Issue link: http://read.canadatravelguides.ca/i/651528
TRAVEL GUIDE TO CANADA HERITAGE AND CULTURE The past is proudly displayed at dozens of historic 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 fi rst carried across the Atlantic, especially when reinterpreted by bands like Great Big Sea. Traditional infl uences are equally apparent in the visual arts because the motifs that knit- ters, quilters and other craftspeople used for generations have been adapted by today's cutting-edge artisans. The provincial Craft Council website shows you where to buy the best ( www.craftcouncil.nl.ca). MUST SEE, MUST DO Start your day by watching the sunrise at Cape Spear. Dawn breaks at this eastern- most point before anywhere else on the continent (www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/nl/ spear/index.aspx). Get a bird's-eye view of gannets at Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve or pretty Atlantic puffi ns at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve (www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/parks/ wer/index.html). Twillingate is the place for vacationers wanting to go with the fl oe. This old-school outport on Notre Dame Bay calls itself "The Iceberg Capital of the World" (www.twillingatetourism.ca). History comes alive in St. John's, but the "undead" are just as intriguing. Fans of goosebump-inducing ghost stories can tour downtown at night on a Haunted Hike (www.hauntedhike.com). A series of architecturally advanced studios turned tiny Fogo Island into a big art-and- design destination. Now a stunning inn provides fi ve-star lodgings (www.townof fogoisland.ca). Curious epicures shouldn't leave without sampling cod tongues, moose burgers, blueberry grunt and other delicacies (www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/ thingstodo/fooddining). SCENIC DRIVES Moose alert! Newfoundland's 110,000 moose can be a major hazard for motorists. So be especially careful when driving highways at dusk and dawn. The Viking Trail, 489 km (304 mi.) on Newfoundland's west coast, paves the way to a UNESCO-designated duo—L'Anse aux Meadows and Gros Morne National Park —providing a crash course in history en route. The 230-km (143-mi.) Discovery Trail winds along Newfoundland's east coast. The ample cod stocks John Cabot observed in 1497 have been depleted, yet fi shing villages, fertile farmlands and tall timber stands remain. The Kittiwake Coast—Road to the Isles Route, 172 km (107 mi.) in the province's Central Region, stretches from Notre Dame Provincial Park to Notre Dame Bay where ice- bergs, whales and coastal hiking trails await. FAMILY FUN Kids will love Norstead—a recreated Viking port of trade near L'Anse aux Meadows featuring authentic-looking structures and a full-scale replica of a period ship. Costumed interpreters are on hand to tell old Norse tales and to demonstrate traditional tasks such as blacksmithing, weaving and pottery making ( www.norstead.com). PARK PICK RED BAY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Designated as both a national historic site and a UneSCo world heritage site, red Bay recalls those heady days in the 16 th century when Labrador was an international industrial centre. Here, Basque whalers from france and Spain manufactured much-coveted oil out of blubber, thereby proving that oil booms are nothing new in this part of the world. at the Visitor orientation Centre, from early June to late September, modern-day visitors can catch a fi lm recount- ing the era, then check out models of whaling station buildings and archaeological artefacts—including a rare chalupa (open whaling boat). Costumed interpreters and innova- tive programs enhance the time- warped experience. (www.pc.gc. ca/eng/lhn-nhs/nl/redbay/natcul/ unesco.aspx). More info on National Parks and Historic Sites: www.pc.gc.ca • 1-888-773-8888 iCeBerG & WHaLe • nL toUriSM