Looking for things to see and do in northern Newfoundland and Labrador.

July 14, 2008 2:30 PM

Looking for things to see and do in northern Newfoundland and Labrador.

I'm driving through the Atlantic provinces to Newfoundland next week. I've done the drive before, but this time I'm going to take some time and drive up the northern peninsula and maybe even take the ferry over to Labrador.

Does anyone have suggestions for things to see and do, other than the obvious like L'Anse aux Meadows?

posted by March Hare to travel & transportation (9 comments total)

Go visit St. Anthony. It's close to L'Anse-aux-Meadows, and is home to the first real hospital in northern Newfoundland. There's not much besides a set of historical signs at the hospital, but parts of the town are pretty. There's also Gros Morne if you haven't up that way before. Cow Head runs the Gros Morne Theatre Festival, but I have no idea what it's like.
posted by oaf at 2:44 PM on July 14

Gross Morne

World heritage site
posted by edgeways at 2:44 PM on July 14

-s
posted by edgeways at 2:45 PM on July 14

Battle Harbour

Torngat Mountains (?)

Port-au-Choix
posted by edgeways at 2:46 PM on July 14

Thirding Gros Morne, particularly the Tablelands. I was in Newfoundland about 10 years ago, and that's the part I still rave about.

Also--just drive around. You'll find all kinds of little fishing towns and beautiful peat bogs and spectacular, harsh, stony beaches. Some ideas here.

Make sure to get some bake-apple pie if the berries are out yet.
posted by hippugeek at 3:43 PM on July 14

Nthing Gros Morne, and specifically TNL will have their theatre festival going on right now - I know my folks are heading up to see Ethie on Wednesday.

If you want a good hike (and don't feel like climbing Gros Morne), there's always Green Gardens. About 16km, a nice pond halfway along, and reasonably tricky.
posted by Lemurrhea at 4:38 PM on July 14

I took the ferry across the years ago and have vague, but fun, memories of Labrador/Quebec. One word of warning, the ride itself was an hour and a half of the worst water I've ever been in. The bathrooms were just utterly disgusting (clogged toilets which overflowed and huge waves) and all you could hear in the common areas was the sound of people throwing up. Good times! Take gravol just in case.

Somewhere between Blanc Sablon, Quebec and Red Bay, Labrador, is a Basque whaling exhibit/museum where you can see the remains of a vessel that's been dug up.

There is also a beach by Port Amore (formerly known as Port Du Mort but changed so it wouldn't be as, well, bad sounding) which has some really cool wrecks. The currents there totally switch direction causing a lot of problems. If I remember correctly, there was an American naval ship that wrecked one winter and all of the crew were stuck in small town Labrador until they could be shipped out in the spring.

But regardless, that area is just amazing to drive though.
posted by hydrobatidae at 7:35 PM on July 14

This isn't in Northern Newfoundland, but I can recommend whale (and seabird) watching in Bay Bulls with O'Brien's.

We've taken our kids several times, and while we didn't always see a lot of whales, it was definitely worth the effort.
posted by quidividi at 3:51 AM on July 16

I've done Gros Morne before, but I'll definitely go again, it's always amazing.
posted by March Hare at 12:57 PM on July 16