Enjoy a scenic drive past Sydney's treasured buildings dating back to the early 1700's, including beautifully restored colonial homes and the city's industrial section. Your first stop is the Whitney Pier Historical Museum, dedicated to preserving the legacy and culture of the 55 ethnic groups that settled in Sydney. Enjoy complimentary tea and oatcakes as you view the photographs, newspaper clippings, and artifacts that reflect the area's diverse, rich culture. Next you'll visit the Fort Petrie Historical Site, home of Fort Petrie, one of seven fortifications used to protect Sydney Harbor during World Wars I and II. There you can tour World War II gun emplacements and the museum in the observation post. Walk up to the viewing platform for panoramic views of Sydney Harbor. Continue to the First Nations community of Membertou, a modern day blueprint for all aboriginal communities in North America. Return to the pier where you can end your tour with some shopping at the cruise terminal and visit the Interpretation Center and The Big Ceilidh Fiddle.

Cape Breton is fabled as a magical travel destination, and the Port of Sydney is the gateway, nown for its beauty and unique Celtic music and culture. The city of Sydney has a deep history and was originally founded in 1785 by British Loyalists fleeing the perils of the American Revolution. The rich natural resources led these new settlers to establish prosperous coal and steel industries, which attracted immigrants from a myriad of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. To this day, Sydney remains a haven of multiculturalism.

 

The Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion is just a short drive from the community of Baddeck and the breathtaking Bras d'Or Lake where Alexander Graham Bell lived, worked and studied. On the east coast of Cape Breton lies the largest historic reconstruction in North America, the Fortress of Louisbourg. The Fortress is a Parks Canada National Historic Site and is described as a Williamsburg-style attraction.