Life

Summer Getaways: Newfoundland and Labrador

Enjoy the rocky roads

Summer Getaways: Newfoundland and Labrador - Enjoy the rocky roads

Hiking on Devil’s Bite Trail of the International Appalachian Trail (Paul; Wylezol/IATNL)

International Appalachian Trail
The Newfoundland section of the trail begins at Port aux Basques, on the province’s southwest coast, and extends north along the Long Range Mountains of the island’s west coast to Crow Head. Highlights include crossing the Fox Island River and climbing up to Cabox, the highest peak in Newfoundland, and the UNESCO World Heritage and National Park at L’Anse aux Meadows, site of the only authenticated Viking settlement in North America. Two new sections have opened: one across Lewis Hills and the Blow Me Down Mountains between Stephenville and Corner Brook, and another in the mountains and valleys east of Parsons Pond.

St. John’s Time (July 29—Aug. 8)

For 11 days in the middle of the summer, St. John’s hosts one of the biggest parties in Canada. The George Street Festival (July 29-Aug. 3) kicks off with taverns and pubs serving up good food and drink along with five consecutive nights of live outdoor entertainment on George Street’s historic cobblestones. Next on the agenda, the Royal St. John’s Regatta (Aug. 4) on beautiful Quidi Vidi Lake. The regatta, in its 194th year, is the oldest continuous sporting event in North America. The Buskers Festival (Aug. 6-8) features performances on three stages, and the Folk Festival (Aug. 6-8) in Bannerman Park wraps things up with shows and spectacles, including jugglers, magicians, acrobats, comedians, storytellers and dancers.

Gros Morne Summer Music (July 21-Aug. 22) and Gros Morne Theatre Festival (May 22-Sept. 18)

Hikers and site-seekers flock to Gros Morne to see the towering cliffs, stunning fjords and rocky terrain. But the area is also famous for its artistic flair. Summer Music, now in its eighth year, invites both up-and-coming and established musicians from around the globe. Meanwhile, the theatre festival will be showcasing nine productions in Cow Head on the shores of Shallow Bay. The plays, a celebration of Newfoundland, include a story about heroism during a shipwreck and a real-life murder mystery from the 1800s.

Fogo Island Film House
This new state-of-the-art e-cinema brings thousands of films to the remote community of Fogo Island, which lies 13 km off the northeast coast of Newfoundland. Starting in June, the theatre, created through a partnership between the Shorefast Foundation and the National Film Board of Canada, will host screenings and discussions exploring the links between art, technology, culture and community.

To see what Seamus O’Regan picks as his favourite spots, go to Where famous Canucks go to play

For more information on events and travel in Newfoundland and Labrador, see www.newfoundlandandlabrador.com

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