4 Qualities That Make Cape Breton Island So Special and Unique

Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia is a well-kept secret3. The People (hospitality is the middle name)
for an island rated the most beautiful off ContinentalAn old Cape Bretoner named Johnny Ianetti, now 87,
North America by Travel and Leisure Magazine. Buttalks about the hospitality on the Island. He mentions
that's not all: besides the scenery, there is a uniquethat he knows every house real well on one part of
form of Celtic music; people who are consistentlythe Island, near Jersey Cove, just over the car ferry
hospitable; 3 distinct cultures and a timeless qualityfrom Englishtown on the eastern side of the Island.
about Cape Breton itself."How do you know them so well, I asked? Are they
What makes Cape Breton so special?family?"
1. The Scenery (rated the most beautiful Island off"No family at all!" said Johnny. "I was a hunter and I
Continental North America)could stop at any house and be taken in. Over the
The scenery is so beautiful that Cape Breton isyears, I stopped at just about every house. You do
usually rated among the top ten Islands in the world.not have to be a hunter. That is just the way it is
Last rating, Travel and Leisure rated it #4 in thehere. You are just welcome."
world and #1 in beauty off continental North America.4. The 3 Main Cultures
The Cabot Trail itself is rated the #1 drive byItalian Johnny Ianetti and his Irish wife were
Reader's Digest and thousands of people from allimmigrant families to Cape Breton, but the three main
over the world arrive each season to drive the trail.cultures on the Island are:
Every turn you have an amazing view. And inland,- the Mi'kmaq, the native culture, who live mostly in
there is the Cape Breton Highland, the trip across tothe western and central parts of Cape Breton.
Highland Village, the drive from Sydney to- the French Acadian culture, who livemostly around
PortHawskbury. But nothing compares, almostthe western area near and including the village of
anywhere in the world, to the Cabot TrailCheticamp, where French is spoken.
2. The Home of Great Celtic Musicians (talent from- the the Celtic or Scottish who live mostly on the
generation to generation)eastern side of the Island, on the Atlantic coast
Cape Breton has always been the home of greatThe timelessness of the place
musicians-including families such as the Rankins, theEach aspect that makes Cape Breton special has a
Barra Macneils and of course the MacMasters. Thequality of timelessness to it. The countryside for the
most famous Cape Breton musician today is themost part remain pristines. Except for Sydney, it is
fiddle playing, step-dancing and beautiful Natalievery much a beautiful and rural series of landscapes.
MacMaster.The Music has a purity over time that even Scottish
Some say there's something in the Cape Bretonmusicians return to, just to see how their own music
water that nourishes fiddlers who preserve a uniquehas changed . d The cultures maintain their own
tradition of music, in some ways like the old Scottishidentity, especially since each language is continued
and Irish Celtic music it was derived from. Natalie is(French, Gaelic more than anywhere outside Ireland
part of the famous MacMaster family; Buddy, herand Scotland) and Mi'kmaq.
uncle, being a well-known fiddle playing predecessor.It is not to say that traditions are not challenged
Natalie herself tours the world and is a greatover time. Fewer native children speak English and for
ambassador for both music and the familyeach culture, English and a kind of world culture and
community spirit that nurtures great musicians onmedia is strong, but you still visit Cape Breton after a
Cape Breton. In fact, during the off season, it can beten, twenty or thirty year lapse and recognize each
argued that music keeps everyone going. There areof the five elements that keeps Cape Breton so
kitchen parties and celebrations that go on and on,special and unique as a travel destination.
with more and more food and music in the mix.