Hikes
Ah, they're all so good. If we were only going to do one easy hike, it would be Western Brook Pond. If we were going to do only one moderately difficult hike, it would be the Discovery Center trail. In "Central" Newfoundland, it would be the Salvage (pronounced with the accent on the last syllable )Trail. See our Hikes page for descriptions.
Restaurants
Seaside Restaurant - Our favourite restaurant, anywhere, is in Trout River. It's an old, converted house. It does not have Buckingham Palace appointment. Waiters/waitresses do NOT have white napkins hung over their sleeves. It IS, however, perched on the seashore, immediately next to the sea and the boardwalk. The seafood is fresh, pan fried, and always features in-season catches. CFAs (Come From Aways) will always find items on the platter that they'll need explained: cod tongues, cod cheeks, capelin, wolffish, etc. The prices are reasonable, but they've gone up a little this year as they've completed extensions and renovations. As they're only open five months of the year, we don't begrudge them the raised prices. Our last meal there cost us about $55.00 , including a seafood platter for me (and a beer), and a scallop dinner for Carol, and all tips. We didn't get the mussels this time. The mussels, when available, make a lovely appetizer. I'd recommend the platter if you have a large appetite. All the seafood is well prepared. I can't speak for any of the other items on the menu. (If you're driving the South Side of Gros Morne, and if you take a left turn just before you get to Woody Point, you'll be on the road to Trout River. This road, which is a little rough over the first kilometer or so, takes you through a valley that you'd think was in Arizona somewhere. You'll end up in Trout River, as typical a Newfoundland outport as you'll find.) *****
The Chip Van - This is just north of Sally's Cove. It's just on the side of the road. There are a few picnic tables. The chips are good. We stop there for a snack. You can get a few other things there as well. **** (As far as chips go)
Shallow Bay Motel - Good food at reasonable prices. A lot of their seafood is deep-fried, but it's good. Prices are reasonable. It's on the shore, so you have a nice view if your table is well located. This is also the gathering place for those who wish to take in any of the Gros Morne Theatre Festival. This festival is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. You can attend lovely dinner theatre. The performance is competent and informative; the meal is adequate. CFA's in particular seem to enjoy both aspects. *** (food) **** (dinner theatre)
Irving Stations - All along the highway you'll find Irving stations with restaurants, called Big Stops. The food in these is OK, and the service is usually quite good, as long as there isn't a bus or a bus tour stopped there. The French fries are plastic (just like you're used to); we'll stop and eat in them if we have to; it's not a disastrous experience. Some of the other small restaurants along the way are slightly better. ***
Mount Peyton Hotel, Grand Falls - A little bit more upscale than the Irving stations, and the food is slightly better with still reasonable prices. You won't get in and out of there quickly if you're in any kind of a hurry. The dining room is comfortable. It's just off the highway, easily accessible if you're traveling East, tricky if you're heading West. ***1/2
Maggie's - (Coleman's - Caribou Rd - Corner Brook) - This is a cafeteria style restaurant with extremely reasonable prices, fast service, and moderately good food. You can always get delicious seafood chowder and freshly baked buns. The ordinary fare is ordinary fare. The pan fried cod is good as long as it hasn't been sitting in the warmer very long. Daily specials are good. This is an economical place to get a good meal. ***1/2 (considering what it is) For similar fare, for a little less, and bigger helpings but not quite as good, visit Aromas on the corner of Herald Avenue and Park Street. *** (again, considering)
Sorrento's (across from Aromas, Corner Brook) - This is run by a wonderful Bulgarian couple. They take pride in the quality of their product. They're listed in "Places to Eat in Canada". We eat there frequently. Prices are reasonable. Service is slow. They've recently moved. Eventually they'll be one of the fancier, more expensive restaurants in the city. At the moment they're just a bargain. **** (There's not an extensive menu nor much of a variety) They have just opened a piano bar in the end of the building. We haven't been there yet, but hear they have some interesting musicians playing there.
Ches's Fish and Chips (St. John's) - They have a couple of locations. You have to eat there. It's required. Fish is deep fried, and heavily battered (but crisp). The French fries are good. Paper plates and a fork. Uncomfortable seats. But if you're going to get fish and chips in St. John's, this is where you'll be told to go. ** If you want the same thing in a nicer setting with real plates (and slightly better fish), visit the Captain's Table, on the Southern Shore highway. It's a nice little drive out of St. John's. You could easily go there after your boat tour. But you have to be a fan of deep fried fish. ***
The Fairmont Hotel- This is upscale. It's the place to go for an expensive Sunday Brunch. You'll get a good meal there anytime, but expect to pay slightly less than a premium price. These are the banquet rooms where they feed visiting heads of state and politicians on expense accounts. ****
The Battery - If you want the best view of St. John's while you're eating, then go to The Battery. We've never been particularly impressed with the food there, but the view is unequaled. ***
Champions - On Torbay Road - This is where we go if we want a nice feed of pan fried cod and rice. Reasonable price. Licensed. Wooden booths. Fairly quick service. TVs in each corner playing different stuff than the radio. You have to be multi-tasking. ***
Bairds - In Grand Falls - This is a little difficult to find. Exit on Cromer Avenue (North) and continue until you come to the sharp right turn in the road. Take the right turn and then take the first left. Continue until you come to Bairds. Bairds is a converted A&W. It's just a family restaurant, but you'll find stuff on the menu you won't find anywhere else in the world (Newfoundland stuff). It's just a nice, inexpensive place to eat if you like going off the beaten path. ***
The Glynmill Inn - Corner Brook - This is a classy place. The dining room is good, and not too expensive. The Wine Cellar (downstairs) is fine dining and expensive. Both offer food that is a little above average for their respective price ranges. ****
Rose Blanche - If you like lighthouses, you'll certainly go to Rose Blanche to see the historical lighthouse there. There's a lovely place to eat just at the beginning of the trail to the lighthouse. (I don't remember the name of it, and I can't really recommend it not having eaten there, but it has a good reputation.) There's another cheesier restaurant in town (also can't remember the name of it), but we had a lovely meal of fish and chips there. (Hmmmmm, that set me to thinking: There are LOADS of historical lighthouses in Newfoundland, and some folks are hooked on lighthouses, so I'll have to do a separate attractions page for lighthouses. A project for later though.)
Attractions
(You'll find links to a lot of these attractions on our Links page.)
Whale and bird boat tours, Bay Bulls (just outside of St. John's). These are very popular. The whales are in abundance at the right time of year (June through early August). There are several popular tours, the best known being O'Brien's. In late May, Early June (and sometimes later), you may also see icebergs, but other places on the island are better for icebergs. I don't think there are any better spots for whale watching. We HAVE seen whales in abundance off St. Anthony (at the tip of the Northern Peninsula), and you can occasionally see them in ANY bay if you're alert. There are more and more bald eagles to be seen, particularly along the South Coast. Note: There are THOUSANDS of moose and caribou on the island. You folks from up-a-long just don't see them. You're not looking for them, and you're not cautious enough. Every year there are fatal moose-car collisions, and even though mainlanders are in the minority on the highway, they are involved in the majority of moose-car collisions. Moose are HUGE, some weighing in at well over a thousand pounds, and you just don't see the bloody things. Go figure!
Trinity Pageant - This is the best known and the best theatre festival in the province. It's performed in one of the prettiest communities in the province. It features both indoor and outdoor performances as well as dinner theatre. Book well in advance. The road to Trinity will take you off the beaten path a little, but that's what you're here for isn't it? It's a nice drive; there are nice restaurants in Trinity; there are interesting side trips off this side trip. The best thing for you to do would be to leave St. John's (it will take you three or four hours to get to Trinity), take in the festival, stay overnight, make a few side trips in the morning and head back to St. John's after supper (in the summer). Stay longer if you have the time and the money.
Stephenville Festival - This is more of a repertory theatre. They will offer everything from full scale musicals to avant guarde theatre. This is a professional theatre company that uses local talent liberally. There will be several performances on the same day, and various different offerings throughout a week. You can plan to take in three different shows in one night, varying from the main stage, to the lobby, to the local pub. Quality varies. Check your schedule, plan your day (or days), and stay overnight. Stephenville is off the Trans Canada Highway, about an hour from Corner Brook. There are some interesting side trips you can take during the day. We'd recommend a drive out and around the Port Aux Port Peninsula where you'll find Newfoundland's great French influence.
Gros Morne Theatre Festival - Gros Morne National Park. There is lovely dinner theatre and various other performances catering to all tastes, but mainly geared toward local colour and local history. It's quite good. (See The Shallow Bay motel, above.)
Again, there are links to many of these attractions on our Links page.
Miscellaneous