HERITAGE AND CULTURE
The past is proudly displayed at dozens of
historical attractions and more than 100
museums. Some are modest operations;
others, such as The Rooms—St. John's
provincial museum, gallery and archives
complex—are state-of-the-art. Yet the true
beauty of Newfoundland & Labrador's
strong culture is evident everywhere.
History and folklore, for instance, are
passed on orally with the number of tales
being matched only by the number of
enthusiastic tellers. Music is handed down
as well, so old tunes from Europe sound as
fresh as they did when they were first
carried across the Atlantic. Traditional
influences are equally apparent in the
visual arts because the motifs that knitters,
quilters and other craftspeople used for
generations have been adapted by today's
cutting-edge artisans.
MUST SEE, MUST DO
Start your day by watching the sunrise at
Cape Spear Lighthouse. Dawn breaks at this
easternmost point before anywhere else on
the continent (www.parkscanada.gc.ca/
capespear).
Get a bird's-eye view of gannets at Cape St.
Mary's Ecological Reserve or pretty Atlantic
puffins at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
(www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/natural-areas/wer/
r-wbe).
Twillingate is the place for vacationers
wanting to go with the floe. This old-school
outport on Notre Dame Bay calls itself
"The Iceberg Capital of the World"
(www.visittwillingate.com).
A series of architecturally advanced studios
turned tiny Fogo Island into a big art-and-
design destination. Now a stunning inn
provides five-star lodgings (www.town
offogoisland.ca).
Norstead, a recreated Viking village near
L' Anse aux Meadows, features costumed
interpreters, authentic-looking structures,
and a full-scale replica of a period ship
(www.norstead.com).
SCENIC DRIVES
Moose alert! Newfoundland's 120,000 moose
can be a major hazard for motorists. So be
especially careful when driving highways at
dusk and dawn.
The Viking Trail, 526 km (327 mi.) on
Newfoundland's west coast, paves the way to
a pair of World Heritage sites—L'Anse aux
Meadows and Gros Morne National Park—
providing a crash course in history en route.
The 349-km (217-mi.) Discovery Trail winds
along Newfoundland's east coast. The ample
cod stocks John Cabot observed in 1497 have
been depleted, yet fishing villages, fertile
farmlands and tall timber stands remain.
The Kittiwake Coast—Road to the Isles Route,
187 km (116 mi.) in the province's Central
Region, stretches from Notre Dame Provincial
Park to Notre Dame Bay where icebergs,
whales and coastal hiking trails await.
FAMILY FUN
Kids will love the Johnson GEO Centre on
Signal Hill in St. John's. Viewing the innova-
tive exhibits, participating in the interpre-
tive programs, then enjoying the Amazing
Earth Theatre show is like taking a cool
geology class without having to worry about
homework (www.geocentre.ca).
NL
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National Parks and Historic Sites:
www.parkscanada.gc.ca
1-888-773-8888
Park Pick
GROS MORNE NATIONAL PARK
There is a reason why this UNESCO-
designated national park outside Corner
Brook is one of Newfoundland & Labrador's
signature sites. The place rocks . . . literally.
Brush up on its natural history at the
Discovery Centre in Woody Point; then,
either independently or on a guided
excursion, explore the Tablelands—a
massive flat-topped formation created
when the North American and African
continental plates collided. Cap your visit by
hiking the trail to Western Brook Pond and
boarding a tour boat for an up-close look at
spectacular fjord-like scenery dating from
the Pleistocene period. A range of engaging
interpretive programs is also available
(www.parkscanada.gc.ca/grosmorne).
TORNGAT MOUNTAINS, LABRADOR • NL TOURISM/BARRETT & MACKAY
