SYDNEY - CANADA

Sydney is a city in transition. For a long time, it was known primarily as an industrial center, one of Canada's major suppliers of coal and steel. In the past, cruise passengers typically left the city for nearby excursions, such as the beautiful lakes area of ​​Bras d'Or and the town of Baddeck, where Alexander Graham Bell lived and worked. Louisbourg Fortress, the largest historical reconstruction in North America, draws many visitors, and the Cabot Trail is one of Canada's most scenic roads.

But today Sydney is an increasingly interesting place to visit. When the mills and mines closed for good in 2001, the city turned its eyes to the port and the 70,000 cruise ship passengers that arrive each season. With a focus on tourism, Sydney is making the most of its rich history and position as the main city on beautiful Cape Breton Island.

British loyalists fleeing the American Revolution founded the city in 1785 and the settlement soon prospered thanks to its rich natural resources. In its industrial heyday, work in steel factories and coal mines attracted settlers from many lands, including many who emigrated from the Scottish Highlands. Their influence is still evident. Cape Breton is one of the rare places in North America where Gaelic is still spoken and Celtic music is heard everywhere. Visitors can have their photos taken just outside the cruise terminal with the world's largest violin, a 50-foot reminder of this musical heritage.

The Native Canadian community of Mi'kmaq, known as Membertou, has its own Heritage Park with a museum and an excellent local craft shop. And Sydney is emerging as a culinary hub, with talented young chefs bringing an international flavor to the city. This is also a city of festivals, with many events scheduled for the peak cruise season. Late Summer Action Week is a nine-day community festival featuring concerts, street performers, and parades. Creative chefs have inspired the growing annual Right Some Good food festival in late August, and in October brings the Celtic Colors International Festival.