Swap Scotland for Cape Breton Island
You’d be forgiven if you confused Cape Breton Island – with its toe-tapping Celtic music, place names like Inverness and Dundee, not to mention weekly cèilidh – for bonny Scotland. With more fiddlers per capita than anywhere else in the world, plus the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre, it’s easy to catch a concert, especially during October’s Celtic Colours International Festival. Ramblers will appreciate Cape Breton’s windswept highlands and its many glens: Don’t miss the hiking areas of Meat Cove and the Clyburn Valley. Inspired by the island’s Scottish heritage and designed to complement the stunning terrain, one of Canada’s “true links” course (native to the British Isles, the courses should run beside a coast, with sandy soil below), plus several championship golf courses, are located within easy driving distance of each other. After your adventures, wet your whistle along Nova Scotia’s Good Cheer Trail, sampling a dram at Glenora Distillery, North America’s first single malt whisky distillery. The best part? Oatcakes are found pretty much everywhere, even at Tim Hortons.
—Jody Robbins
The County is Canada’s Answer to the Hamptons
Photo: Courtesy of Visit The County
People say Muskoka is like the Hamptons but, really, Prince Edward County is Canada’s equivalent. Pretty farms and vineyards? Check! They’re the heartbeat of the county and built the scene that goes beyond the vine. Long windblown beaches with epic sand dunes? Check! Pretty, historic villages? Check!
Photo: Courtesy of Visit The County
Originally settled by United Empire Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution, this bucolic Ontario hot spot on the shores of Lake Ontario (a stone’s throw from Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa) is a retreat for urbanites in search of great food, wine and an escape from the city. Hotels are more than a place to stay, they’re experiences. The Royal Hotel in Picton, the Drake Devonshire in Wellington and the character-rich Angeline’s Inn in Bloomfield – with its nostalgic, eclectic and country decor – set the stage for unforgettable stays. For the epicurious, restaurants such as Bocado, Stella’s Eatery and Flame+Smith are but a few that turn local and global ingredients into road-trip-worthy cuisine.
Photo: Courtesy of Visit The County
The county is also home to quirky vintage shops, modern apothecaries, boutiques and artisan galleries, each with its own story to tell. And, while it may lack celebrity buzz, Prince Edward County once earned a regal nod: King Charles and Queen Camilla (then Duke and Duchess) visited here in 2017, in honour of the 150th anniversary of Confederation.
—Claire Sibonney
France? Non, non! Saint-Pierre and Miquelon! oui, oui!
Photo: Tourisme Saint-Pierre and Et Miquelon
Europe is closer than you think. Just 20 kilometres off the southeast coast of Newfoundland is Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, a self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of France that uses the euro, has its own time zone and shuts down for lunch. This is a country that naturally devours foie gras, baguettes, pastries and French wine. Book meals ahead – Le Roc Café for crêpes and Le Feu de Braise or Le Bar à Quai for dinner – because dining options are limited.
Photo: Tourisme Saint-Pierre and Et Miquelon
With a population of 6,000, Saint-Pierre is about culture so don’t miss Les Zigotos and their wooden dories (traditional fishing boats), the Musée Heritage to learn about the prohibition era, and L’Arche Musée et Archives to see a guillotine. Stay at Les Terrasses du Port and wander around admiring the colourful homes and architecture. Hop a ferry to Miquelon-Langlade (with about 600 people) for nature. Air Saint-Pierre flies here from St. John’s, Halifax and Montreal, while SPM Ferries come from Fortune, Nfld.
—Jennifer Bain
