Newfoundland is not only a very diverse island but one of the friendliest and easiest to self drive. With proper planning you can experience history, culture, nature and endless things to do. Accommodations vary from bed and breakfasts, cottages, campgrounds, inns, hotels and motels and it’s advised to book ahead. A small population of only 510,000 make this province a warm and welcoming destination. We visited the sights and sounds of the St. John’s area including Cape Spear, which is the easternmost point in Canada and as we were admiring the scenery we listened to dozens of whales spouting. At Signal Hill we encountered the tattoo and enjoyed a re-enactment of military life in the 1790’s with a fife and drum band and the firing of mortar, musket and cannons. In the evening we experienced a “boil up” on the beach at Shoe Cove and cooked our dinner after making a fire from wood we collected in the cove. It’s isn’t difficult to find a place to eat offering local cuisine to please any palate.
From St. John’s, we travelled to the Trinity area and stayed at a quaint B & B. After a morning hike on the very scenic Skerwink Trail offering majestic views of the water we drove to Random Passage Site. This was constructed in 2000 for the TV mini series Random Passage and we had the opportunity to imagine life in a typical fishing outpost in the early 1800’s. At Twillingate we booked a whale watching cruise and weren’t disappointed! Looking for something to do in the evenings? We stumbled on to local music presented by the “Split Peas” and attended a local theatre production “The Begonia” based on a true story from the area.
We enjoyed 3 nights in a cottage located in Rocky Harbour in Gros Morne National Park. The scenery in Gros Morne is breathtaking and there are many opportunities to hike or just sit and view the spectacular landscape. The trails are well groomed but can be strenuous. One of the highlights in Gros Morne was the cruise on Western Brook Pond, a 2 hour cruise past stunning views of massive cliffs and former fjords.
When it comes to viewing icebergs, Newfoundland is one of the best in the world. What a bonus to view the parade of icebergs along the northern and eastern coast in July in every shape, size and colour. If you are adventurous and want to be closer to these 10,000 year old glacier giants, plan to take a boat tour, paddle along in a sea kayak or hike along the coast. A short drive from St Anthony is L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site where the Norse landed around 1000 years ago and was not discovered until 1960.
Newfoundland offers a variety of festivals and special events throughout the year. We planned to attend the Royal St John’s Regatta celebrating its 193rd year. It’s a fun event to attend and the community really supports the competition and local concessions.
Newfoundland is a destination that you’ll visit more than once!
Contact me to plan your adventure to Newfoundland.
Al Been - abeen@uniglobeinstant.com or 519-644-2516
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