Issue link: http://read.canadatravelguides.ca/i/809166
pursuits like hiking, rappelling, golfi ng and caving too. On-the-water options in the province include world-class salmon fi shing, kayaking and whitewater rafting. Increasingly, scuba divers and snorkellers are donning dry suits for a peek at what lies beneath as well. If you would rather see the sights from a boat deck, whale and birdwatching trips are widely available, but that's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. June through early July, berg chasing is so popular that the tourism board maintains a website to track the movement of these mountains of ice ( www.icebergfi nder.com). 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 performed by popular bands like The Irish Descendants. Traditional infl uences 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. 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 the 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 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). At the Johnson GEO CENTRE in St. John's, visitors can go below ground to explore the earth's interior and its origins. Tours, talks and innovative exhibits make learning fun ( www.geocentre.ca). 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). 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, 489 km (304 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 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 icebergs, whales and coastal hiking trails await. FAMILY FUN If you dream of having your kids help with the housework, sign up for "Yaffl e of Chores," a family-oriented add-on program at Gros Morne National Park. Traditional duties your off spring might be invited to do include gathering fi rewood, hanging laundry, or even gutting fi sh ( www. parkscanada.gc.ca/grosmorne). 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 explore the Tablelands—a massive fl at-topped formation created when the North American and African continental plates collided—either independently or on a guided excursion. Cap your visit by hiking the handsome board- walk to Western Brook Pond and boarding a tour boat for an up-close look at spectacular ord-like scenery dating from the Pleistocene period. A range of engaging interpretive programs is also available ( www. parkscanada.gc.ca/grosmorne). National Parks and Historic Sites: www.parkscanada.gc.ca 1-888-773-8888 TORNGAT MOUNTAINS, LABRADOR • NL TOURISM/BARRETT AND MACKAY NL 136