Tourism is in the shoulder season. The season for visitors travelling with children who are school aged has come to an end, as they have returned home for school. The Visitor Information Centres are now seeing the visitor who enjoys travelling in cooler conditions, although the weather we are experiencing is not exactly what they were expecting. Shoulder season visitors are also enjoying the roads having less traffic to contend with. However this does not mean that our visitor numbers are down. The numbers of visitors coming into the St. Peter's VIC are on par with last season.
For visitors now traveling along the Cape Breton Heritage Coast, there is still plenty to see and do. Golfers in the area are still in time for some extra special rates. The Dundee Resort and Golf Club is still offering full day Twilight Golf rates of $40.00 on Tuesday and after 12pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, this includes a round of golf, cart and taxes. On Thursday, an even better rate of $30.00 for a round of golf, cart, and taxes. Visitors to Cape Breton can enjoy local entertainment at the Dundee Resort every night of the week from 6 to 9pm with Jason Williams entertaining weeknights at the MacRae's Dining Room and guest entertainers performing at Chanter's Pub on Friday and Saturday evenings.
In Louisbourg visitors can enjoy live entertainment at the Louisbourg Playhouse until mid-October, and the Point of View Suites will be offering their very popular Beggars Banquet dinner and entertainment until the end of September. The Fortress of Louisbourg will be offering its Tour by Lantern Light until Sept 30th.
And of course the world renowned Celtic Colours International Festival will be taking place all over Cape Breton starting on October 8th. During the Celtic Colours Festival, visitors will have the opportunity to witness some of the best Celtic entertainment in the world. And again this season, the Bras d'Or Lakes Inn in St. Peter's will be hosting the Kitchen Racket after hours party from 10pm until 2am during the festival.
Many of the museums around the Island will remain open until mid-October unless otherwise stated in the Nova Scotia Doers and Dreamers Guide Book, so there is still time to enjoy the Nicolas Denys Museum in St. Peter’s until mid September. The Museum offers a dual service to the area. First it houses information and displays on St. Peter's National Historic Site, the St. Peter's Canal and also on the life and times of Nicolas Denys, founder of St. Pierre in 1650. The Fortress of Louisbourg, the second major tourism attraction on Cape Breton, will remain open and offer an exciting look at 18th century Fortress life, and the Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Baddeck, displays the many inventions and interests of the noted inventor Alexander Graham Bell. The Wallace MacAskill House Museum in St. Peter's home of the famous marine photographer will remain open by appointment during September, for the visitor's convenience.
Of course the magnificent scenery of Cape Breton never goes away and many visitors are traveling to the area with cameras in hand to photograph some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. And cameras were definitely out at the 7th Annual Point Michaud Surf Classic, which was held at Point Michaud. The competition had another successful year, with over 450 spectators showing up to watch the competition. The weather was beautiful and hot and the waves were perfect for the competition. Over 50 competitors turn out for the event, including 2 members of the McIntosh family. Richard and his son Rory took part in the competition, competing in the adult and youth divisions respectively. Another well known resident to take part in the competition was Cape Breton Kayak's Eberhart Witt, who had an excellent day on the waves taking home first place in the kayak surf competition. For a full list of winners check Dana MacPhail's article on the surf competition in this weeks Reporter.
Michelle Richards surf instructor for the Municipality of Richmond's Recreation Department's Summer Surf Program did an excellent job in pulling the Classic together. She kept the day's events and surf activities moving along very efficiently which made the day fun for those who participated as well as for those who watched. Michelle has done an excellent job in promoting Cape Breton surfing to the tourism world, and as instructor with the summer surf program has developed a strong interest in surfing with her students whose numbers continue to rise each year. Michelle's professional knowledge of the sport and natural love of surfing enables her to instruct the group with the proper surfing techniques, safety elements and professional etiquette to make the program enjoyable for the group no matter what the age of the student. For more information and photos on the surf competition and other happenings around the island go to my tourism blog at www.tourismspotlight.blogspot.com.
Until next week, have fun while traveling in Richmond County, on Cape Breton’s Heritage Coast.
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