Should We Stay or Should We Go

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...

Photo by Krista Kankula on Unsplash There were a few experiences in Newfoundland that we knew we didn’t want to miss, and a boat tour through Western Brook Pond was one of them. We had been watching the weather forecast carefully, especially after our last boat tour,  hoping to book our tour on one of the sunnier days. Unfortunately, by the time we were ready to make our reservation, there was only one sailing with space available. We booked it and hoped for the best. That meant an early start. We arrived at the Western Brook Pond parking lot around 8:00 a.m. so we could catch the shuttle golf cart to the dock. Although many people enjoy the three-kilometre walk, we knew it would have been challenging for my sister, so the shuttle was the perfect option. We arrived with plenty of time to spare, which gave us the chance to relax with a hot cup of tea and a warm pastry before boarding the boat. It was a nice, quiet start to the morning. Despite its name, Western Brook Pond isn...

Located on Newfoundland's west coast, Gros Morne National Park covers nearly 1,800 square kilometres, making it the second-largest national park in Atlantic Canada. The name Gros Morne comes from French and means "large, solitary mountain," a fitting description of one of the park's most recognizable peaks. The park was established in 1973 and, in 1987, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the scenery alone is enough to leave a lasting impression, it was the park's remarkable geology that earned it international recognition. Millions of years ago, massive tectonic forces pushed part of the Earth's mantle to the surface here, creating one of the few places in the world where scientists can study rocks that normally lie deep beneath the Earth's crust.

I'd been to L'Anse aux Meadows once before, but I was just as excited to go back as I was the first time.   I remembered bits and pieces, but it had been long enough that it almost felt like seeing it for the first time again. L'Anse aux Meadows is the only confirmed Viking settlement in North America and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Archaeologists believe Norse explorers arrived here around the year 1000, making it the earliest known European settlement in North America - nearly 500 years before Columbus. It's believed the Vikings used this as a temporary base while exploring farther south. They built a small settlement where they repaired their ships, gathered timber, and prepared for future voyages. Although they only stayed for a relatively short time, 10 years,  their visit forever changed what we know about the history of North America.

  St. Anthony sits near the northern tip of Newfoundland’s Northern Peninsula. To get there we knew that it would be a long drive day, but we were motivated. The plan was to just take our time, and enjoy the journey. During the first part of the drive, we slowed to enjoy each small fishing village we passed through. But the farther north we drove up the peninsula, the quieter things became. The villages became farther apart, stretches of wilderness seemed to go on forever, and there were times when it felt like we had the road entirely to ourselves. We began to realize just how remote this part of Newfoundland is. . St. Anthony is the largest community in the Northern Peninsula but "largest" is definitely relative. It's still a quiet fishing town, surrounded by rugged coastline and endless ocean. It also serves as the gateway to L'Anse aux Meadows, the only confirmed Viking settlement in North America. And as it was the reason for making the trip that far north, I...

  Photo by Sergey Tarasov on Unsplash There's something special about a road trip. Unlike flying, the journey becomes part of the vacation. You discover places you never planned to visit, stop for unexpected photo opportunities, and create memories that would never happen if you were simply trying to get from Point A to Point B. After many road trips over the years I've learned that a little planning goes a long way. You don't need to schedule every minute, but a few good habits can make the difference between an exhausting drive and an enjoyable adventure. Here are some of the things that have worked well for us. Have a Plan...But Don't Overplan I like having an outline of where we'll be each night and the major things we want to see. Beyond that, I prefer to leave plenty of room for spontaneity. Some of our favourite stops have been the ones we never planned. A scenic lookout, a roadside bakery, a walking trail we spotted on a sign, or a conversation with a ...