Vacation Rentals by Owner

Beautiful House, Stunning Location

Guest: Jeanette (Washington DC)
Date of Stay: 09/10/11 Review Submitted: 09/21/11

This is a beautiful house in a stunning location. It has all the mod cons of up-to-code construction with the gracious feel of an older home. The kitchen is well-equipped; the hot water supply and water pressure are fantastic; and the double pane windows, efficient heating, and working fireplace make this a cozy retreat in cooler weather. While we loved leisurely evenings preparing meals at the house and enjoying the spectacular sunsets from the patio, we were also pleasantly surprised that there were some viable options for dining out nearby. We had a wonderful holiday at the Banks Road home and look forward to returning! Thank you Vicki!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

What a house!

Guest: Jon (Calgary, Alberta)
Date of Stay: 07/30/11 Review Submitted: 09/30/11

Recently my family rented this beautiful house for a week, we travelled from Alberta, New Brunswick, and Halifax to meet in Cape Breton. When we arrived we were excited to see a kitchen that was fully stocked with all the dishes that we would need, pots and pans, coffee maker. The entire house was spotless, and there was a pile of firewood ready for the evening's fire. It was the perfect house for a week long relaxing get-a-way. The location was perfect for us, and what a view!

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Beautiful Views From A Light Filled House

Guest: David (Toronto)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 07/25/11

This is an incredible house with gorgeous high and wide views out over the ocean. We are a family of four with kids 5 and 7 and we all just loved it. The kids slept on the first floor and parents on second, the kids played in the spacious grass yard and parents watched from the recliners, kids watched a movie while we made dinner, it is just perfectly set up for a family. The house is spacious clean and bright and we enjoyed just relaxing around the house with the children. Leisurely breakfasts, then a walk down through a fragrant pine forest to a private beach. There is a fabulous steam shower for off the master bedroom for those who appreciate these things. I had a great later afternoon steaming, cold showering and then resting while I watched the sun set. Inverness is a pleasant town and the new Cabot Links golf course is expected to be fantastic. We also saw a lot of local music and did a lot of hiking, beach-combing and exploring around the island. Cape Breton is really fantastic and feels quite secluded. Best of all I had no cell phone reception, so I was forced not to check my blackberry and focus on the vacation! Top marks for this vacation house! We've stayed in about four different houses in Nova Scotia on the South Shore over the last seven years and this house in Cape Breton is one off the best.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Beautiful house in a great location

Guest: Chris (Boston, MA)
Date of Stay: 07/03/10 Review Submitted: 07/26/10

Our family spent a wonderful vacation in this house. We spent a lot of time enjoying the gorgeous views and lounging outside with the stereo system blasting. We went to Inverness town beach several times and explored various parts of the island. The sunsets were amazing. Cape Breton was a long drive from Boston but well worth the trip!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Inverness Vacation Home

Guest: Susan (Halifax Nova Scotia)
Date of Stay: 06/27/10 Review Submitted: 08/04/10

My family & I had a lovely vacation at this beautiful home this past summer. The home is beautifully decorated, clean, spacious and well-equipped. There is lots of room to roam outside as well with access to a private beach area. Perfect location for excursions in the Cape Breton area. We were thrilled to see whales in the ocean from the front deck! We highly recommend this home as a vacation destination.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

An amazing house in a great place!

Guest: Brad (South Carolina)
Date of Stay: 06/10/10 Review Submitted: 07/06/10

If you are travelling to NS, I highly recommend this house for your stay. We had an amazing time, and the house is roomy and well appointed, the kitchen is well equiped and the beds are great. You can tell alot of time and energy is spent on have a great place for people to enjoy their stay.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: tom and sherie (Eugene, OR [USA])
Date of Stay: 11/16/09 Review Submitted: 11/16/09

We spent a lovely, relaxed week in this spacious, cozy home-away-from-home. The spectacular views, amenities, including a well-stocked kitchen, made the time here very special. We'd definitely pick this place again when we return to Cape Breton Island. No disappointments, and like some other reviewers, hesitate to 'let the word out' on this west coast gem.

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Guest: Diane Raschke1 (-)
Date of Stay: 10/15/09 Review Submitted: 10/15/09

Just wanted to let you know that our vacation surpassed my expectations by a long shot. It was soooo much fun. I do have to get therapy for the sea glass obsessed in my family now. Thanks for the beautiful house and all the adventures on the property. We came in with Hurricane Danny and the next evening went down to the beach. Great fun! Pipers Cove was another gem - if you haven't been there you have to go. The food was great but the people were the best part - so accommodating and friendly Definitely a trip we will never forget. Thanks so much, Diane

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Guest: Diane Raschke (-)
Date of Stay: 10/06/09 Review Submitted: 10/06/09

We had the best time here. The house was fabulous and we had our very own beach. We became addicted to looking for sea glass every evening after our adventures for the day. We loved the area and coming back to the house at the end of every day was a treat. What a great place !!!

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Tucked-away Saltbox

Guest: The MacDonalds (Oakville, ON, CAN)
Date of Stay: 08/01/09 Review Submitted: 08/19/10

High-end accomodations are hard to come by in the still relatively-hidden treasure of Cape Breton but this saltbox certainly fits the bill. If you want privacy, exercise, fresh-air and a base of operations to explore this part of Nova Scotia we highly recommend.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/27/09 Review Submitted: 07/27/09

This lovely home was all that we had hoped and more. We watched spectacular sunsets and whales feeding in the ocean. The owners designed their dream home, and we enjoped all of the thoughful details that they included.

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Guest: PETER ROGERS (CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, USA)
Date of Stay: 07/21/09 Review Submitted: 07/21/09

WE TRAVELED FAR TO THIS FAIR ISLE AND HERE DID WE REST AWHILE THE COTTAGE IS A HOME FROM HOME FAR FROM HERE WE DID NOT ROAM WEATHER GREAT, THE SUN DID SHINE WE WERE SO PLEASED, WE DRANK SOME WINE, WINE YOU SAY, WHAT’S WRONG WITH GIN? COS WINE’S BETTER TO DROWN MOSSIES IN! KITCHEN RESPLENDENT, WE LACKED FOR NOUGHT WE FOUND EVERYTHING WE SOUGHT POTS AND PANS WERE SO COMPLETE WITH CUPS AND PLATES ARRANGED SO NEAT CATHEDRAL CEILINGS OF KNOTTY PINE SO NO PAINT FLAKES FALL IN OUR WINE, EASY TO MAINTAIN, NOT QUITE A FARM MORE ELEGANT, AND FULL OF CHARM. FROM MANY CITIES MUGS GALORE DASILVAS MUST HAVE BOUGHT THE STORE ENOUGH TO LAST THROUGHOUT THE WEEK SO POLYSTYRENE WE DID NOT SEEK SUNSETS AT NIGHT, A SIGHT SO GRAND WITH STARLIGHT SKIES TO BEAT THE BAND THE SILENT NIGHTS WERE “OH SO NEAT” AND SUNNY MORNINGS DID US GREET AT NIGHT A LITTLE RAIN DID FALL BUT WE DID NOT CARE AT ALL, THE GRASS WAS A BRIGHTER GREEN AND MORNING MOSSIES WERE NOT SEEN. THE STEAM SHOWER HELPED WITH MOSSY BITES WHICH CAME MOSTLY AT FALL OF NIGHT IT ALSO KEPT OUR SKIN SO CLEAN SO IN THE MORNINGS WE DID PREEN NO CITY PRESSURES HERE INDEED TV & PHONES WE DID NOT NEED THE WORLD STILL TURNS, SOMEWHAT AWRY BUT HERE ON BRETON, WHO CARES? NOT I !! A SOUND SYSTEM BASED ON SIRIUS BROUGHT IN STATIONS NOWHERE NEARY US BBC AND NPR WERE OUR GREAT PLEASURE WHILE WE SAT AND MUSED AT LEISURE WHALE WATCHING IN PLEASANT BAY A SPECIAL WAY TO SPEND A DAY ROUND THE BOAT THE PILOTS SWARMED NO BETTER SHOW WAS E’RE PERFORMED FRESH LOBSTERS FROM THE BOATS WE BOUGHT KNOWING THAT THEY WERE FRESH CAUGHT WE ATE SO WELL, MY BELLY GREW ALL WASHED DOWN WITH A GLASS OR TWO. FOOD AT THE RED SHOE WAS SO GOOD WE ATE A TAD MORE THAN WE SHOULD WASHED DOWN WITH SOME LOCAL BEER WE LEFT THE PUB IN FINE CHEER. TO THIS GREAT ISLE WE SHALL RETURN THOUGH LOCAL PHRASES WE MUST LEARN, THE MARITIMES ARE A SPECIAL PLACE AND CAPE BRETON SETS THE PACE. MANY THANKS TO ANTONIO AND VICKI IN WHOSE HOME WE ESCAPED THE CITY “THANKS FOR MEMORIES OH SO FINE”, AND TO YOU DO WE RAISE OUR WINE.

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Guest: Kerri2 (Edmonton, Alberta)
Date of Stay: 07/31/08 Review Submitted: 07/31/08

What a wonderful place to come and stay at. We make a trip out to Cape Breton every 2 years and this is by far the nicest place that we have stayed at. The peace and quite was just what we needed with 2 young kids but still close enough to go into town it needed. We were able to sit on the patio, watch the whales play in the water and saw some beautiful sunsets!! The last day we were there it was clear enough to see P.E.I. Thanks so much Vicky for allowing us the chance to stay there, we'll be back!!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/15/08 Review Submitted: 07/15/08

We had a very nice experience! The beds are comfortable and the kitchen worked very well for us. We appreciated having an internet connection and Sirrus Radio. The view was wonderful and we loved the deck. We saw 3 dear from the breakfast area windows on our first morning. We recommend the restaurant at the distillary for a very nice meal.

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Guest: Bruce, Denise, and Darwin (Tampa, Florida)
Date of Stay: 06/27/08 Review Submitted: 06/27/08

Truly a wonderful place! You were right, Vicki - we didn't want to leave. Although I had read up on Cape Breton Island, I hadn't expected all of the things to do. Of course, the national park was great - hiking the trails and driving out to Meat Cove for a picnic lunch where we saw whales was spectacular. Bruce enjoyed fly-fishing at spots throughout the Margaree Valley and I had fun visiting some of the local artist studios, especially Cape Breton Clay. Music (and food) and the Red Shoe Pub in Mabou was great as was the fare at Glenory Distillery. Although the drive was long (2 1/2 hours), we also enjoyed the trip out to the fortress at Louisbourg. It gave us a chance to see more of the island (Alexander Graham Bell's museum in Baddeck), and the period restoration at Louisbourg was impressive. (Another picnic lunch nearby Louisbourg at the Lighthouse Point was also fun.) The best part of the whole experience, however, was the downtime that we had at the house. Watching the sunset each night over the water while enjoying a glass of wine and the Sinatra station on the satellite radio is going to be a fond memory! So will the fun we had watching Darwin running around - he had a blast! Thank you again, Bruce, Denise, and Darwin

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Guest: kris9 (colorado springs, co)
Date of Stay: 10/02/07 Review Submitted: 10/02/07

I hesitate to give my honest appraisal of this place and home because I don't want it to be discovered by too many people! I would like to keep it all to myself. suffice to say it was the best house and vacation ever! whales, moose, seals, eagles, satellite radio, no TV (yey!), beautiful views, wonderful rockhounding, great people. a fabulous experience. Thank you Vicki for sharing it with us.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/30/07 Review Submitted: 09/30/07

We loved our stay so much that we extended it for a few days! This house is spectacular, and is the best vacation rental we have ever had. It is comfortable, and wonderfully equipped and furnished. We spent many hours on the deck (and even saw whales!) and the beach. Cape Breton is glorious and a great community. We hiked and explored and went to many music events. We can't wait to return! Thanks for one of the best vacations ever.

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Guest: patty w. (NY NY & Chiang Mai, Thailand)
Date of Stay: 09/23/07 Review Submitted: 09/23/07

Our stay in Inverness was a delightful and memorable time and made especially hospitable by the Da Silva home. The house is, at the same time, both cozy and spacious with a spectacular outdoor space, view and walk to the beach. A dream home, vacation house, and getaway in a likable small N.S. town.... with access to good hiking territory and local culture. Lots of nice small touches including a steam shower, "cook's kitchen," local maps, internet and fireplace. The setting is remarkable+++

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Guest: Jeanne Johnston (Walpole, MA)
Date of Stay: 07/10/07 Review Submitted: 07/10/07

We just returned from a fabulous week in Nova Scotia (July, 2007) and truly enjoyed your home. The pictures on your site were true to the beautiful details of the house, except the views from the deck they were even more spectacular. We enjoyed a very late sunset every night, few days there were more than 20 whales out in the ocean. One of the best parts of the property is the walk down through the wooded path to the private beach that gives you a great work out on the way back! The kids loved that part and we returned with quite a selection of beautiful stones from the beach. Everything we needed was there, we cooked in for several meals and enjoyed the local area restaurants for a few of the days, especially the Red Shoe Pub between 5:00-7:00 pm when they had entertainment during dinner. Glenora Distillery was also another favorite between 1:00-3:00 pm. Grocery store nearby in Inverness had what we needed and the Bear Paw gift shop was one of the nicest around. We enjoyed the Friday night square dance in SW Margaree, a day trip on the Cabot Trail, fishing at Old Miller's trout pond and lots of visits with new and old friends. We hope to return one day.

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Guest: Amelia1 (Massachusettes)
Date of Stay: 09/30/06 Review Submitted: 09/30/06

One of the best vacation rentals I have ever stayed. The house is well equipped and perfect to come back to after a day at the beach, hiking fishing, golf, ect. Not mention the setting... Absolutely beautiful. There are gorgeous views of the ocean from every angle of the house, and the surrounding acres of privacy, calm, and raw nature are the best I have experienced in a private setting. The private beach is not only convenient, it has a short and pretty trail that is located at the home's back door. My husband who is a outdoorsman and has been to many places to flyfish, hike and golf was more than impressed by the island's many worldclass spots that located are in short distance of the house. Highly reccomend!!!!

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Guest: Martin & Becky Bruno (Marathon, Fla Keys USA)
Date of Stay: 08/10/06 Review Submitted: 08/10/06

Thank you Vicki & Antonio for a beautiful-comfy place to spend our last week in Cape Breton! The house is completely private and quiet.Gorgeous views from the waterfront windows and deck, all the creature comforts were provided for,nice wood fires on cool evenings and fresh local seafood everyday as we watched the sun go down. The stereo sound system throughout the house and deck was awesome!We are definitely hooked on the Acadian and Scotch/Irish music! The beach was fantastic for exploring-deserted the whole week. Inverness is a good location for day trips all over Cape Breton and the Cabot Trail. Thanks to George & Joanne for keeping such a clean house. We always rent private houses or cottages for vacation. Yours is certainly at the top of our "memories" list. Regards, Becky & Martin PS I had fresh wildflowers from the yard on the table everyday!Just perfect!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/12/06 Review Submitted: 07/12/06

What a wonderful place! Our young family enjoyed every moment of our stay -- both inside the beautifully decorated and maintained house, and outside in the fields, forests and on the beach. Also, the location provided us with lots of opportunities for exploration and relaxation. Thanks for a great time!

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Guest: Cathy Horowitz (Potomac, MD)
Date of Stay: 07/10/06 Review Submitted: 07/10/06

Beautifully decorated new home overlooking the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The view is spectacular and we (adults and our children) really enjoyed the short hike through the woods to the private beach. The house is very close to town but feels quite secluded. We felt so rested from taking in all the fresh air and beautiful scenery!

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