Newfoundland & Labrador - What's New

Supporting Tradition in Song

A huge part of the province's culture will be front-and-centre at a major event on Little Bay Islands this summer. The Little Bay Islands' Heritage Society will host the First Annual Newfoundland and Labrador Traditional Songwriter's Festival to support the creation and performance of Newfoundland traditional music, August 14, 15 and 16. "The weekend will consist of registration and a jam session meet and greet on Friday night. Saturday will be workshops and lectures focused on traditional Newfoundland music, song and gospel with a gala performance in the evening. There will be a Gospel Concert and closing activities on Sunday" said Society president, Jim Forward. Read the full article.

Snow Travel - Many Locations Offer Winter Fun (GF-W Advertiser)

There are numerous ways to enjoy winter in Newfoundland and Labrador. One of a number of places you can go to enjoy some snowy activities in central Newfoundland is Rafting Newfoundland, which along with many summer activities, offers snowshoeing and snowmobiling tours during the winter months. "We have high-end snowshoes here for our clients that they can use if they are staying at our chalets," said Paul Rose of Rafting Newfoundland. "Snowmobiles aren't included in the snowmobile tour but we are working on rentals." Read the full article.

Bartlett - A Year of Honours For a North Pole Explorer (New York Times)

One hundred years ago, Capt. Bob Bartlett helped the Arctic explorer Robert Peary become the first person to reach the North Pole. Bartlett, a recipient of the Hubbard Medal given by the National Geographic Society, will be honoured throughout this year in Newfoundland and Labrador, where he was born in the port town of Brigus in 1875. Read the full article.

Atlantica Inn - Business Thriving on Cape Shore

Atlantica Inn and Restaurant in St. Bride's, owned by Richard and Elizabeth Careen, will be open 33 years this coming July. The business opened its doors in July of 1976 but soon expanded to a restaurant and motel... "When we started here first, nearly 100 per cent of our business came from the Cape Shore but in the late 1980's tourists started to become a big part of business," Ms. Careen said. "We have always had good customers." Read the full article.

The Newfoundland Pony

Yes, Newfoundland has its own pony. This did not happen in Newfoundland alone. The early settlers brought horses from the British Isles, from such places as Exmore, Dartmoor, New Forest, Galloway, Welsh, Connemara, and a few Highland ponies. All of these intermingled and breed for nearly three centuries until one common pony developed and that was the Newfoundland Pony. Read the full article.

Wildland Tours is one of the World's Top Adventure Travel Companies

For the second year in a row Wildland Tours of St. John's has been recognized as one of the World's Top Adventure Travel Companies by National Geographic Adventure Magazine. Company president David Snow expressed his gratitude to the company's staff – especially tour guides Mark Tsang of Corner Brook and Jean Knowles of St. John's – who are the face of Newfoundland and Labrador for hundreds of visitors annually. Read the full article.

Celebrating Bartlett 2009 (Blog)

One of the Arctic's best known explorers of the 20th century is being celebrated this year in the Atlantic Canadian province where he was born. With "Celebrating Bartlett 2009," Newfoundland and Labrador will honour Bob Bartlett, the ice pilot who assisted American explorer Robert Peary in becoming the first person to reach the North Pole in 1909. Read the full article.

Newfoundland Tours Help Celebrate Native Son who Sailed the Arctic

Captain Robert Bartlett, an explorer born in Newfoundland and a sea captain at the age of 17, led one of the most famous expeditions to the Arctic in 1909. He captained the ship that took Robert Peary on the first expedition to reach the North Pole. It was just one of 40 Arctic journeys that Bartlett made.To celebrate 100 years since the famous voyage, Canadian-owned Maxxim Vacations is offering new one- or two-week driving tours themed around Bartlett and his roots. Read the full article.

Affordable Senior Travel

CapeRace™ Cultural Adventures is a boutique tour operator specializing in experiential travel, located on Canada's most eastern island of Newfoundland. In 2004 we introduced our first tour, the "Eco-Culture Experience". This spring, the package was chosen by the editors of National Geographic Traveller as the "Tour of a Lifetime" for 2008, based on a criteria of authenticity, seasoned expertise, sustainability, unprecedented access, and local connections. Read the full article.

Targa Newfoundland to Celebrate Mini in 2009

The Targa Newfoundland is a relatively new entrant to motorsport. Founded in 2002 it is one of only three such Targa’s currently held; the others being Targa New Zealand and Targa Tasmania. Set against the backdrop of the beautiful and rugged island of Newfoundland, it’s a week long open-road test of man and machine. An event won twice in it’s seven years by MINIs... Read the full article.

Maine Maritime Schooner to Sail to Newfoundland

CASTINE -- The historic schooner Bowdoin will sail to Canada this summer to take part in a celebration of Canadian Arctic explorer Bob Bartlett. Read the full article.

Excitement is a Zip in Newfoundland

There are zip lines and there are zip lines, but you'll be hard-pressed to find one as dramatic as Marble Zip Tours just outside of the small city of Corner Brook, on the western edge of Newfoundland. Read the full article.

Beautiful Newfoundland - Travel on the Tide

Newfoundland is one of the beautiful provinces in Canada and has become a vacation spot for anyone who loves to participate in all that nature has to offer. There are several outdoors activities that the whole family can become involved in and fully enjoy, including skiing and hiking. Read the full article.

A Winter Hike on the Appalachian Trail

Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the most famous naturalist area in this part of the globe. But on this winter trip, my wife and I decided to explore the terrain further south near the ski resort of Marble Mountain. As I often advocate, there is so much more to do in the winter than just ski or snowboard. Read the full article.

Glorious Gros Morne

After a six hour drive across the top of Newfoundland we made it to Gros Morne National Park. It had topography unlike anywhere else I had traveled in Newfoundland. Large cliffs rose almost vertically out of the grey waters, the wind continued to blow me about and of course I loved every minute of it. Read the full article.

Exploring Newfoundland (Blog)

On the first Sunday that we were in Newfoundland, Robert and I decided to drive across the entire province to Gros Morne National Park. Initially it wasn't on our itinerary but we were compelled to go from what we had seen and heard about it. Read the full article.

Voyage to Vinland

Viking folklore passed down through the ages always claimed the first discovery of North America was not by Columbus. They say it came 500 years earlier. Read the full article.

MSNBC - Budget Travel Article

The Voyage of the Vikings package includes round-trip airfare on an Air Canada or United carrier and seven nights divided between hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and country inns. Read the full article.

Canada's First Visitors - L'Anse aux Meadows

L'Anse aux Meadows (from the French L'Anse-aux-Méduses or "Jellyfish Cove") is an archaeological site on the northernmost tip of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Discovered in 1960, it is the site of a Norse village, the only known one in North America outside of Greenland. Read the full article.

Newfoundland resting place for bones of the past

Most travel divers go from a cold environment to one with warm air, warm water and palm trees. We escaped New York’s 100 degree heat wave for Canada’s Newfoundland province where the air was a nippy 45F and the water even colder. Read the full article.

Cool Photo Fun Under and Over the Water in Newfoundland

Although heading north for a dive trip is not typically the norm, we knew the underwater treasures awaiting us would be worth dealing with the challenges. Read the full article.

Best Hike - Long Range Traverse

Hiking guru Peter Potterfield was much impressed with his first off-the-map hiking adventure in NFLD. Read the full article

Life clings to the history of Conception Bay

The Second World War wrecks around Bell Island offer some of the best cold-water diving in the world, Darryl Leniuk writes. Read the full article

Fodors lists NL as Among "World's Great Dive Sites"

TORONTO — The waters off Newfoundland and Vancouver Island are among "the world's great dive sites" cited in the new Fodor's book "Adventure Travel." Read the full article

Spinning a Yarn (Storytellers' Festival)

Newfoundlanders are known for their ability to tell a good yarn. From stories that are completely fictional to tales of events that took place in the next community, storytelling is a part of the culture and history of our province. Read the full article

Newfoundland a World Class Setting for Hiking (Vail, Colorado, USA)

Spectacular is clearly one adjective I would use. Others would be beautiful, lush, peaceful, varied and certainly breathtaking. Newfoundland’s 240-mile East Coast Trail, traversing the eastern edge of the Avalon Peninsula, is all of these and more, much more. Read the full article

BBC.com recommends NL Tourism Site

Search by region for the best attractions and sights, or peruse the accommodation options on this soothingly-presented and worded site. www.newfoundlandlabrador.com

A Charming Look at Newfoundland

The other day, I was reading through some Suite 101 articles. Since I'm a writer with Suite 101, I always enjoy seeing what others have written. I recently spent some time in Newfoundland and I did a search to see what articles were available. I came across an article by Suite 101 writer Mary Williams entitled: Newfoundland Nature. I was captivated! Her charming description of Newfoundland's wildlife had me in its spell..

Where Vikings Walked - (New York Times Travel Section)

Teetering on the edge of North America, Newfoundland has been in position for some of the epochal moments of world history. Five hundred years before Columbus set sail, this was where Viking explorers established a colony in the New World. Five hundred million years earlier, it is where continents collided.

Cemetery Found at Cupids Archeological Dig - (Telegram)

In the back of Ruth Baker's garden, where her father used to grow potatoes, archeologists have discovered what they believe to be the oldest English cemetery in Canada, and the second-oldest in North America.

Introducing "Raindrops" - Duane Andrews

Duane Andrews' music is born of an adventurous spirit and a love of music that transcends category. Uniting the Gypsy Jazz of legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt with traditional Newfoundland music, classical training and contemporary composition, Duane's music soars.

Travel Canada - Newfoundland Video

Newfoundland, one of Canada’s Atlantic Provinces, is home to untouched harbors and vast tracks of wilderness. This fishing island is pristine and the capital, St. Johns, is alive with Celtic music, art and down-home cooking. Newfoundland is a naturalist’s delight. Read the full article

Moose and Scenery (Blog)

Watched an interesting Canadian Geographic programme last night. Apparently Newfoundland is overrun with moose... Read the full article

Atop Newfoundland's Gros Morne (Hiking)

Canadian Press (Aug. 26) ROCKY HARBOUR, N.L. — Our stomachs are rumbling after a strenuous trek to the 806-metre summit of Gros Morne, the highest peak in the national park along Newfoundland's stunning west coast. Read the full article.

Canada Special: Newfoundland

(Aug. 22) Maggie Barry gets away from it all in Newfoundland’s snowy wilderness... a truly wild world of black runs, super scenery and occasionally unreliable machinery. Read the full article.

Newfoundland: Adventure in the Great Outdoors

(Aug. 19) "Time to pucker up, m'by," said the Humber Valley fisherman in his yellow sou’wester as he shoved an ugly old trout towards me. As he was also brandishing an oar, I had little option but to brace myself for the wettest lips in town. Read the full article.

Cruise North Expeditions among Canada's best Aboriginal tourism experiences

Inuit-owned Cruise North Expeditions – the pioneer of affordable expeditions into Canada's Arctic - has been singled out to represent Canada in the 2010 Olympics as one of the best Canadian Aboriginal tourism businesses by both Aboriginal Tourism Canada and the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC). Read the full article.

Old house, new tricks: The Ryan Mansion in St. John's gets its second wind

It may be one of Newfoundland and Labrador's newest hotels – the first guests checked into The Ryan Mansion in early 2008 – but the property itself is almost 100 years old. Original architecture infused with high design, Titanic theme nights and Dali paintings have given this century-old merchant's home a new lease on life. Read the full article. Read more about the Ryan Mansion review

Newfoundland and Labrador Inn joins National Geographic Traveler Magazine's prestigious Stay List

A tiny country inn in Newfoundland and Labrador has made it into one of the most prestigious clubs in the world: it has been named as one of the places to stay by National Geographic Traveler Magazine. Fishers' Loft Inn in Port Rexton joins the likes of 150 properties which made the grade based on their contribution to preserving and promoting the uniqueness of place and culture. Only 15 properties in Canada made it onto the list, the inn being the only one in Newfoundland and Labrador to do so. Read the full article. Visit the Fishers' Loft website

HNL Announces Awards Winners

Gander, February 16th, 2008 - Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador (HNL) and its partners celebrated Newfoundland and Labrador's best tourism products, services and people by presenting the 2008 Tourism Awards during the Lookout! Tourism Summit held this past weekend at Gander, NL.

Sincere congratulations are extended to all award recipients. Read the full press release with all the winners.

Another International Travel Guide Recommends Newfoundland and Labrador as Destination of Choice

Newfoundland and Labrador has been recognized by yet another internationally-respected travel guide as a top destination of choice.

The Fodor's travel web site is currently featuring a section entitled "Where We're Going in '08: Seven Places Americans Have Yet to Discover", which includes a recommendation to visit this province. Read the full press release.

Best Hidden Gem - Artisan Inn, Trinity

The Artisan Inn was chosen as a “Best Hidden Gems – Canada Hotel” by TripAdvisor® in its 2008 Travelers’ Choice® awards. The Artsian Inn, a concept inn, is located in the picturesque town of Trinity. It provides accommodation in historically designated homes with kitchen and dining facilities in a converted seaside twine loft. The Twine Loft is also a centre for periodic artistic fringe events such as art exhibitions, music performances and a variety of workshops. Read the full press release. Read more Artisan Inn reviews. Visit Trinity Vacations Website

Newfoundland and Labrador Recognized by Lonely Planet Publications

Newfoundland and Labrador has been named a top 30 travel destination for 2008 by Lonely Planet Publications, one of the world's most respected travel guidebook publishers. The province has made Lonely Planet's "Bluelist" – a selection of the world's newest travel trends, experiences and unique destinations. Read the full article.

Wildland Tours in National Geographic Magazine

Wildland Tours has been recognized in the November 2007 Adventure Travel Issue of National Geographic Adventure Magazine. The award-winning Newfoundland and Labrador tour operator was considered as part of the magazine's Best Outfitters on Earth feature and showcased as one of five North American Specialists. Wildland Tours' Polar Bear cruise to Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve and Nunatsiavut was also named as one of Top 25 Adventures for 2008. Read the full article. Visit Wildland Tours' website

Tourism Marketing Campaign Wins Top National Award

Newfoundland and Labrador's tourism marketing campaign has won the Tourism Industry Association of Canada's (TIAC) Marketing Campaign of the Year Award. The award, sponsored by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, was announced at TIAC's National Awards for Tourism Excellence, held November 5 in Victoria, B.C. Read the full article.

Newfoundland and Labrador Wins Big at Canadian e-Tourism Awards

Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada was a big winner at the Canadian e-Tourism Awards on November 8, 2007, with finalists from this province receiving three major awards at the Vancouver, B.C. event.

The Provincial Government's tourism website (www.newfoundlandlabrador.com) was named Best Public Sector Website, coming out ahead of finalists Tourism P.E.I. and Tourism Vancouver, the Iceberg Finder website (www.Icebergfinder.com) won top honours in the category of Large Private Sector – Best Innovation, and a dramatic video of an iceberg collapsing off Battle Harbour, Labrador, was named Best Canadian Travel Video. Read the full article. Watch Mike Earle's video

Atlantica Restaurant Named Best New Restaurant for 2007

Atlantica Restaurant in Portugal Cove - St. Philips, Newfoundland and Labrador has been named enRoute's Canada's Best New Restaurant for 2007. The restaurant, located just outside St. John's, was chosen from restaurants across Canada for the title. Read the full article. Visit Atlantica's website

Province's Tourism Website Nominated for National Award

The Canadian e-tourism Council has named the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador one of three finalists for the Public Sector - Best Website Award for its tourism Web site (www.newfoundlandlabrador.com), developed in collaboration with AppleCore Interactive, a Newfoundland and Labrador-based interactive marketing and communications agency. The award winner will be chosen, in part, through an online public vote. Read the press release

East Coast Trail Makes CNN's Top 10 Secluded Coastal Hikes

Joan Drammeh includes the East Coast Trail of Newfoundland and Labrador in her CNN article entitled "10 Secluded Coastal Hikes". Read the web article on cnn.com website or download the PDF file-->.

Humber Valley Resort’s River Course Named Best New Canadian Golf Course

Humber Valley, NL, September 20, 2007 - Humber Valley Resort's River Course has been awarded ScoreGolf magazine’s Best New Golf Course for 2007. The award was announced in the ScoreGolf September rankings issue. The River Course outranked golf courses across Canada while the remaining top four spots were awarded to Ontario courses. Read the full article

Tourism Season Extension Program Approved for Discovery Trail

St. John’s, NL, September 7, 2007 – The Discovery Trail Tourism Association is entering phase two of the Provincial Season Extension Pilot Program which began last fall. Read the full article

Stan Cook Sr. to be Inducted into Canadian Tourism Hall of Fame

The Telegram, St. John's, NL, September 6, 2007 - Stan Cook Sr. is about to be inducted into his third hall of fame in 18 months. The St. John's man will be officially inducted into the Canadian Tourism Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Ottawa Friday evening. He's being recognized for having contributed to the tourism industry in an exceptional manner. Stan Cook Sr. is President of Stan Cook Sea Kayaking Adventures based in Cape Broyle, Newfoundland and Labrador. Read the full article

Crout's Way Hiking Trail Now Open

The colonists at Cupids cut an overland trail as an escape route from the pirates, and also to establish trade with the native Beothuks in the neighbouring bay. Henry Crout led the way, and his original route has now been re-established from Makinsons near Cupids in Conception Bay to Hopeall in Trinity Bay. Its a two-day hike and not for tenderfoot hikers, but those hardy enough to follow in the colonists footsteps will be richly rewarded with an overland, overnight hiking and camping adventure.

Lighthouse Picnics

At the end of a short, scenic stroll across the bucolic Ferryland downs, you reach the headland lighthouse and are handed a picnic basket and a blanket. Its time to find a quiet spot for two and snuggle down. The food is exquisite, made from the freshest local ingredients. The surroundings are impressive - not just the towering 1870 lighthouse, but the rugged Atlantic coast and one of the oldest towns in North America, founded by Lord Baltimore in the 1620s. There might be whales just offshore or seabirds circling overhead ... and not another soul in sight. This is the life - unhurried, soaking in natures soothing balm, the purest air imaginable. Its enough to make you giddy!