Things to do on Newfoundland's Avalon to celebrate Canada's 150th



If you live in Canada, you should already know that 2017 marks 150 years of Canada being Canada. Even though Newfoundland and Labrador only joined confederation in 1949, which means Canada with everyone in it is only 68 years old, but we won't get into that.

Regardless, as a Canadian, I want to make the most of this year of celebration. I'm travelling to Toronto for a week in July, but I thought I'd make a list of things to do to celebrate Canada here at home, specifically on the Avalon Pinesula.

1. Hike the East Coast Trail

The East Coat trail is a combination of 26 paths, making up over 300 kilometres of developed trails for those of the faint and not so faint hearted to explore. The trails go from easy to strenuous and can range from an hour or 12 depending on the trail. Some nice ones if you enjoy a destination are:
   A. The Spout Path - Starting in Bay Bulls and going to the Lighthouse takes about 1.5 hours. This part of the trail is well maintained and you can currently go in the Lighthouse (at your own risk). You can also continue past the Lighthouse towards the Spout itself, but that is a 12-hour hike altogether.
   B. The La Manche Village Path- Probably one of the easiest trails. This one has three different entrance points depending on how long you wish to walk for. One entrance is in Bauline East taking about 2 hours round trip from the village and back. The second is the shortcut just after the La Manche Provincial Park which is only an hour long. The third is in Brigus South and that takes about 6 hours one way. So, a perfect trail to match anyone's skill level. This one is nice because the bridge is to represent the bridge that was once there and you can see foundations of the houses that were once there.

2. Picnic at Lighthouse Picnics in Ferryland

This is such a nice afternoon adventure. I always book a picnic once or twice in the summer. It is a fantastic gourmet picnic that you can enjoy while watching bird, boats, and whales go by. Check out their website and make sure to book a reservation. They book up super quick and they're listed as one of the top 10 things to do in Newfoundland. Check out their website here.

3. Take a Boat Tour

What better way to enjoy the sea, the wind in your hair, and the salty air than with a boat tour. There are so many boat tours around the Avalon that it is probably impossible to name them all. However, I'll give it a go and here are some of the many boat tours you could try out this summer (remember July and the beginning of August are good times to see whales):


4. Take in Signal Hill & the Tattoo Performance

Probably one of the best places to get views of all of downtown St. John's is from Signal Hill. It features Cabot Tower, the Signal Hill Tattoo Performance where they reenact battles and set off guns, there's hiking, and also the Johnson Geo Center. Also for Canada's 150th, there is a massive Canada 150 sign that you can take pictures with right now to celebrate with Parks Canada. It is a beautiful location filled with a lot of history and perfect for Newfoundland and Canada. 

5. Have a Bonfire

 Celebrate Canada Day with friends and family with the warmth of a fire and the salty breeze from the sea. The Avalon has so many rocky beaches which are perfect for bonfires.

6. Explore Brigus, the market, & the "old way" to St. John's

Explore the North of the Avalon. Take the old way from St. John's and go to the many coastal towns. Explore Brigus and get some blueberry ice cream or head out on a Sunday to check out Some Good Market, filled with handmade items and goods from locals in the area. Be sure to have a look at their website sometimes they give away a dozen cupcakes by Best Kind Bake Shoppe. If you're also wondering about other things you can get in Brigus check out my Brigus Haul from last year.

7. Check out some Festivals

One thing Newfoundlanders like to do is have festivals all through the summer. Many in St. John's, but there are a few festivals outside the city with local artists or performers from around Canada and beyond. Some festivals you may want to check out this summer are:


8. Take in a Local Gallery

We are the arts. There are many art galleries you can venture through in St. John's. There are also some amazing ones on the Avalon as well, such as the Five Island Art Gallery in Tors Cove and also Chris Pratt's art studio in Mount Carmel. Before you start, no he is not the actor; however, he did create the Newfoundland Flag. Which is still pretty cool. If you don't plan on venturing out of the city the City of St. John's actually has a pretty good list of galleries on their website and you can purchase prints or pieces at most of them. 

9. Fishing Village Exploring

Although the fishery isn't as large as it was, there are still a number of small fishing communities you can explore. For example, right near downtown St. John's you can explore Quidi Vidi. A Very picturesque place with stages, small dories and oozing beautiful vibes. If you want to check out more of them a little further there is also the lovely town of Petty Harbour, which has two places to eat Chafe's Landing and the Watershed Cafe. Both lovely places for a bite to eat. The town showcases much of the fishery, as well as a mini aquarium and zip lining. If you're looking for really small check out Brigus South along the Southern Avalon. 

10. Explore the National Historic Sites & Parks

Take in history, nature, or both. There are a number of historic sites and a number of parks you can explore. Some of these are right here on the Avalon such as the Cape Spear Lighthouse, which is the most eastern point in North America, Castle Hill, Hawthorne Cottage, and Signal Hill. There's also a few national parks, as well as provincial parks that you can explore or spend an evening camping in. 


How will you be celebrating Canada's 150th this summer? Let me know in the comments down below!

I hope you are all having a wonderful day. 






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