Sydney

Sydney, Nova Scotia, is a small town on the east coast of Cape Breton Island, not to be confused with its Australian counterpart. The cruise terminal is on the waterfront, and the town itself is walkable but modest in size. The main reason ships stop here is the island: Cape Breton has the Cabot Trail, one of the most scenic coastal drives in North America, and the Fortress of Louisbourg, a reconstructed 18th-century French fortification about 30 minutes south. The fortress at Louisbourg has costumed interpreters and functioning period bakeries and taverns. The Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Baddeck, about 45 minutes west, covers the inventor's life and experiments on the island. Cape Breton is known for its Scottish-descended population, and live fiddle music is common in pubs and community halls. Fresh lobster and mussels are standard fare at the local restaurants. The currency is the Canadian dollar.