Established in 1650, the pretty town of St. Peter’s is one of North America\'s oldest European settlements and is known as “the village on the canal” and \"Gateway to the Bras D\'Or\". Situated just off route 104, it is an easy stop for travelers planning on doing a circle tour of Cape Breton Island and the Cabot Trail.
The canal itself is a wonderful feature. Completed in 1869, it links the Atlantic Ocean through a narrow isthmus with the Bras d’Dor Lake, and features the only locks in Nova Scotia. Once used for industry, it is now largely the preserve of pleasure boats, especially sailing vessels that come to take advantage of the ideal cruising conditions on the lake. The canal is a National Historic site of Canada. On its shores, Battery Provincial Park has a series of walking trails that meander through the park and into the village. The Wallace R. MacAskill’s home, now a museum, displays over 100 hand tinted photographs by the famous photographer, whose Bluenose photo is featured on the Canadian 10 cent coin. The Nicolas Denys Museum features artifacts from everyday life in the 19th century, photographs, and history relating to St. Peter\'s Canal.
St. Peter’s is an excellent stop for tourists visiting the Cabot Trail, Fort Louisbourg, and Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Baddeck is just along the lake, Sydney is not far north, and nearby attractions include 18 hole golf and Ben Eion ski hill. The town features cozy and quiet accommodations, full amenities, all where the lake meets the sea.