Cape Sable Island is located on the most southern point of the Nova Scotia peninsula, and is 258 km (160.3 mi.) southwest of Halifax. Barrington Passage separates Cape Sable Island from the mainland, and was connected in 1949 by a causeway. The Mi'kmaq resided in Cape Sable Island long before it was first visited by the Portuguese, who called the island Beusablom, which means "Sandy Bay." New England Planters eventually came and settled permanently on the land, as the land became a means of primarily fishing, as the island's biggest industry comes from a lobster fishery.

Cape Sable Island is home to the Cape Sable Historical Society Centre, which offers extensive knowledge regarding local archives and genealogy research. Cape Sable Island offers a beautiful boardwalk that follows some of the coastline, as well as sandy beaches, bird watching, especially the Atlantic Brant and Piping Plover birds, an old forest and the Cape Lighthouse, which was constructed in 1900 and built by a 16 year old boy named John W. Nickerson.

Cape Sable accommodations include bed and breakfasts and cottages.