1. Comfort at the Gateway of Cape Breton
Located on the southwestern end of the Island, Port Hawkesbury & area is the first place you see when you arrive on Cape Breton. Whether it is your base for the beginning or end of your adventures, it is the perfect coastal living retreat to plan or soak up your remaining trip.
Where to stay in Port Hawkesbury? The Maritime Inn of course! This 4 star accommodation is everything you want in a vacation spot - accessibility, indoor pool, fitness centre, high speed internet (which isn’t always something available in more rural parts of the Island), in-house restaurant, friendly staff that would love to help you plan your travels, and the comfiest beds E V E R !
Oh.. and did we mention they are pet friendly! Indie our border collie was thrilled.
2. Mmmm, The Food
Miller’s Tap ’n Grill is Maritime Inn’s in-house restaurant and is “Taste of Nova Scotia” approved. This means they not only use the best local Nova Scotian ingredients possible, but they are also committed to offering the very best culinary experiences available in the province.
The menu was filled with so many delicious options and we were lucky to be visiting during their Mix & Match Apps night. Since it was a warm summer evening we couldn’t help but enjoy their Church Street patio, it had such a relaxed & enjoyable atmosphere! Who doesn’t love patio season! After dinner we enjoyed a nice walk through town and watched the sunset from the harbour.
Ciabatta Chicken Club w/ Sweet Potato Fries (top left), Maritime Mussels (top right), Bruschetta (bottom left), Cajun Haddock Burger w/ Spinach Salad (bottom right)
The next morning had us questioning if we were still asleep as we indulged on a breakfast of dreams. Hot coffee, orange juice, a classic breakfast, and a cheesy breakfast skillet is 100% the way to our hearts. Thank you to our amazing server Maureen who started our day off on such a bright and friendly note!
* Something else to note is that we were here in July 2020. With Covid-19 precautions still in full force we loved how above and beyond staff went in ensuring ours & everyone’s safety.
3. Outdoor Adventure is Calling
One of the most incredible things about Cape Breton is how many places there are to adventure. You can live here forever and still be finding new places to explore - like the Port Hawkesbury Community Trails! Located in the woodland areas right in town, this trail system was so peaceful, secluded, and minutes from the Maritime Inn. We bird watched, played in the streams, and found a very neat viewpoint platform that was SO “instagramable”.
Other places to explore close by include:
- Celtic Shores Coastal Trail
- Salt Mountain, Whycocomagh Provincial Park
- Battery Provincial Park, St Peters
- Myles Doyle Falls, Melford
- Dundee Provincial Park, Dundee
- Isle Madame
- Cape Mabou Hiking Trails
* see the map we created at the bottom of this blog *
4. Shop Till You Drop
Port Hawkesbury is one of the few larger towns in Cape Breton that have access to bigger box stores. This can be such a great thing when traveling and having access to products you are used to. More importantly though, there are an endless list of local businesses that provide unique shopping experiences and hand crafted goods!
During our stay we visited two wonderful handmade gift shops & galleries : Melinda by the Sea & Customs House Artisan Incubator.
Here is a list of more local businesses just outside of town that you may want to check out! All are a close drive away or under 1hour from the Maritime Inn.
- Fire & Stone Coffee Roasters
- Celtic Music Interpretive Centre
- The Store Studio
- Celtic Air Services
- Dundee Golf Resort
- Celtic Sisters Gifts
- Highland Village Museum
Melinda by the Sea (top) , Customs House Artisan Incubator (bottom)
5. Don’t Worry, Beach Happy
When staying at the Maritime Inn, you are never far from the sea. There isn’t a beach right in the town of Port Hawkesbury but there are some of Cape Breton’s absolute best beaches a very short drive away.
Pack the sunscreen, grab a lunch to go from Millers, and enjoy a day in sandy paradise.
Here are a list of beaches near by to add to your vaca plans :
- Creignish Beach
- Marble Mountain Beach
- Point Michaud (surfers paradise)
- Port Hood (Beach Capital of Cape Breton)
- Cape Jack
- Pondville Beach, Isle Madame
Beautiful shores along Creignish
