Had a chance to be in Cape Breton recently and finally took my children to Fortress de Louisburg. This is truly an amazing spot.

Let me be the first to say that I think Parks Canada does as good a job as any in the world. Louisburg is no exception. The reconstruction is impeccable, the site breathtaking and the interpreters and staff were infinitely knowledgable. Whenever three young boys can be entertained by history, you know that something is being done right. I am still eating my “days ration” of bread that was similar to the rations provided to the soldiers in the 1730′s. It looks and feels like a cannon ball, but it actually tastes fine. The homemade mustard that is produced on site at one of the restaurants is TO DIE FOR. I kept hinting that they should bottle and sell it. I don’t think they were paying attention.

If you have not gone, go. It was a shame that the day we were there you could have shot a cannon down the street and not hit anyone. While it is out of the way, the Town of Louisburg has done well in presenting a clean and interesting street scape, well designed and maintained inns and restaurants and a look of prosperity. All of the things a tourist expects.

On the down side, I have to let the tourism operators in Cape Breton in on a little secret. If you have a roadside sign – maintain it! How do you expect a tourist to get a good impression of your facility if your signs are dilapidated, peeling and heeling over at a ridiculous angle? Their first thought is going to be that your rooms or restaurant is suffering the same fate. Its the little things people. Ask Parks Canada and the Town of Louisburg. They know how to do things right.

I remain,

A Sour Kraut

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

This entry was posted on Monday, July 5th, 2010 at 4:10 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.