Wow thanks hunnerbun
From
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2006/03/c3370.htmlCape Breton was ranked as number 1 in the continental United States and Canada, and number four in the world, behind only the tropical islands of Bali, Kauai, and Maui. Meanwhile, Hawaii ranked seventh in the world.
Here is the entire article in case it disappears
Cape Breton: Nova Scotia's gem
HALIFAX, Aug. 3 /CNW/ - Bali, Kauai and Maui often rank at the top of the
list when it comes to island paradises. Now half a million readers of a
leading travel magazine have added Cape Breton to that list.
The August issue of Travel and Leisure magazine includes the results of
an online survey that forms the basis for their 11th annual Worlds Best
Awards. Over 500,000 readers participated in the survey, which asked them to
rate vacation destinations around the world, including cities, hotels and
travel destinations. When it comes to the world's best islands, Cape Breton
was ranked as number in the continental United States and Canada, and number
four in the world, behind only the tropical islands of Bali, Kauai, and Maui.
Meanwhile, Hawaii ranked seventh in the world.
Of course, this comes as no surprise to those who live here. The island -
renowned as Nova Scotia's scenic masterpiece - offers visitors a range of
experiences in a setting that could only be described as idyllic. Only 50
years ago, Cape Breton was joined to the mainland with permanent access. That
unique geography forged a strong, independent spirit among its people and a
culture that embraces their heritage, traditions and music. Even today, when
you cross the Canso Causeway, you're well aware that you're about to encounter
a place unlike anywhere else in the world.
Cape Breton owes much of its natural beauty to the ocean surrounding it.
Lying between the north Atlantic and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, its shores have
been carved and caressed by these waters for countless millennia. Further
inland, the Bras d'Or lakes - the largest salt water lakes in the world - have
influenced both the surrounding land and its people. As a result, expect to
see countless forms of boats, ships, canoes and a myriad of other water craft
dotting the waters in and around the island.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the island lies on its north-western
tip in the form of the Cape Breton Highlands. The tree-covered peaks and
valleys, offering magnificent views of the ocean, have enchanted visitors
since they were first carved out of the land during the last ice age. The
Cabot Trail, which winds its way up and down some of the province's highest
hills, takes drivers and passengers alike on what's been described as nature's
longest roller coaster. The jewel of this scenic drive is the Cape Breton
Highlands National Park, which was created to help preserve the area's
sensitive beauty. It is also a popular destination for campers and hikers, who
share the wilderness with moose, lynx, bald eagles, and owls.
Cape Breton's landscape has also made it a premiere golf destination. In
fact, Golf Digest has ranked the island as the 29th best golf destination in
the world. Cape Breton's golf courses offer players some of the world's most
challenging courses surrounded by some of the world's most breathtaking
scenery. The most famous of these courses - Highlands Links, Bell Bay, Le
Portage and Dundee - have been called the Fabulous Foursome and are renowned
as the ultimate golfing destination.
Of course, the land is only part of what makes Cape Breton so special.
The people who have settled the island - beginning with the Mi'kmaq and
followed by Scots, Acadian, Irish and Africans - have coloured the land with
their culture's traditions and values. Today, echoes of their experiences can
be heard and felt across the island.
For a glimpse into the lives of the first people to settle this land, the
Wagmatcook Culture and Heritage Centre offers visitors the chance to
experience the past and present of Mi'kmaq culture. In addition to the
centre's exhibits and artifacts, visitors can also be treated to
demonstrations of Mi'kmaq drumming, dancing and storytelling.
One of the most popular places to discover Cape Breton's rich past is at
the Fortress of Louisbourg. Visitors can experience a day in the life of 1744
in the largest reconstructed 18th-century French fortified town in North
America. Soldiers patrol the ramparts, children skip through the streets,
while artisans like the blacksmith and the baker ply their trades. Cannons on
stone ramparts, a busy waterfront tavern and the crackling of a kitchen fire
all tell how people of a different age lived and worked.
The Highland Village is a living history museum and cultural centre that
celebrates the Gaelic experience in Nova Scotia. On a hillside overlooking the
world renowned Bras d'Or Lakes, Nova Scotia's rich Scottish Gaelic culture
comes alive with costumed staff, farm animals and period buildings and
artifacts. The village is a popular destination for school groups and families
interested in learning more about the Gaelic language and their crafts,
including weaving, lace making, candle making, rug hooking, sewing, and much
more.
Coal was once the life-blood of Cape Breton. Generations of men made
their living underground, working veins of coal that were then used to fuel
homes and factories throughout the world. The Miners' Museum in Glace Bay
provides visitors with the opportunity to briefly experience what life was
like for the miners both below and above ground. Former miners take visitors
down into the Ocean Deeps Colliery, where they can see for themselves the
conditions miners faced on a daily basis. The miners village is an authentic
replica of a miner's house and company store in 1850s Cape Breton. During the
summer, the world-famous Men of the Deep choir entertains audiences with a
distinctive mix of traditional mining songs.
No visit to Cape Breton would be complete without a visit to the
Alexander Graham Bell Museum - a tribute to an inventor who, among many other
things, gave the world the telephone. Located in Baddeck, the museum takes
visitors through the life of this fascinating man through a vast collection of
artifacts, photographs and personal mementoes. The nearby Bras d'Or Lakes were
also the scene of another of Bell's accomplishments: the first heavier than
air flight in Canada. It's undoubtedly a testament to the inspirational beauty
and tranquility of the area.
There is a Gaelic saying common in Cape Breton: Ciad mile failte. It
means "a hundred thousand welcomes" and it's typical of the warm greeting the
island's visitors can expect. While Cape Bretoners are no doubt flattered by
the ranking of Cape Breton as one of the top island destinations in the world,
they are just as likely to tell you that it is something they have always
known.
For more information on Cape Breton or to request a free copy of the Nova
Scotia Doers and Dreamers Guide, visit novascotia.com.
