NL
95
BY SUSAN MACCALLUM-WHITCOMB
Western
Newfoundland's
Top Activities
ICEBERG OFF QUIRPON ISLAND • NL TOURISM
Rural Newfoundland is typically a
place of small pleasures, where
Instagrammable experiences are as
rare as fresh bakeapples in February.
So the western shore—stretching 683
km (424 mi.) from Port aux Basques
to St. Anthony—stands out.
For starters, it boasts two signature attrac-
tions that are ripe for exploring: one a
superlative national park, the other a
haunting heritage site. Plus it provides
ample opportunities for both exciting
outdoor adventures and genuine cultural
interactions. Trying this quartet of activities
will help you make the most of your visit
(www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/
top-destinations/western-region).
MARVEL AT GROS MORNE
Although the province as a whole is
famously photogenic, the one-of-a-kind
vistas in gorgeous Gros Morne National
Park, situated roughly halfway up the coast,
are beyond compare (www.parks
canada.gc.ca/grosmorne). More than a
year-round playground for nature lovers, this
ruggedly beautiful 1,805-sq.-km (697-sq.-mi.)
locale is a natural wonder almost 500 million
years in the making. The Tablelands, which
helped earn Gros Morne a UNESCO designa-
tion in 1987, are a case in point. Created eons
ago by a massive tectonic upheaval, the
mountainous, red-hued landscape is one of
the few places where you can actually walk
on the earth's mantle.
Stunning Western Brook Pond—a
freshwater fjord formed during the last ice
age—is equally compelling. View its glacier-
carved granite walls and dramatic 610-m
(2,000-ft.) waterfalls from the deck of a tour
boat. Explore the park on tours organized by
Wild Gros Morne. The company runs guided
walks, Indigenous experiences, traditional
culinary offerings and assorted winter
outings that are cool in more ways than one
(www.wildgrosmorne.com).
FOLLOW THE VIKING TRAIL
Western Newfoundland's fascinating human
history comes into focus as you drive along the
Viking Trail, a route which begins just below
Gros Morne and extends the length of the Great
Northern Peninsula before crossing into Labrador
(www.vikingtrail.org). Remains of three
ancient Indigenous cultures, for instance, can
be seen at the Port au Choix National Historic
Site (www.parkscanada.gc.ca/portauchoix),
while evidence of the first Europeans to arrive
in North America lies further north at L'Anse
aux Meadows (www.parkscanada.gc.ca/
meadows).
Contrary to what Columbus fans profess,
it was Leif Eriksson who "discovered" North
America in 1000 AD, and the Viking settle-
ment he erected here has itself been
recognized by UNESCO. Open from June
through September, the site includes a
complex of evocative sod huts and a visitor's
centre showcasing artefacts used a millen-
nium ago. For an entertaining variation on
the theme, continue on to nearby Norstead,
a meticulously recreated Viking port of trade
populated by faux Norse folk who are on
hand to tell age-old tales and demonstrate
traditional tasks such as candle making
(www.norstead.com).
