Tourism in Richmond County

The Saltscapes Travel Expo will be taking place at Expedition Park in Halifax from April 27th thru April 29th. Again the staff from the St. Peter’s Visitor Information Centre (VIC) will be in attendance, as part of the Destination Cape Breton Association delegation, to promote the area. This will be the 8th year for the Saltscapes Travel Expo and DCBA has been there every year to vie for the traveler’s attention. This year, DCBA will be passing out their new Visitor Experience and Events Booklet to showcase what our beautiful island destination has to offer this season. The Expo draws a lot of attention from people all over the Atlantic Provinces who are planning their upcoming vacations. Most visitors are no longer looking to travel long distances for their vacations, but are looking closer to home to find the perfect vacation spot. The Expo features presenters from all the Atlantic Provinces, so it is important that Cape Breton makes its presence felt as an important part of the Nova Scotia Tourism Industry. But it is not only the Atlantic Provinces that are in attendance. We also have tourism groups in attendance from the eastern seaboard of the US, as well as exotic destinations such as Martinique and Iceland. Cape Breton Island is a very sought after destination at the current time due to all the accolades it has received of late; being named # 1 Island destination in North America and # 3 Island destination in the world, also given the most romantic destination designation, as well as the Cabot Trail being called the most scenic travel way by motorcycle riders, the Bras d’Or Lake receiving the designation as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, just to name a few. It is no wonder that while working at the Expo we have so many visitors coming by our booths to pick up information on Cape Breton. If you happen to be in the Halifax area during the Expo, drop in and pick up your travel information; for a minimal entrance fee guests have the opportunity to win numerous prizes. Besides the travel section of the expo there are numerous displays and presenters offering information on many different topics from gardening to outdoor adventure equipment to photography and crafts and jewellery to food and beverage displays. This is definitely a show with something for everyone’s interest. Hope to see you there. The weather is getting more seasonal and with the nicer weather, we are able to get out and enjoy our outdoor activities. Richmond has some great hiking trails around the county, as well as great beaches to do some beachcombing on. If you would like to walk while staying in the village, you can check out the walking track located by the East Richmond Education Centre. For entertainment, there are lots of events taking place in Richmond for your enjoyment. On Friday April 27th, the Roddie’s Square Dance Society will host a Family Square Dance from 7-9pm, at the United Church Hall in St. Peter’s. On April 28th, there will be a Spring Fair at Ecole Beau-Port in Arichat, from 10am to 1pm. It will offer a Bake Sale, face painting, games room, silent auction, recycled book sale, variety show (Acadian Idol), cake walk and spa. There will also be a professional photographer on site to take family photos - call ahead (226-5200) to book your appointment. On April 29th, there will be a merchandise bingo at the Riverdale Community Centre starting at 2pm. There will also be a merchandise bingo at the Tara Lynn Centre in River Bourgeois on April 29th, starting at 1:45pm. Set aside the evening of May 3rd to take in the East Richmond Education Centre production of “A Quirky Look At Richmond County”, featuring a cast of students from grade 5-8 with presentations from grades primary–6 as well as special guests. I am especially excited to see the quirky antics that take place at the Visitor Information Centre which will include Haley MacRae as a visitor to the area. Showtime is 6pm. Until next week, enjoy exploring Richmond and the great variety of entertainment it has to offer.