Drifter Dave - Travel the Unknown

You've probably never heard of Sydney, Nova Scotia. I can't blame you - it's remote location on its namesake harbour on the north coast of Cape Breton Island makes it one of the most hard-to-reach locations in Atlantic Canada. A long five hour drive from Halifax, this small town is technically the province’s second-largest city (now called the Cape Breton Regional Municipality), and is without a doubt the beating heart of Cape Breton Island. Here, the accents are almost Irish, with locals sounding closer to Newfoundlanders rather than their fellow Nova Scotians. This place is "far off the beaten path", defined, and that seclusion and remoteness has only contributed to their unique culture, accent, and way of life.

Despite not having nearly the same bustle and cosmopolitan charm of Nova Scotia's capital city of Halifax, Sydney instead offers visitors its charming harbour, plenty of historic homes (some dating back to the 1700s!), excellent seafood and fish & chips, as well as oddities like the world’s largest fiddle, if you’re a fan of quirky roadside attractions. The surrounding area boasts green pastures, winding coastal drives, and amazing ocean vistas along with plenty of adorable B&Bs and guesthouses to relax at after a long day of sightseeing.

In this video, I take you on a short (and foggy!) tour around this small Nova Scotian town, taking in the idyllic harbourfront boardwalk before taking a walking tour around the town's historical streets. I also check out one of Sydney's most famous local cafes - Doktor Luke's - before winding my way back down to the water. The island is also home to some of the kindest locals on Earth, including one fellow who insisted that he drive me to neighbouring North Sydney, even though he wasn't going in that direction. Maritime hospitality at its finest, and those who have visited here will know that comes as no surprise.

00:00 Intro

00:54 Sydney Airport to town

01:48 Holiday Inn Sydney Waterfront

02:39 Harbourfront Boardwalk

03:42 The Lord Fin Fish & Chips

04:32 The Big Fiddle / Cruise Terminal

06:03 Historic District

09:28 Doktor Luke's Coffee

10:00 Downtown walk

12:38 Sydney Sign

13:54 Drive to North Sydney

14:26 North Sydney AirBNB

15:41 Outro