newfoundland
St. John's is the most eastern city in North America. It is located on the east coast of Newfoundland island. St. John's is capital of Newfoundland and Labrador province of Canada. Newfoundland used to have the largest airport in the world, Gander. It was used as a refueling stop for transatlantic flights. As airplanes gained more range, the island lost that function. Newfoundland is an attractive tourist spot because of its history and nature.
Newfoundland had the first European colony in the Americas, by Vikings. They abandoned the colony around 1000. The next wave of European exploration of the area started around 1500, by Italian/English and then Portuguese explorers. Later Newfoundland became one of the first English colonies in North America, arguably the first overseas colony of England. Waters around Newfoundland had best cod fishing in North Atlantic which attracted fishermen from different countries and later boosted growth of the colony. Later, during active phase of global colonization, Newfoundland had its share of battles, mostly between the French and English contest of North America. Newfoundland remained a colony and then a dominion separate from the rest of Canada for a long time. It was the last province to join the Canadian Confederation in 1949. The history is reflected by the museums and historic sites. Nature-wise, Newfoundland has landscapes, flora and fauna different from the rest of North America. There are opportunities to see icebergs, whales, colonies of arctic birds, and generally absorb the northern coastal environment. Readers who live in US or Canada probably know the feeling that many places look alike, especially when you are in a recent development area with new houses, standard malls and plazas filled with standard sets of brands and chain stores. You will definitely feel the difference in Newfoundland!
-
The city itself is worth exploring. Water street is considered to be the oldest street in North America. It is the main commercial street in the city. George street is famous for its restaurants, bars and nightlife. There is also a museum complex, The Rooms.
- Signal Hill overlooks the narrow entrance to St. John's harbor. It has served as a communication point between the land and the sea for centuries. It also has fortifications to defend the harbor. Presently it is a National Historic Site, a museum, and a place for several hiking trails.
- Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is the oldest church in Canada.
-
Cape Spear is the most easterly point of North America. Its lighthouse and the general site are a National Historic Site as well.
-
Whale watching boat tour usually combines both whale and bird watching. It could be O'Brien's or a similar tour by another provider. The site was a short 30 min. drive from St. John's. We saw whales on the way to a group of small rocky islands. The islands were teeming with birds. It seemed that every spot where a bird could fit was occupied. Those that did not fit were circling in the air. We have never seen so many birds at once. There were several species, including puffins.
- East Coast trail is a general area of hiking trails, 336 kilometres in total.
When to go
Newfoundland is in an area of northern wet climate. It does not get extremely cold or hot but there is plenty of humidity. Also, weather can change several times during the day. St. John's is a fog capital. Fog can come several times in a day or it can stay for several days in a row. The hottest and driest months are July to August. It can get to 15-20 degrees Centigrade. These months would be the best time to visit the island for land activities and to watch whales and birds. Best time to see icebergs is harder to predicts nowadays, usually late April through early June. The coldest months are December - February. The temperatures rarely drop below -10 degrees, but it can really snow! The record is over 70 cm (30 inches) over 24 hours! Annual snowfall over 4 meters is a regular occurrence. That much snow may be fun for kids but it cripples the city on snowy days. It may become a problem to open house or garage doors, or if the door opens you may see a solid wall of snow with door impressions. Digging cars out may also become a hard task. You can check for more information here.
At present, flights to St. John's arrive to St. John's International airport (YYT). The airport is very close to the city and there is no traffic. Presently, London is the only European city with a direct flight from St. John's. Most flights from YYT connect Newfoundland with larger Canadian cities and seasonal vacation spots in the Caribbean. If you do not live in London or Canada you will need a connection stop. Time-wise, it takes just over 5 hours to London and 3.5 hours to Toronto.
There are a number of standard hotels in St. John's but there are also some unique accommodations around the city and on the island. Most activities are around the city, except for visiting Bonavista. Therefore a standard itinerary would include a stay in the city or just outside.
