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ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS
If it's fresh air fun you're after, head for the
area around Newfoundland & Labrador's
second largest city, Corner Brook
(www.cornerbrook.com). The Bay of
Islands, for example, is a magnet for whale
watchers and boaters. Prefer fishing? Cod,
squid, and more can all be caught here. Of
course, there aren't just lots of fish in the
sea—they fill other bodies of water, too. In
fact, this province is home to most of North
America's Atlantic salmon rivers, a dispro-
portionate number of which are located in
the western region. The Humber, which sees
tens of thousands of fish swim through
during its annual run, is a particular hot spot
for trophy-sized salmon.
Back on dry land, warm-weather activities
in the vicinity include hiking, mountain
biking, and caving; adrenaline junkies can
even combine the latter two on Cycle
Solutions tours (www.cyclesolutions.ca/
tour/caving-tours). Golfing at Humber
Valley Resort's 18-hole championship course is
another option (www.humbervalley.com). In
winter, meanwhile, popular Marble
Mountain promises skiing, snowboarding,
snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and zip-lining
(www.skimarble.com; www.marblezip
tours.com).
FEEL LIKE A LOCAL
Today's travellers crave cultural experiences,
and the region delivers in this regard as
well. Small group outings, like the beach
boil-ups and lighthouse picnics hosted by
Four Season Tours and Port aux Basques
Marine Excursions, respectively, offer a
unique perspective (www.fourseasons
tours.ca; www.portauxbasquesmarine
excursions.com). But folks here are so
friendly that there are also plenty of
chances for informal interactions. Annual
events are a great way to meet locals en
masse. Many focus on food—the Cow Head
Lobster Festival and the Deer Lake
Strawberry Festival are two peak-season
favourites; yet others, like the St. Anthony
Iceberg Festival, prove residents can always
find a reason to celebrate.
Artsy alternatives provide different
opportunities for "come from aways" who
wish to immerse in local culture. Take the
annual Gros Morne Theatre Festival, with its
new 178-seat Nurse Myra Bennett Centre for
the Performing Arts (www.theatrenewfound
land.com) or Norris Point's beloved Trails
Tales Tunes Festival, also held each year
within Gros Morne National Park (www.trails
talestunes.ca). Both help to breathe new life
into vintage songs and stories through their
lively lineups.
Such a rich range of activities makes
Western Newfoundland almost impossible
to resist.
GETTING THERE
Board a Marine Atlantic ferry (www.marine
atlantic.ca) from North Sydney, Nova
Scotia, to Port aux Basques at the Island's
southwest tip (www.portauxbasques.ca).
This historic town, founded by 16
th
century
Basque fishermen, is a fine place to stop
before or after the six to eight-hour
crossing. If you're arriving via Québec
or Labrador, take the ferry between
Blanc Sablon and St. Barbe instead
(www.gov.nl.ca/tw/ferryservices/
schedules). If you'd rather fly, land at Deer
Lake Regional Airport (www.deerlakeair
port.com). The titular town (www.deerlake.ca),
35 minutes north of Corner Brook and 35
minutes south of Gros Morne National Park,
marks the start of the Viking Trail,
otherwise known as Route 430.
L'ANSE AUX MEADOWS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE • PARKS CANADA/DALE WILSON
COX'S COVE • DESTINATION CANADA/WESTERN NL/FOUR SEASON TOURS
