ciTy wiTh A hEArT
For a change of pace, slip into Corner
Brook. It's a relatively small city (popula-
tion 20,083) but it has the hustle, bustle
and pizzazz of cities ten times its size.
Shopping, theatre, live music, craft fairs,
galleries and festivals are always on the
menu including the popular "Sounds of
Summer Series" (www.cornerbrook.
com). The downtown core is decked out
with over 2.5 miles (4 km) of red brick
sidewalks, heritage lights and plenty of
green spaces. The city also has an impres-
sive selection of places to eat, from down-
home mom-and-pop places to lively pubs
and fine dining establishments. Corner
Brook is only minutes away from outdoor
adventures like caving, skiing and zip-lin-
ing—the latter two at Marble Mountain
(www.skimarble.com), so it's easy to
mix and match tastes and activities. Past
Marble Mountain, the main highway runs
through a thick forested area known as
Humber Valley. It's also where you'll find
the Humber Valley Resort, on the outskirts
of Deer Lake, home to an 18-hole champi-
onship golf course and many other out-
door activities from salmon fishing to
boating and horseback riding (www.
humbervalley.com).
ThE onE And onLy ViKing TrAiL
From Deer Lake, turn off Route 1 onto
Route 430. You are now on the Viking Trail
(www.vikingtrail.org) and about to
enter that magical place called Gros
Morne. Wherever you turn in this national
park, it is evident that nature has rolled
out miles of majestic tapestry. A section
called the Tablelands, between Trout River
and Woody Point, is well worth exploring
for its geological wonders, as is a boat tour
to the much photographed fjord at
Western Brook Pond. This is where experi-
enced hikers disembark to hike the Long
Range Traverse—cited as one of the 15
top hiking trails in the world. Save time for
a visit to the Gros Morne Discovery Centre
in Woody Point (www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/
nl/grosmorne/index.aspx). For a walk
on the wild side, sign up with Gros Morne
Adventures in Norris Point. This company
specializes in nature-based hiking, sea
kayaking, snowshoeing, skiing and guided
tours. They cater to all ages and also pro-
vide multi-day tours (www.grosmorne
adventures.com). Good dining and
entertainment can be found at the Ocean
View Hotel in Rocky Harbour.
NORSTEAD • SANDRA PHINNEY
ICEBERG • SANDRA PHINNEY
160 2012 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CANADA
NewfouNdlaNd & labrador
