Discovering Newfoundland

From Rocky Mountains and coastlines, to pristine sandy beaches and grassy fields, Newfoundland is made up of French, Indian, and European settlers that are what makes the island so unique. The island has two national parks and many provincial parks where you can relax by campfires, hike mountains and see lots of wildlife including the most common animal, the moose.

Newfoundland is settled in the heart of the Atlantic Ocean which is famous for the delicious Atlantic salmon. On the west coast of the island you can drive to Port Aux Basques and catch a ferry across the Cabot Strait to Sydney Nova Scotia where you can then drive into the rest of Canada and the United States. Just down from Grand Bank which is located in the Burin Peninsula you can catch another ferry that will take you to the beautiful little islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon which is owned by France and it is only about hour in a half across. When you are in the St. Pierre or Miquelon it’s like you’re in Europe because of the cobblestone streets.

If you go up to the Northern Peninsula to the community of Lance Aux Meadows you’ll find thousand your old ruins of the Viking village. Stephenville Airport which is on the West coast of the island has the longest landing strip in Atlantic Canada. It can land the largest planes and even space shuttle. Lewis Hills which is also located on the west coast is known as the Rockies of snowmobiling. St. Johns which is on the east coast of the island has the oldest buildings of Newfoundland and is also the oldest city in North America. George Street, located down town is the most famous street in St. Johns; the whole street is all clubs and it is where they have the George Street Festival.

When you’re visiting the little towns on the west coast it’s like your over in Ireland, because of the big green fields and the sheep. Newfoundland also has a provincial plant called the Picture Plant that grows only on bogs. The island has lots of wild berries that people love to pick every summer when they are ripe. They are Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Partridge berries and the most favorite and common one is the Bakeapple berries. Newfoundland’s dish is Jigs Dinner that almost every Newfoundlander enjoys eating on Sunday’s.

Visit Newfoundland come see what it has to offer. Take a lovely journey from one side of the island to the other side. Get your hiking shoes on and your camera ready to discover what is meant to be seen and shared for a lifetime. The island awaits, you will explore and discover, leave with beautiful memories and want to go back and visit again.

By Melanie Doucette

Photo By Melanie Doucette