More than just Cod and Friendly People
I had never really given much thought to Canada’s 10th province and the world’s 16th largest island. Despite knowing a few “newfies” over my lifetime, my knowledge of Newfoundland and its culture was quite embarrassingly limited. I think for many Canadians, we tend to vacation abroad instead of explore our own country. Since we have a very short summer season, the mentality is to go “somewhere else”, but I’ll share why Newfoundland shouldn’t be overlooked as a top vacation spot.
Canada’s Most Easterly Province is a Nature Lover’s Dream
It wasn’t until after planning a vacation for one of my clients did I really get an idea of the beauty “The Rock” had to offer. It earned this nickname due to its remote location out in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, and Cape Spear is not only the most easterly location in North America, but also holds the province’s oldest surviving lighthouse. 
Once I started the research for my client, I also began planning a trip here for myself! As an avid hiker, and nature-lover, I knew that Newfoundland was somewhere I needed to visit. Rugged cliffs, ocean views and plenty of wildlife (moose is on most menus), Newfoundland is a place for those seeking peace and solitude amidst a majestic background.
There are really only two months to visit – July & August. They have a very short summer season, so the window for good weather is limited. I settled on July, and booked a 9 day trip for the kids & I with my mother-in-law in tow.
INSIDER TIP: Flights can get pricey, so I recommend booking at least 9 months in advance. This goes for car rentals and accommodations as well. The sooner the better! Otherwise, expect high prices with limited options.
No Small Island
With over 100,000 square kilometers to explore, Newfoundland is a land of unspoiled, raw beauty. We flew from Toronto to St. John’s and rented a car to make our way across the province. In hindsight, it was probably a better idea to fly into YYT and out of Deer Lake. This would’ve cut down on a lot of driving; just to give you an idea, it’s about 7+ hours one way from St. John’s to Gros Morne. Alternatively, we met many people who drove from Ontario and then took the ferry over from Port-aux-Basques. If you’re into long road trips, this is another option as well.
Our itinerary included a couple nights in St. John’s, a few around Trinity and a few in Gros Morne. If you can give yourself two weeks that would be ideal, but overall it worked out nicely with this amount of time. Since the weather is unpredictable, having a few “buffer” days would’ve been nice. One minute you’re buried in fog, and the next minute it’s clear and sunny skies. I remember arriving at Castle Hill with a partial view of the bay, then hiked to the top only to see nothing but white! Returned to the bottom only to reach clear & sunny skies! I pushed myself to hike back up, finally to be rewarded with an unspoiled 180 degree view! This was our typical experience over the course of 9 days. It was definitely a sight to see!
Outside of St. John’s, hotel options are limited. I’m not typically an Airbnb person (I’m fairly loyal to the chains that reward me nicely), but in this case we really had no choice. I settled on two waterfront properties, one in Little Catalina (pronounced cat-a-line-uh) and the other around Glenburnie. They both turned out to be absolute gems. I made airbnb lovers out of my children after this experience! The one in Little Catalina also came with its own resident horse next door (surprise!). Needless to say, my kids spent most evenings with their new found friend. 😉
The area around Trinity and up to Bonavista is absolutely stunning. Most of my favourite hikes were in this area and we also got lucky to catch sight of a few icebergs! 
Also be sure to visit Elliston, “root cellar capital of the world’ and home to the Puffin viewing site. Most people take boat tours to see these unique birds, but here you can witness them right from shore – a real treat!
Gros Morne was definitely another treat. Mountains, beaches and fjords – what more can you ask for?! Gros Morne National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated on the western coast of the island of Newfoundland. Located in the Park is the landlocked fjord of Western Brook Pond. Carved by glaciers, stunning fjords, plenty of waterfalls and wildlife it is recognized for its beauty and geological significance. We chose to take the Western Brook pond boat tour and it was well worth it. You get up close and personal with these rugged mountains, studded with waterfalls and wildlife. We were lucky to have clear weather (for half of the tour), but even with the initial gloomy skies you couldn’t miss the magnificent scenery.
The Airbnb in Glenburnie was another gem. We were unlucky with the weather for the 3 days of our stay, but despite the rain, we had stunning views to make up for it. The whales come right in to South Arm, so you don’t even need to leave your cottage to see them!
With a tight schedule, we didn’t make it up to St. Anthony, but we did get as far as Arches Provincial Park. The drive up the coast is a scenic one, and there are some nice beaches to spend the day at. You might even get lucky and find a sand dollar!
St. John’s is Not to Be Missed
No trip to NL is complete without visiting it’s capital city. Great restaurants and stunning scenery make this city worth a trip. Since our hotel was right on Duckworth St., we were able to explore most of the city on foot. Signal Hill is an easy hike, and areas like Quidi Vidi are a short walk away. You don’t need to go far for stunning views!
Despite its remote location, Newfoundland is only an easy 3 hour flight from Toronto and worth every minute. The people are friendly, the fish is fresh and the scenery is picturesque. And despite being in Canada, you really are on island time here, so just chill and take things slow. Sit back and enjoy the scenery and solitude while dining on cod tongues or fries, dressing and gravy (my favourite were in Gander at Rosie’s Restaurant & Bakery) – well worth a detour!
