Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Day 1

After checking into the Cornerstone Motel in Chéticamp, we drove to the visitor and information center for Cape Breton Highlands National Park for some expert guidance on the park, the Cabot Trail, short hiking trails, and general whatnot. After getting a park map, we decided to hike the easy Le Buttereau trail to whet our appetite for other trails in the park. After completing about half of the trail, I veered off onto the connecting Le Chemin du Buttereau trail for a bit longer hike than the rest of the family who continued on to the car and picked me up down the road on the way back to our motel.

The Cape Breton Highlands National Park is one of Canada’s most enchanting places, "where the mountains meet the sea," as they say.  Indeed, Alexander Graham Bell once said, "I have travelled around the globe. I have seen the Canadian and American Rockies, the Andes, the Alps and the Highlands of Scotland, but for simple beauty, Cape Breton outrivals them all." So, of course, we are looking forward to our drive tomorrow from Chéticamp to Ingonish and Ingonish Beach (105 km), with many stops, detours, and hikes in between, and our one-night stay at the luxurious Keltic Lodge at the Highlands.