretty cool - if you think you can include it, I would. You could do it in less than two hours, maybe a little over an hour if you pushed it. I'd check with them to see if there are set times for tours (that's what it used to be - every half hour or so) or if you can just go right in. I must confess I have no idea what the Marconi Historic Site entails as I've never been.

- Do you know what the hours are for the Fortress for September? I would expect they would close earlier than in the summer, making your available day shorter. Also, I think the Public Service strike was affecting them off and on. (Crossing a picket line is one way to learn about labour relations though!)

- You'll do a lot of walking at Louisburg, so you'll want to factor how much walking your kids can do without getting tired. I think we ususally stay 4-6 hours, but we go every couple of years. You park at the visitors centre and bus from there to the gate - it's a PITA to go back to the car for anything. Sometimes we think they have their own climate zone - layer everyone 'cause it often goes from foggy to sunny and back to foggy.

I think you could do the two in one day if you play their schedules right.

Have fun!

M
formerly from CB, now in Hfx

 

[CdnMom2]

Just what I wanted to know -- and hear.
Yes, we are aware of the National Parks strike. Too funny about the labour relations lesson Maddiel. We're trying to be hopeful and keep going ahead with the plans we've worked out for about a year that have us going to our first National Parks/Historic Sites -- a dozen or so -- on this trip. IT FIGURES! But as I am right now watching a documentary on 9/11 and waiting to hear more about Hurricane Frances I refuse to get down about some possible changes to our travel plans. We're STILL going to be on vacation AND in the Maritimes which everyone is telling me is full of friendly people & beautiful natural sights. Going ahead & will be checking the daily updates on National Parks website. Thanks for your remarks though -- would be awful if I hadn't been aware

The Marconi site is near the Miners' Museum but may be Closed for season anyway by time we make it there. I think we will happily squeeze in Miners' Museum then. And maybe switch our Cabot Trail driving day with Louisbourg/Miners' Museum depending on the Picket Line situation (if it's still on). And thank you both for the reminders on the tour times at both -- better go check those websites again ...

 

[mbb]

and I just wanted to say"Ciad mille failtche!!"

Cape Breton is beautiful, full of wonderful people, and has it's own beautiful magic and music...

...and we can't wait until you get here!!!

 

[tmli]

Just wanted to say enjoy your trip. I got a little teary reading your post. I grew up in Cape Breton and moved to Ontario as a teenager. My grandparents lived a short drive from the fortress in a little town called Main a dieu. I spent alot of time there and at the fortress. I was born in Glace Bay and my family had spent generations there before me. The museum is full of wonderful history and information. My grandfather was a miner.

The people are wonderful, the lifestyle is great... Have a wonderful time.

 

[CdnMom2]

From the sounds of it all, we'll be sad leaving after only 3 days to go explore more Maritimes magic -- PEI next. Yes, we have Bell Historic Site scheduled for our first aft there.

I'm sure you've been helpful to other Dis-ers too who've talked about visiting. SandraC are you reading this thread?