Our first full day in Newfoundland was spent exploring some of the iconic sights around St. John's.
As the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's is one of the oldest cities in North America. Colourful row houses, a busy harbour, dramatic coastal scenery, and a rich maritime history give the city a character all its own. It's often the first stop for visitors arriving in Newfoundland, and it didn't take us long to see why. With historic sites, rugged coastlines, and ocean views around every corner, it seemed like the perfect place to begin our adventure
The weather couldn't have been better. Sunshine, blue skies, and temperatures warm enough that jackets were optional. We were more than ready to get out and start exploring.
Signal Hill
Photo by Erik McLean Unsplash
Signal Hill is a National Historic Site that rises 167 metres above St. John's Harbour and the Atlantic Ocean. It offers some pretty spectacular views, but first you have to get to them.
We decided to tackle the trail down to the rocks below.
And when I say down, I mean down.
There were many, many steps.
As we made our way lower, the wind became stronger and stronger. At times it was almost enough to knock us off our feet.. But once we reached the bottom, we quickly forgot about the stairs and the wind.
The views were stunning.
We found a spot on the rocks and simply sat for a while. The view of The Narrows, the harbour, and the coastline was worth every step it took to get there.
Of course, there was one small problem.
Every step we took to get down there, we now had to walk back up. All the way up!
The climb was every bit as tiring as we expected, but we all agreed it was worth it, and we would do it all again.
Cape Spear
Driving across to the other side of the narrows and up to Cape Spear we found a spot to eat the picnic lunch we had packed before leaving our Airbnb. The wind was so strong that eating outside wasn't really an option, so we sat in the back of the van overlooking the ocean.
Not exactly fancy.
But the view was hard to beat.
Cape Spear is North America's most easterly point, and standing there looking out over the Atlantic, it certainly feels like the edge of the world.
After lunch, we spent some time exploring the grounds, walking the trails, and visiting the lighthouse.
The old lighthouse was especially interesting. We were able to go inside and see what life would have been like for the lighthouse keeper and his family. Living there year-round would not have been easy. The quarters were small and simple, and life would have revolved around keeping the light operating no matter what weather Newfoundland decided to throw your way.
We also spent some time walking the trails along the edge of the coastline. As beautiful as the scenery was, it wasn't the cliffs or the ocean views that held our attention. Below us, a whale was feeding in the waters off Cape Spear. Seeing whales in the wild never gets old, and it felt like one more reminder that we were somewhere special.
Quidi Vidi
What a charming little place.
Nestled into a sheltered harbour, Quidi Vidi is one of North America's oldest fishing settlements. Despite being just minutes from downtown St. John's, it feels like stepping back in time.
We spent some time wandering through the artisan shops, browsing handmade crafts and artwork before making our way to the brewery.
We enjoyed dinner on the patio overlooking the village below. The wind was still quite fierce but we were sheltered from the gusts and we had plenty of time to relax and talk about everything we had seen that day.
The food was good.
The view was better.
And the company was the best part of all.
We squeezed in a few extra things before calling it a day. We visited Jellybean Row, an area of St. John’s known for its colourful houses, and some war monuments. We also stopped by the Terry Fox monument, dedicated to the Canadian legend and hero, commemorating where his incredible journey began. If you don’t know who Terry Fox is, you can find his story here you can find his story here. It’s very inspirational.
As we drove back to Bay Bulls that evening, tired from climbing stairs, battling wind, and exploring coastlines, I couldn't help but think that Newfoundland was off to a pretty good start.
Comments
Post a Comment