Silversea Expedition Cruises To LOUISBOURG (Nova Scotia)

Discover why Alexander Graham Bell made Baddeck his summer home during a half-day excursion to this charming village, and a tour of the museum dedicated to the inventor.

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 90-minute drive to Baddeck. En route, pass over the Seal Island Bridge and make a photo stop at Kelly's Mountain (weather permitting). Upon arrival in Baddeck, proceed for a visit to the Alexander Graham Bell Museum, which is located across the bay from Bell's estate.

Alexander Graham Bell Museum

The museum's three exhibition halls contain the largest collection of Bell's artefacts and inventions, including replicas of the first telephones and a full-scale model of the HD-4 hydrofoil craft. In addition to the invention of the telephone, Bell also made remarkable contributions in the fields of medicine, genetics, electricity, sound and speech, aeronautics, and marine engineering. Displays to be seen during your visit include original artefacts, photographs, and exhibits highlighting his extensive research and inventions.

Following your visit at the museum, proceed for lunch at the lovely waterfront resort of the Inverary Inn.

Baddeck

Afterward, re-board your coach for the brief drive to the centre of Baddeck. Upon arrival, some free time is made available to discover the heart of this quaint village. Located on an inlet of the Bras d'Or Lakes, Baddeck is the region's most highly developed tourist centre and is world-renowned as a fine resort community. It was in this attractive setting that Alexander Graham Bell built his home, Beinn Bhreagh, or 'Beautiful Mountain' in Gaelic.

Following your visit, re-board your coach for the approximate one-hour drive back to the pier.

Please note: This tour involves a moderate amount of walking. Walking at the Bell Museum and in Baddeck is at the discretion of each guest. Baddeck town includes terrain such as beaten dirt, grassy pathways, and wooden decking. This tour is suitable for guests with limited mobility who can embark and disembark the coach via steps. It is not recommended for guests who utilise a wheelchair. Comfortable, layered clothing and a camera are recommended.

Named by "Travel & Leisure" magazine as "The #1 Best Island to Visit in the Continental United States and Canada," Cape Breton Island boasts a rugged shoreline, rolling hills, and miles of unspoiled beauty and is the only place in North America where Gaelic is still spoken. As the island's largest town, Sydney has a rich and colorful history as a home to the Mi'kmaq people when French settlers arrived in 1604, and later as a British colony, a major Canadian seaport, and a port of entry for the 50,000 Scottish immigrants who arrived during the late 17^th and early 18^th centuries.

Travel by many of Sydney's treasured buildings dating back to the early 1700's, including beautifully restored colonial homes that line the quiet tree lined streets of Wentworth Park and Whitney Avenue. Continue on through the centuries-old industrial section of coal mining plants and steel mills. Your first stop is the Whitney Pier Historical Museum. Built around a steel plant and housed in a former Jewish synagogue, the museum is dedicated to preserving the legacy and culture of the 55 different ethnic groups that settled here and made Sydney their home. Enjoy tea and oatcakes as you view the photographs, newspaper clippings, and artifacts that reflect the area's diverse, rich culture.

Next, visit the grounds of Fort Petrie Historical Site, home of Fort Petrie, one of seven fortifications that were used to protect Sydney Harbor during World Wars I and II. Today the two-story site includes two World War II gun emplacements and a museum in the observation post. Walk up to the viewing platform for panoramic views of Sydney Harbor and sea birds such as gannets, razorbills and bald eagles. In fact, Cape Breton has the largest population of bald eagles on the east coast.

Return to the ship filled with memories of your time in Sydney.

Please note: This tour involves a moderate amount of walking over paved surfaces, slight inclines, beaten dirt, grassy and gravel pathways, wooden decking and uneven flooring. This tour is not recommended for guests with limited mobility or those who utilise a wheelchair. Warm, layered clothing and closed-toe walking shoes are recommended.

Board your transfer with fellow travelers as you embark on a hiking tour where the only schedule that matters is your timetable and goal is to make your hiking trip a happy one.

Begin the Coxhealth Mountain Wilderness Trail hike with your guide as you take pathways that seek out the most beautiful trails and discover the best views the area has to offer.

The 10-kilometre return trail includes a steady hike up the face of the mountain. At the first rest stop there is a cascading waterfall. The trail levels off at the top with a panoramic view of the surrounding communities, including panoramic views of the region and the Highlands of Cape Breton. From this point you can return the way you came or continue on the northern loop to experience old growth forest with large eastern hemlocks, yellow birch and sugar maples. Watch for animals such as porcupine, racoon, fox, moose, white-tailed deer and bald eagles enroute.

Travel back in time to 1740 during this memorable, half-day excursion to the renowned Fortress of Louisbourg.

The Fortress is Canada's largest historical reconstruction, where you step back in time to the 18th century when Louisbourg was a thriving seaport - one of the busiest harbours in North America. The site has been meticulously rebuilt to one quarter of the 18th century town on the foundations of the original by following detailed blueprints from Paris archives.

Depart the pier for a short transfer to the Fortress. Upon arrival at the Fortress you will have an introduction and brief guided tour followed by some free time to explore this fascinating historic site on your own, taking in the beauty of the exterior architecture of the buildings and visiting some of the exhibit buildings that will be open for your viewing pleasure.

Stimulate your senses with workshops that offer opportunities to explore a place that time has forgotten. Rub shoulders with local characters, such as the De Gannes or the Chief Engineer's servants, as they provide a rare glimpse into the exciting challenges faced by the resilient residents of the 18th-century town. Revel in the magnificence of the King's Bastion while listening to stirring tales of soldiers testing their mettle in an unfamiliar new environment. And for pure indulgence, treat yourself to the elegant bliss of our chocolate demonstrations, delighting in a first-hand experience making hot chocolate the old fashioned" way.

The Fortress of Louisbourg offers an opportunity to imagine life in the toughest of conditions almost 300 years ago with beautiful visuals in static displays, surrounded by the beauty of the architecture of the buildings.

At the conclusion of your visit, re-board your coach for a brief transfer back to the pier.

Please note: This tour involves a moderate amount of walking over flat, gravel or beaten pathways. This tour is not suitable for guests with limited mobility or for guests who utilise a wheelchair. Comfortable layered clothing, weather-appropriate outerwear, and a camera are recommended.

Discover the raw and rugged shoreline of Cape Breton, take in the view of the 18th Century Fortress across the Louisbourg Harbor.

Depart the pier for a short scenic drive to the Louisbourg Lighthouse Trail. As you step onto the path you will connect with nature on your 1.55 miles (2.5 kilometers) trek through the Cape Breton wilderness at the iconic lighthouse site. Encounter wildlife and sights, you won't soon forget. As you explore the lighthouse trail you will have the opportunity to embrace the view of the majestic Fortress across the Louisbourg harbour. This is the site of the first lighthouse in Canada built in 1734, enriched with history and features of the lighthouses that were built before it.

Take in the views and Cape Breton's salty ocean breezes as you enjoy the scenery and free time on Cape Breton's coast, before venturing back to your ship.

Explore the historic landmarks and sweet flavours of Sydney on-foot during this picturesque, half-day sightseeing excursion to the Old Town.

Louisbourg, Sydney, St. Patrick's Church

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 45-minute drive to the Old Town of Sydney. Upon arrival, take a guided walking tour of St. Patrick's Church. The oldest Roman Catholic church on Cape Breton Island, St. Patrick's was erected in 1828 in the Pioneer Gothic-style of architecture.

Jost House, Cossit House

Next, walk over for a tour of the nearby Jost House. Built in 1787 and once the home of a prominent merchant, Jost House showcases the evolution of a wooden dwelling over the course of three centuries. Leaving Jost House, walk to the pretty 1787 Cossit House, named for its original owner, Reverend Ranna Cossit. Following a guided tour of Cossit House, proceed on-foot to the Cape Breton Fudge Company.

Cape Breton Fudge Company, Fudge-Making Session and Gift, Oatcakes, Old Town, BMO Building

Upon arrival, you are invited to participate in a fudge-making session. Afterward, you are presented with an approximately half-pound (about 0.23-kilometre) box of this delectable treat to take home as a souvenir of your 'sweet' day in Sydney. Your visit here also includes tea and traditional oatcakes. Leaving the Cape Breton Fudge Company, continue your walk through the Old Town of Sydney and see the historic BMO Building, the Heritage Landmark bank built in 1899. At the conclusion of your walking tour, re-board your coach and commence the approximately one-hour drive back to the pier, with city highlights en route.

Please note: This tour involves a moderate amount of walking for approximately 0.6 miles (about one kilometre), at times over uneven and cobblestone surfaces, with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach and three steps at the sites visited. This tour is not suitable for guests with limited mobility and guests who utilise a wheelchair. Guests are advised to wear lightweight, comfortable clothing with flat, closed-toe walking shoes, and bring sun protection and a warm sweater or jacket from the ship. The tour sequence may vary. Space on this tour is very limited; we suggest you book in advance to avoid disappointment.