Newfoundland & Labrador – 2023

Day 1-3 Our first day will take you to our first overnight stop in Grand Falls, New Brunswick.  Our second day of travel will follow the St John River Valley, include a tour of the City of Elms, and then continue to Moncton for our second overnight. During the evening in Moncton, we will be guests of Maritime Fiddlers Ivan & Vivian Hicks, preceded by dinner. Look forward to a lively Kitchen Party. A big Nova Scotia welcome awaits on day three, and by lunchtime, we will have crossed the Canso Causeway onto Cape Breton Island, home to The Barra MacNeils, the late Rita MacNeil, The Rankins, Natalie MacMaster, and many more Celtic music icons. We will overnight in the Harbor city of Sydney. (Breakfast daily plus dinner on day 2)

 Day 4 Sydney – Port Aux Basques, Newfoundland.  Our Newfoundland adventure begins this morning boarding the Northumberland Ferry which will cross the Cabot Strait and dock at Channel-Port aux Basques in the late afternoon. (B)

Day 5 Port Aux Basques – Plum Point Our journey takes us further north this morning allowing us the opportunity of travelling through parts of Gros Morne Park where we will visit Birchy Head, Shoal Brook, Trout River, and lunch in Woody Point. (B, L)

Day 6 & 7 Plum Point – L`Anse-Au-Clair It is our second ferry ride this morning, crossing the Strait of Belle Isle and Iceberg Alley to the shores of Labrador the other part of Newfoundland. We will visit Red Bay, a small community steeped in the history of the Basque Whaling industry that thrived along the coast over 400 years ago.  Red Bay is the home of the whaling industry museums who connect visitors with the ancient traditions and folklore along with the ancient crafts that continue to exist today. The museum will also reveal the gripping story of the oil-laden San Juan that sank in 33 feet of water in Red Bay. And then there are the tangy baked apples fashioned into a pie, the locals call them “cloud berries” – a lumpy-looking golden fruit that grows in profusion in southern Labrador. Lessons in sea lore, sea-washed scenery, down-home hospitality, and good food sum up this day beautifully. (B daily, Lunch on Day One)

Day 8 L`Anse-Au-Clair – Plum Point This morning we will head back across the Strait of Belle Isle to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Viking site at L`Anse-aux-Meadows, site of the first European settlement in North America where we will experience true Viking lifestyle of 1000 years ago. (B) [please note tour will stay in Torrent River in July]

Day 9 Plum Point – Gander We are backtracking a bit today making our way back down the highway to Deer Lake for our lunch stop. The central part of Newfoundland will be our journey this afternoon making our way to a city that has coined the phrase “you are here”. Approximately 7,000 passengers stranded during the 911 crisis learned that they were here and here meant one of the best places they could be during a helpless stranding. You have been in Newfoundland long enough that a Screech In ceremony is warranted tonight. (B)

Day 10 Gander-St. John’s We check in for a two-night stay in the heart of St John’s. An informative city tour of St John’s today will include a visit to National Historic Site Signal Hill, a stop to view “The Narrows” and a stop at Quidi Vidi Brewery where iceberg beer is made. Architecture of old St. John’s along with the Basilica, Jellybean Row & Posie Row on some of the oldest streets in North America are areas you may want to check out more closely on the free day tomorrow. Also, the Geo Centre which we will drive past, would be well worth some of your time independently tomorrow.  Look forward to some of the best seafood served fresh from the sea tonight in a place called “Seafood Lover’s Paradise”.   (B, D)

Day 11 – This is a day for activities of choice. There is an OPTIONAL DAY TRIP to Bay of Bulls and Witless Bay for Whale Watching and Puffin sightings. (B)

Day 12 St. John’s – Deer Lake Our journey brings us back to the west side of the island for our overnight stay in Deer Lake. (B)

Day 13 Deer Lake – Port aux Basques A tour of the Humber Arm this morning will have us visiting such places as Bottle Cove and Frenchman’s Harbour. The scenery is simply out of this world. This afternoon it is a short drive to Port aux Basques following the Long-Range Mountains.      (B)

Day 14 Port Aux Basques-Baddeck N.S. Another ferry ride awaits us this morning to take us back across the Cabot Strait to North Sydney. Our overnight lodging will be on the shores of beautiful Lake Bras D`Or. (B, D)

Day 15 Baddeck-Fredericton N.B.  We leave the charming province of Nova Scotia this morning for New Brunswick, stopping at Moncton for lunch before heading to Fredericton for our overnight stay.  (B)

Day 16 Fredericton, NB – Quebec City QC We will follow the St John River Valley north to the Quebec border today, stopping in St Jean Port Joli, an area that is rich in wood carvings. We overnight right in the heart of Quebec City, steps away from restaurants and Artisan’s Row. (B)

Day 17 Quebec City – Cornwall Today our Newfoundland journey ends, but bets are on that you will continue to hum those Newfoundland ditty’s and smile broadly when you recall your travels in Newfoundland! (B)