Should We Stay or Should We Go

  I love a road trip.  I love hitting the open road and taking the scenic route, map in hand, and stopping whenever something catches my eye. Part of taking a road trip is the challenge that everything you need for your trip is usually packed into the vehicle, and if you aren’t careful, that “I know I packed it somewhere” feeling can become a regular part of your day. Over the years, I’ve learned that staying organized while on the road doesn’t mean having everything perfectly packed. It simply means making things easy to find so you can spend more time enjoying the journey and less time searching through bags. Here are a few things that help keep road trips running smoothly. Give Everything a Home One of the simplest things you can do is decide where things belong before you leave. Instead of tossing items into the car wherever they fit, think about what you’ll need throughout the day and keep those things within easy reach. Snacks, water bottles, sunglasses, chargers,...

Although we had come to Bonavista to see the puffins, we were looking forward to exploring the town that we’d heard so much about.. One of Newfoundland's oldest communities, Bonavista traces its roots back to explorer John Cabot's arrival in 1497. Legend says he looked at the shoreline and declared, "O Buona Vista!" -  "Oh, happy sight!" - giving the town its name. Whether the story is true or not, it's easy to understand why those words have become part of Bonavista's history. Perched on a rugged peninsula overlooking the Atlantic, the town is known for its dramatic coastline, colourful heritage homes, fishing stages, artists' studios, and slower pace of life. 

  Seeing puffins was one of the things I was looking forward to most on this trip to Newfoundland. We had seen them once before, years ago, but the weather hadn't cooperated. Thick fog rolled in around Elliston and Bonavista, making it difficult to see much of anything, let alone photograph these little birds on the island just offshore. I came home with memories, but not the experience I had hoped for. This trip felt like a second chance. Newfoundland is home to hundreds of thousands of Atlantic puffins during the breeding season, making it one of the best places in North America to see them. They arrive in late spring after spending most of the year far out at sea in the North Atlantic, often hundreds of kilometres from land. For much of their lives they never set foot on solid ground, only returning each year to the same nesting colonies where they raise a single chick. Elliston’s Bird Island

  I'm a planner by nature. Before every trip, I research the area, mark places on Google Maps, read reviews, and make a list of things I'd love to see. I enjoy the planning almost as much as the trip itself. It builds anticipation and helps make the most of the time we have. But over the years, I've learned something important. The best trips aren't always the ones where every minute is scheduled. They're the ones where there's enough room for the curveballs and surprises along the way. Some of my favourite travel memories happened because we weren't rushing to the next attraction. It was finding a quiet beach and deciding to stay longer than we'd planned because the view was too beautiful to leave. It was stopping at a roadside lookout that wasn't in any guidebook. It was wandering into a small bookstore, chatting with the owner, and walking out with a book I never knew I wanted. It was taking a different road just to see where it went. No...

There are a few things people hope to see when they visit Newfoundland - icebergs, whales, puffins... and, of course, moose. One afternoon in Gros Morne National Park, we rounded a bend and spotted a moose quietly grazing along the side of the road. We pulled over (at a safe distance, or course) and watched. It seemed completely unbothered by the handful of cars passing by and carried on munching away as if we weren't even there.

  One morning, we were up early hoping to spot a moose. We'd been told that dawn was one of the best times to see them along the roads in Gros Morne National Park.  We’d only seen one so far on this trip and were hoping for more. We climbed into the car, bright and early, with our cameras in hand, scanning both sides of the highway as we drove. The moose, however, were nowhere to be found. When we noticed a small pull-off at Martin's Point, we decided to stop for a few minutes. Maybe we'd have better luck there.

Rocky Harbour is one of the largest communities within Gros Morne National Park and is often considered the hub of the park. Located on the shores of Bonne Bay, it began as a small fishing village in the early 1800s, with families relying on the rich fishing grounds for their livelihood.  Today, while fishing remains par of the community’s identity, it has become a popular destination for visitors exploring Gros Morne National Park. The town sits on Bonne Bay. Carved by glaciers thousands of years ago, the bay stretches into the heart of Gros Morne National Park and is surrounded by mountains, forests, and rugged coastline.   We spent a lot of time just enjoying the scenery. The views over Bonne Bay, with the mountains in the distance, were beautiful and made Rocky Harbour a nice place to spend a few days .

Traveling with other people can be one of the most rewarding experiences you have. You get to share the excitement of discovering a new place, laugh about the little things that happen along the way, and create memories that you’ll talk about for years. But let’s be honest - traveling with others can also have its challenges. Everyone has their own routines, preferences, and ideas about what makes a great trip. Some people like to be up and out early every morning. Others prefer a slower start with coffee and a relaxed breakfast. Some people love having every detail planned, while others like to see where the day takes them. The key is finding a balance that works for everyone. Our recent trip to Newfoundland was a great reminder of how wonderful traveling with others can be. I traveled with my sisters and cousin for two weeks exploring this beautiful province. We had a general idea of where we wanted to go and the things we hoped to see, but we also left room for flexibility. And...