The Bras d’Or Lakes Inn is more than just a fantastic place to get a sumptuous meal, or a great night’s sleep. It’s a Four Star waterfront mini-resort, with a bounty of amenities and activities that let you be as active, or relaxed as you want to be. Located at the hub of Cape Breton’s Heritage Coast, we’re surrounded by pristine waters of the ocean and the lake, with scenic hiking, cycling and driving experiences on your doorstep.
As a guest at the Inn, feel free to go for a paddle in one of our kayaks or a canoe, set out on one of our bikes – all provided at no charge for your enjoyment to help you explore St. Peter’s and area on your own.
The nearby St. Peter’s Lions Marina is one of eastern Canada’s friendliest yachting facilities, and you are welcome to wander down there and see local and visiting yachts. This marvelous little facility has the distinction of being the first port of call for yachts arriving in the Bras d’Or Lake via the historic St. Peter’s Canal. Completed in 1865, the canal features North America’s oldest operating tidal lock, and you can take advantage of daily guided tours and a chance to open the lock yourself at this National Historic Site, just a few minutes walk from the Inn. If you’re interested in boats, you’ll have a front row seat here watching all manner of vessels making the transit from the tidal waters of the Atlantic into the Bras d’Or Lake, a choice cruising destination for sailors from around the globe.
Feel like just sitting in the sun and getting lost in a book? We’ve got the ideal spot on the Inn’s waterfront where you can do just that – and if you get a bit peckish or thirsty, there’s always something good to eat or drink at hand.
Or grab a fishing rod and try your hand, like many of the local residents, at catching yourself a mackerel, or even a cod! We’ve been a world famous fishing station for centuries – after all, that’s what attracted the first settlers to our area.
Around town, you might wish to find out a bit more about our area’s rich history – a visit to the Nicolas Denys Museum will help you connect with the European settlers who came here four centuries ago to harvest resources such as fish and lumber, and to trade with the Mi’kmaq whose ancestors were here 10,000 years ago. In fact, a few miles down the road you can visit Chapel Island First Nation, and learn first-hand how one of North America’s oldest societies lived and prospered in this region they still know as Potlotek.
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Enjoy the scenery
Interested in some more recent local heritage? The MacAskill House Museum tells the story of St. Peter’s native son Wallace MacAskill, who became world-renown for his dramatic photographs of the sea, and the men and vessels that took incredible risks in fishing, trade and commerce during the last stages of the Age of Sail. MacAskill was also was a successful racing sailor in his own right, and his yacht Highlander became a Nova Scotia legend. MacAskill was also the creator of the most iconic images of the famous Grand Banks schooner Bluenose, images which have graced a noteworthy Canadian postage stamp, and live on to this day on the Canadian ten-cent piece.
Literally every weekend of summer, you’ll find a community festival going on in Richmond County. These are great opportunities to meet local residents, many of them with family lines going back 3 or 4 centuries here. Join them as they celebrate the warm days of summer. Experience the traditional foods of their Celtic and French Acadian roots, and jump into games, dances and some down-home music and entertainment.
All of Cape Breton is at your doorstep when you check in to the Bras d’Or Lakes Inn. How about a day trip to Fortress Louisbourg? North America’s oldest full-scale reconstruction of a 17th century French outpost rivals attractions such as Virginia’s Williamsburg in size and authenticity – and represents a real time-travel experience for any history buff.
Just 20 minutes away, a side trip to Isle Madame will connect you with Acadian culture that has flourished here for well over three centuries. This tiny archipelago of islands offers
a great coastal driving tour, and also features a looped coastal hiking trail – the Cape Auguet Eco-Trail. Other spots well worth the visit include LeNoir Landing (site of a historic forge museum, genealogy services, and a waterfront entertainment venue) and La Picasse, the Acadian cultural centre at Petit-de-Grat.
A scenic drive through the Cape Breton Highlands National Park on the Cabot Trail provides a breathtaking experience, and opportunities to see a rich cluster of crafts and artisan work, visit Acadian communities in the Cheticamp region, see local wildlife such as moose – or take a whale watching or bird watching tour. Baddeck is just another interesting place to visit, where you can see the Alexander Graham Bell Museum, another well-known national historic site that helps interpret not only Bell’s famous developments in telephony, but his varied inventions and experiments including early hydrofoils, ground-breaking technology for the hearing-impaired, and the Silver Dart, the first airplane to take flight in Canada.
Back at the Inn, there’s still plenty to see and do. Each week, we feature live entertainment with local musicians and dancers performing in the Celtic traditions at our Wednesday night sessions and Thursday night Ceilidhs.
With all there is to do on your Cape Breton vacation, after a busy day maybe you’d just like to wander down to the waterside hot tub and have a relaxing soak as the sun sets over the lake. Shoot a game of billiards, or bat around a ping-pong ball in our indoor recreation area. Or settle back in the big leather sofa in the lobby and catch a movie on our wide-screen tv.
Truly, there’s something for everyone at the Bras d’Or Lakes Inn.
