The Rock (Newfoundland): Puffins, Whales & Cod

There's a really good reason that Newfoundland is known as "The Rock." That's not to say that there aren't any trees. There are lots of trees, mostly evergreens, and most with the tops bent over from being constantly pounded by prevailing winds.

This summer we made our third trip to Newfoundland. If you've never been, it's definitely worth considering. It's a huge island and there are lots of really unique areas to explore. Bonus: /Newfunlanders/ really do welcome all those who Come From Away. 

Our latest trip to The Rock was to the Bonavista Peninsula and the North Central Region. Our goal was to see puffins, whales and to visit Fogo, Twillingate & Moreton's Harbour (i.e.: "all around the circle").

We flew into St. John's, rented a car and drove for ten days up and around the east coast of Newfoundland. We explored lots of little towns, saw both puffins & whales and sang "I'se the B'y" as we pulled into Fogo, Twillingate & Moreton's Harbour. 

Trinity was a lovely side trip off the main road up the Bonavista Peninsula. It is home to Aunt Sarah's Chocolates, lots of hiking trails, a cooperage, a blacksmith shop and lots of other unique places to explore. We didn't do any hiking, but we did buy some Wild Strawberry Chocolates. They were amazing!

Further up the peninsula, Elliston is known for it's root cellars and for the puffin viewing site. You won't get any closer to viewing puffins from land in North America. It is definitely worth the ten minute walk out to the site. We were fortunate enough to see a couple of "poser puffins" who landed close enough for us to get some great photos and enjoy an up-close puffin encounter. 

We spent two days in Bonavista which allowed us to explore some of the historical and natural sites in the area. We visited the Cape Bonavista lighthouse a couple of times and got a chance to watch the puffins swooping around the little island just off shore from the lighthouse. We also had lunch twice at The Little Dairy King on the way up the Cape Shore Road to the lighthouse. Definitely worth a stop!

Fogo Island is accessible by ferry from Farewell. You can't reserve the ferry so you just have to line up and hope that you are early enough. Coming back the line up was so long that most of the cars did not get on. We were one of the lucky (& early) ones. 

Fogo is pretty barren. It's not surprising that it is considered one of the four corners of the earth. Some areas have trees, but mostly there are lots of rocks. We explored some artist shops and checked out (not checked into) the Fogo Island Inn. We saw some whales spouting just off shore from the The SaltFire Gallery on the north shore and had a lovely stay at our "Escape By The Sea" accommodations in Seldom on the south shore.

On the road again, we stopped at the Beothuk Interpretation Centre in Boyd's Cove. It is located near a Beothuk archaeological site and pays tribute to this now extinct First Nations group. There are trails to the site and to the Spirit Garden. The Spirit Garden was a wonderful experience, very peaceful and magical. (See my video below.)

Twillingate via Moreton's Harbour was our next stop. Twillingate is the largest town on the Twillingate Islands. Exploring the town was fun, but we most enjoyed visiting the Long Point Lighthouse. In fact, we went there twice. During our second visit we saw several whales and an iceberg off the coast. It was definitely a highlight of our visit to the Twillingate area. 

We squeezed in a stop at Gander enroute and had the opportunity to see the "Come From Away" musical. It was wonderful and we got a mini lesson in how to speak "Newfunlander". Apparently, if you "adds" an "s" to all your verbs, you are on your way to speaking fluent "Newfunlander". That does not, however, take into account all of the unique sayings that you might hear during your visit.

We had part of a day to hit some of the highlights in St. John's, including Quidi Vidi, Signal Hill, Jellybean Row and then dinner at The Salt House.

The weather during our visit to Newfoundland was great. It was warmer than the locals were used to, but surprisingly the humidity was not an issue the way it can be around the Great Lakes in the summertime.

I ate a lot of cod during our visit to Newfoundland. Cod is intrinsically tied to the history and economy of Newfoundland. From the early days, through the moratorium and today, cod is a part of the island's essence. 

After three visits to Newfoundland, there are still places for us to explore in this beautiful province. I'm not sure when the next trip will be, but I'm guessing that there will indeed be another visit to The Rock in my future. 

The Newfoundland & Labrador tourism website is a great place to start planning your visit to The Rock. You can request a map and a guidebook through the website and they will mail it to you. So "Get On The Go" and start planning your visit to The Rock. ...and "Enjoy the Journey!"

    

  

The Spirit Garden

•Beothuk Interpretation Centre•

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Hot, Hot, Hot!

A hot spring is a natural spring that is geothermally heated. In other words, the water comes up out of the ground already heated and ready for you to enjoy a relaxing soak. Not all hot springs are suitable for bathing, though. Some, such a those in volcanic areas, are simply too hot. Spring water that has been heated by percolating among hot rocks that are deep beneath the earth’s surface are often the perfect spot for taking the waters. You will find such locations around the world, and I would love to try them all! 

The Banff Upper Hot Springs is one of Canada’s naturally occurring hot springs. It is nestled in the Canadian Rockies and is one of three hot springs operated by Parks Canada. The water is typically between 37* C and 40* C. Hot springs each have their own unique blend of minerals and the Banff Upper Hot Springs is no exception. It is this mineral-rich hot water that has historically been the therapeutic basis for taking the waters and tourists have been coming to this particular location for well over a hundred years. First Nations people have long considered the area sacred.

People have been enjoying the healing benefits of hot springs for thousands of years. In Europe and Japan they are accepted treatments for a variety of ailments. A soak in a hot spring can improve blood circulation, reduce stress, relieve pain and improve the condition of your skin. In Banff, you get all this and a magnificent view of the Rocky Mountains.

If you get the chance to visit Banff, plan to visit the hot springs and be prepared to be amazed. A soak in the Banff Upper Hot Springs is a treat for the senses and an experience not to be forgotten. I can personally vouch for the fact that it’s also a really great way to relieve the aches and pains associated with the activities that you have been enjoying while on vacation. Come on in...the water’s great and we’re feelin’ hot, hot, hot!

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