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Newfoundland: What is the Big Hurry?

Newfoundland, Canada is a province firmly rooted in its past, embracing the old ways that developed out of years as one of the largest fishing areas in the world. The pace is a little slower and friendlier in this part of Canada. Sidewalk conversations between locals and visitors are common. Instead of commerce and excitement, Newfoundland prides itself on being laid back and going with the flow, much like the icebergs that visit her shores. A vacation in Newfoundland is an affair with a simpler time, and an outdoor feast for the senses. Hiking, kayaking, fishing, swimming, skiing, and nature study are just a few of the ways one can enjoy Newfoundland's bounty.

The town of St. John's, the oldest city in North Amercia, is the province capital, but still manages to feel like a small town. It is busy yet homey, a modern city that embraces its fishing village roots. The Newfoundland Museum is a smallish museum dedicated to preserving the heritage of the area. The museum contains an exhibition of Viking culture, a few items from the ship RMS Titanic, and a skeleton of an extinct member of the Beothuk tribe that once inhabited the region (the only one in existence).

How is this for an out-of-the-ordinary vacation activity: iceberg watching! Each year glaciers in Greenland produce over 40,000 icebergs that inevitably break off and float south. One of the best places to spot them is around Twillingate Island in Notre Dame Bay. A typical iceberg is about 90 feet high and weighs nearly 204,000 tons, with only one-eighth appearing above the surface of the water. The icebergs are such a part of Newfoundland life that they have received classifications: a "growler" is a dangerous berg, due to its low profile and instability; "bergy bits" are small slushy ice bergs; and "slob ice" is a sluice of small, jagged ice pieces.

Away from the small towns and villages, Newfoundland becomes an outdoor lover's paradise. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Gros Morne National Park on the west coast of the peninsula. The geographical diversity of the park is astounding with beaches, fjords, and even barren areas that resemble lunar landscapes. Hiking is one of the best ways to see the park. Western Brook Pond is the park's featured fjord, with dramatic cliffs nearly 2100 feet high, seemingly ready to pounce on the cool waters below. Hiking in the shadow of the fjord is spectacular, though rugged. It is not recommended for novice hikers. Probably the gem of the park's trail system is the James Callahan Trail, which ascends Gros Morne Mountain, the highest peak in the area at over 2400 feet. There are sections of the trail that are suited for novice hikers, or those who just want to view the surrounding vistas. Fishing, boating, water skiing, and cross-country skiing in winter are other popular pastimes in the park.

More outdoor fun can be had at the Avalon Wilderness Reserve on the Avalon Peninsula. Hiking, canoeing, and kayaking enthusiasts can explore the rich flora and fauna that reside in the reserve. More than 100,000 caribou inhabit the preserve. As caribou tend to migrate en masse, you are likely to see a group of 30-50 grazing in a nearby field. Also on the Avalon Peninsula is the small village of Trepassey. It was here, in 1928, that Amelia Earhart took off on a Transatlantic flight, making her the first woman to accomplish the feat. There is a small museum that is dedicated to the event.

A vacation in Newfoundland is a snail mail letter with the Great Outdoors. Leave the computer behind as you relish your time in an area that has seemingly been bypassed by Father Time. Pick up a souvenir, like a hand-made sweater, moccasins, or a hand-carved statue made of caribou or moose antlers. Try a local delicacy like screech pie, a chocolate pie flavored with rum baked in a gingerbread crust. Have your soda cooled with ice from an actual iceberg. Newfoundland is off the beaten path, and so much better for you that it is!