Suggested sites to visit in
Newfoundland and Labrador
To help plan your vacation, the province
is broken up into the following regions form east to west.
1. Avalon Region (Cape
Spear Drive, Irish Loop, Killick Coast, Admiral’s Coast, Baccalieu
Trail, Cape Shore, Osprey Trail)
2.
Eastern Region
(Discovery Trail, Heritage Run)
3. Central Region (The
Dorset Trail, Beothuck Trail, Exploits Valley)
4. Western Region (The
Viking Trail, Grenfell Drive, Humber Valley, Caribou Trail, Three Rivers Scenic Drive, French Ancestors Route)
5. Labrador
(Labrador Coastal Drive)
Avalon
Region - St. John’s and surrounding area
1. Cabot Tower, Signal Hill - watch the
sunrise and get a panoramic view of the city.
View the site where Marconi received the first wireless signal across the
Atlantic.
2. Cape Spear National Historic Site -
located on the most easterly point in North America. Visit the oldest surviving
lighthouse in the province. Watch
for whales, seabirds and icebergs in season.
3. Petty Harbour, a small picturesque
fishing village.
4. Duckworth Street, Water Street, and
Harbour Drive - where there are an abundance of unique stores as well as
restaurants and pubs. Take one of
the cruises at the harbour.
5. George Street – Visit the many
bars, pubs and restaurants, or attend the George Street Festival the end of July
to beginning of August
6. Fish and Chips – Go to Ches’or
one of the other seafood diners for lunch
7. Marine Drive - Torbay, Middle Cove,
Flatrock, and Bauline where the scenery is spectacular.
(There are good berry picking areas around Cape St. Francis.)
8. Bell Island - tour the former iron
mines.
9. Quidi Vidi Village – Built in the
17th century, it prevented St. John’s from being attacked by enemy
ships
10. The Battery – A 17th
century fishing village overlooking St. John’s Harbour. In 1673, gun emplacements were used to defend St. John’s
from attack by Dutch pirate ships.
11. The Rooms – Just opened in 2006,
this center houses the provincial museum, art gallery and archives.
12. Fort Amherst – This fort, built by
the British in 1910, is located at the foot of the South Side Hills overlooking
the harbour.
13. The Colonial Building – This
former provincial legislative building was built in the 1850’s, 20 years after
Newfoundland obtained self government.
14. Commissariat House- Completed in
1821, this Georgian structure has been restored, furnished and decorated to the
1830 period. ( Kingsbridge Road)
15. GeoCenter – Located on the way to
Signal Hill, this center features Newfoundland as earth’s Geological Showcase.
The Titanic exhibit is also located here.
16. The Fluvarium – Located in Pippy
Park, this venue portrays a spectacular view of the underwater world.
17. Various churches in the downtown
area:
- The Roman Catholic Basilica Cathedral/Museum/Archives – St.
Thomas Anglican Church – oldest church in St. John’s
- Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist – one of the finest
examples of Ecclesiastical
Gothic architecture in North America; in season, afternoon tea is served
in the Cathedral Crept Room
- George Street United Church
- St. Andrews Presbyterian Church
10. Ocean Sciences Center – Harp and
Harbour Seals may be viewed your round. An
outdoor touch tank allows summer visitors to become acquainted with a variety of
Newfoundland sea creatures.
11. Government House – official
residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland
13. City Parks
- Bowring Park – Located in the west end of the city off Waterford
Bridge Road, this park features local and imported trees, flowers, shrubs,
conservatory, two rivers, two ponds, woodland walkways, statuary, playground,
swimming pool, amphitheatre, festivals, gift shop and restaurant.
-
C.A. Pippy Park – located in the heart of the city, Nagels Hill, has a number
of attractions, including camping, walking trails, Botanical Garden, golf,
Fluvarium, provincial legislature, Memorial University, and Arts and Cu
Avalon
Region – Irish Loop
Boat tours to visit the Witless Bay
Ecological Reserve to view the whales and bird colonies as well as icebergs
(when in season), example Gatherall Boat Tours and O’Brien Boat Tours
Colony of Avalon, Ferryland - In the 17th
century site this site was the colony of Lord Baltimore.
Tour the ongoing archaeological dig, interpretation center and gift shop.
Southern Avalon - the southernmost herd
of woodland caribou in the world.
Walk to East Coast to visit “The
Spout”
Avalon
Region - The Cape Shore
Cape St. Mary’s Ecological reserve.
Castle Hill National Historic Site -
once the French capital in the 17th and 18th centuries;
watch the historical drama Faces of Fort Royal, which brings the French Colonial
area to life.
Whitbourne - Markland Cottage Winery and
learn how local wild berries such as blueberries partridge berries and
bakeapples are transformed into exotic wines.
Avalon
Region – Admirals Coast
Heart’s Content Old Cable Station,
once a relay for transatlantic telegraph messages.
Winterton - take a leisurely stroll
along the boardwalk and enjoy the panoramic views.
Grate’s Cove - view the hundreds of
rock walls that farmers used to keep roaming animals off their fields.
Baccalieu Island Ecological Reserve where three million pairs
of Leach’s Storm Petrols nest. An
interpretive display on the reserve can be found at Bay de Verde.
Carbonear - pirate country, and if you decide to stop here for
awhile, you might want to attend a stage production which tells the story of
Princess Sheila, an Irish Princess captured by the pirate Peter Easton.
Harbour Grace - played a role in the
history of aviation. Amelia Earhart
set out from here on her solo flight across the Atlantic. You can also visit a museum built on the site of Peter
Easton’s old fort.
At Cupids, you can view the excavation
of the first official colony in Canada which was founded by John Guy.
The museum there has an exhibit on Newfoundland stamps.
Brigus - a beautiful community that
retains much of its 19th century character.
In August, it hosts the well known Blueberry Festival.
Hawthorne Cottage - the birthplace of
Captain Bob Bartlett, the ice pilot who guided Peary to within striking distance
of the North Pole. At Holyrood,
Return to Rte 1 and continue back to St. John’s.
Eastern
Region – The Heritage Run
Golden Sands Resort, Marystown
Winterland - view the Eco Museum, a 4 km
boardwalk trail with interactive exhibits and observation towers.
Marystown Museum
Jerome Walsh fishing premises.
Southern Seaman’s Museum, Grand Bank -
view Atlantic Canada’s largest mural. In
the evening, experience one of the Heritage Society of Grand Banks theatrical
productions.
The Miner’s Museum, St. Lawrence -
tells the history of the fluorspar mine in the area.
Heritage House and Tidal Wave Exhibit,
Burin, which tells the story of the 1929 disaster.
Eastern
Region - The Discovery Trail
Trinity - a prosperous community built
on the fishery, with some 50 architecturally significant buildings. Become
part of the walking tour of the town led by actors who portray a few of the more
colourful characters from our past.
New Bonaventure to view the production
set for the television series “Random Passage”, an account of the early
years of Newfoundland settlement.
Rising Tide Theatre - various locations
in and around Trinity.
Bonavista- visit the landing site of
John Cabot.
The Ryan Premises - experience the
history of the fishery
Cape Bonavista Lighthouse Provincial
Historic Site - guides in period costume will show you around.
Eastport Peninsula with its sandy
beaches and quaint communities.
Burnside - a small museum of artifacts
collected from various Beothuck sites around Bonavista Bay.
Salvage - oldest European settlement
along this part of the coast and is a classic outport community.
Central
Region – Kittiwake Coast – Road to the Isles
Terra Nova Park including a championship
golf course.
Lewisport, major service and
transportation center.
Boyd’s Cove Interpretation Center,
which has been built using Beothuck structural concept near the site of a large
Beothuck village. The center tells
the story of these aboriginal people and includes an archaeological site.
Twillingate - Twillingate Museum, the Long Point Lighthouse and avail of
boat tours.
Central
Region – Exploits Valley
Botwood Heritage center to explore the
history of Botwood which in the 1930’3 was a refuelling stop for the first
Trans Atlantic passenger service. Overnight
at Ocean View Park, Leading Tickles, Rte 350.
Grand Falls - Mary March Museum which
explores the natural and cultural diversity of central Newfoundland from plate
tectonics to today’s paper making industry.
Beothuck Village - walk through he
trails of the replica Beothuck Indian Village.
The Beothuck became extinct when the last known survivor, Shawnadithit,
died in 1829.
Salmonoid Interpretation Center, off
Scott Road, in Grand Falls to learn about the habitat and life cycle of the
Atlantic salmon, and don’t miss the underwater viewing.
Red Indian White Water Rafting.
Western
Region – Viking Trail
Woody Point and Trout River - view the
south side of Bonne Bay and get a great view of The Tablelands, a 600 metre high
plateau of mantle rock, one of the world’s best examples of rock from the
earth’s interior. Visit the Discovery center at Woody Point and take a boat
tour at Trout River Pond
Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
Western Brook Pond - take a sailing
cruise along a fjord.
The Arches Provincial Park, a natural
rack formation, has two large arches which were formed when the rock was under
water eons ago.
Gros Morne Theatre Festival. Cow Head
Port au Choix National Historic Site
with its ongoing Archaeological dig and view the artefacts or the Maritime
Archaic people who occupied the area 3200 to 3700 years ago.
L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic
Site, a UNESCO world Heritage Site. Tour
the reconstructed sod huts as animators recreate daily life at the site.
Viking settlement of Norstead and sail
aboard a replica of an eleventh-century Viking boat.
St. Anthony- Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital Jordi Bonet Murals which
tell the story of the people of the Grenfell Mission.
The
Grenfell Properties, including Grenfell House, and Grenfell Interpretation
Center,
Viking Feast at Leifsburdir, Fishing
Point, St. Anthony. (Reservations required)
Labrador
Coastal Drive
L’Anse-au-Clair
- Gateway to Labrador Visitor Center, a restored turn of the century church.
L’Anse
Amour - oldest known funeral monument in North America. You will also find the
tallest lighthouse in Atlantic Canada.
Red Bay Historic Site - world whaling
capital, AD 1550 - 1600. Be sure to
stop and visit the small communities of L’Anse au Loup, L’Anse Amour and
Forteau along the way. At the
Visitor Center, experienced guides will interpret the Basque whaling activity in
the area during the 16th century.
The whale refinery at Red Bay is considered to be one of the first
industrial sites in the new world.
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