Issue 6_MiMagazine_EN

My husband Rob and I have always loved road trip ad- ventures. There’s something about setting your own pace, making unplanned stops and finding the best views from the driver’s seat. This was our fourth time around the Cabot Trail — a 298-kilometre loop around Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia — but our first in spring. We drove it west to east, saving some of the most dra- matic scenery — and tightest curves — for the second half. The road can be steep, narrow and twisty, but our 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander GT handled it all smoothly. On wet stretches and gravel climbs, Super All-Wheel Control and Gravel Mode, in particular, helped us stay steady and in control. Even on some of the more chal- lenging sections, we never felt like we had to worry about what the road might throw at us. The drive from Ontario had already shown off the Outlander’s comfort: sculpted seats with plenty of ad- justment options, a remarkably quiet cabin and venti- lated front seats that made all those highway hours feel relaxing instead of exhausting. Spring on the Cabot Trail brought cooler weather, fewer tourists and a quieter feel overall. A few places were still closed for the season, but we didn’t mind. We were happy to return to favourite spots — and the trade-off for fewer crowds and more lobster boats was well worth it. Day One: Big Spruce, red roofs and East Coast sound Before starting the Trail, we made a stop at Big Spruce Brewing near Nyanza. It’s a great place to pause at the beginning or end of your adventure. We picked up a

few cans to enjoy later and took a moment to take in the view before getting back on the road. From there, we headed north, climbing into the high- lands with the Outlander’s panoramic sunroof cracked to let in the salty air. The SUV handled the sharp curves and steep drops with ease — a huge relief on roads where the next turn often comes faster than expected. We reached the Keltic Lodge in Ingonish by late after- noon. With its red roof and clifftop setting, it’s one of the most recognizable spots on the Trail. The view from our room looked out over the ocean, and the Middle Head Trail — a four-kilometre hike inside Cape Breton Highlands National Park — started right out- side our door.