Should We Stay or Should We Go

When we started planning our trip to Newfoundland, we knew we were in for incredible scenery. We hoped to see icebergs, maybe some whales, and explore a part of Canada that only I had visited before. Over two weeks, we drove from the Avalon Peninsula to the Northern Peninsula and back again, spending time in many colourful coastal villages along the way.  We saw dramatic coastlines, fascinating history, incredible wildlife, and more beautiful views than I could count. Over the past several weeks, I've shared each stop of our journey in its own blog post. This page brings them all together in one place. If you're planning your own Newfoundland road trip - or if you've just discovered this series - consider this your starting point. I hope it inspires you to add Newfoundland to your travel list.

One of the things we wanted to do while we were in Newfoundland was get screeched in. We'd heard about it before our trip, and it sounded like one of those experiences you just have to do at least once. Our chance came while we were staying in Rocky Harbour. After an evening filled with music, laughter, and Newfoundland storytelling at the kitchen party, the entertainment wasn't quite over. At the end of the night, anyone who wanted to become an honorary Newfoundlander was invited to take part in the Screech-In ceremony. If you've never heard of it, getting screeched in is a Newfoundland tradition that welcomes visitors as honorary Newfoundlanders. It's all done with a healthy dose of humour, and no one takes it too seriously - which is exactly what makes it so much fun. The ceremony follows a few time-honoured steps.  First, the Screech Master asked the group   “Is ye a Screecher?”  We replied “Deed I is, me old cock, and long may your big jib draw!” (Meaning “Ind...

People often ask how I keep track of flights, accommodations, expenses, photos, and all the little details that come with travelling. The truth is, I'm not someone who downloads every new travel app that comes along. I've tried plenty over the years, but these are the ones that have earned a permanent spot on my phone—or in my bookmarks—because they genuinely make travelling easier. Some help before the trip, some help while I'm away, and a few help me remember the trip long after I get home. Here are the travel apps and websites I use over and over again. Finding Flights: Skyscanner Skyscanner is usually where I start when I'm dreaming about a trip. I like that I can search flexible dates and compare prices across different airlines without visiting a dozen websites. The "whole month" view is especially useful when we have flexibility and want to see which days are the least expensive. I don't always book through Skyscanner, but I almost always us...

Although we didn't have time to hike the Skerwink Trail on this trip, I couldn't write about the Bonavista Peninsula without mentioning it. John and I hiked it during a previous visit to Newfoundland, and it's one of those places that has stayed with me ever since. Located between the communities of Trinity, Port Rexton, and Trinity East, the Skerwink Trail is widely celebrated as one of the best hikes in North America. Travel + Leisure even ranked it among the Top 35 Walks in North America and Europe . After hiking it ourselves, I can honestly say it deserves the recognition. The trail is a 5.3-kilometre loop that takes you through the forest and along the coastline, with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean along the way. From the moment we started walking, the views just kept getting better. Every time we rounded a corner, there seemed to be another beautiful lookout. 

After spending so much time planning our Newfoundland adventure, it was fun to have a few places find us along the way. Trinity was one of those places. We weren’t intending to stop there, but my sister had been doing some reading and suggested we make a detour while we were nearby. We really didn’t know what to expect, but we were curious enough to turn off the main road and explore.