Day-trip with the SO coming up, anyone have any destination ideas?

So I've recently been seeing a girl who isn't originally from around these parts, and will be leaving forever at the end of the month. She's been here for a number of years for her degree, but hasn't really left the city except to go to some of the more standard destinations (Peggy's Cove, Crystal Crescent, etc...), and now she's looking to go on a somewhat less touristy adventure. I do have access to a car, but due to poor planning on our part we really only have one full day (all day Friday, I have to be back in the city by 2:00 Saturday), so we are a bit limited in terms of distance.

So, Reddit, what do you suggest we do? I want to go to the Cabot Trail (she's never been to Cape Breton), but there's no way we would have time to see anything before having to turn around. What are some good adventures we can get up to outside, but relatively near the city?