Darn Good Digs Review - Editors' Choice

Cranberry Cove Inn, Louisbourg, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada
Nominated By: Jennafer, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA, June '08

Price Range: $105-$160 CAD (breakfast included) # of Rooms: 7 Kid-Friendly: Yes

What makes Cranberry Cove Inn so Darn Good? The themed rooms in this grand, cranberry-colored Victorian mansion are fun and just the right amount of frilly. Germaine and David, the innkeepers, clearly paid loving attention to every detail. A highlight of our stay was when their son played fiddle for us – true Cape Breton atmosphere!

Location: The Cranberry Cove Inn is located in the town of Louisbourg on the remote eastern shore of Cape Breton Island, and its proximity to the fascinating Fortress of Louisbourg can’t be beat. The fortress, a meticulous reconstruction of the doomed French fort that stood on these grounds, is well worth the journey. Each summer, the fort’s houses, inns, shops, and waterfront are brought to life by a cadre of highly knowledgeable and enthusiastic interpreters, all wearing period garb and telling tales of life at the fort during the summer of 1744.

Rooms: We stayed in the Cranberry Sweet, which was lovely, with a cranberry-colored floral theme and a comfy bed. The six other rooms also have telling names like Field and Stream, Captain’s Den, and Hearts and Flowers. All rooms are delightfully decorated, and many have Jacuzzi bathtubs.

Food: We had a delicious birthday dinner at the Inn’s restaurant, the fanciest spot in town and rightfully famous for its seafood chowder. We also enjoyed the Island Egg Bake for breakfast, which we washed down with healthy doses of cranberry juice.

Vibe: David and Germaine made us feel right at home. We particularly appreciated that they welcomed our five year old son, when many other B &B’s in the area did not, even inviting him to the big barn to play with their sons.

Things to Keep in Mind: The Cranberry Cove Inn is only open from May 1st to October 31st.