Two posts so far this year. That is not acceptable. Here we go.
Newfoundland is huge. Also, Labrador really gets the short end of the stick. There is no time to say Newfoundland and Labrador. I hear Labrador is gorgeous in the fall.
We saw a risky
Newfoundland music show in Rocky Harbour. It was called Anchors Away. My mom
claims it wasn’t as sexual the first time she saw the show but I have my
doubts. We then spent some time in Gros Morne National Park and drove to
St-Anthony’s. Once in St-Anthony’s we went on a boat tour to see icebergs. I
had never seen an iceberg before and it was certainly worth the drive. We saw
lots of icebergs and even saw a whale. Did I feel great on the boat ride back
to land? No, I did not.
You know what’s good?
Seafood in Newfoundland. Highlights included eating a lobster roll, fish and
chips and a cod burger. There is not a ton going on in Newfoundland. Granted,
we didn’t hit up St-John’s but there does not seem to be a lot of opportunities
for young people so it makes sense that many people end up leaving the province
for better job opportunities. I’m not a huge history guy so while I did learn
about the cod fishing ban in 1992, this article might give you a better understanding
of what actually took place.
https://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/economy/moratorium.php
We also toured around
the Tablelands. It doesn’t look like anything else in the area so if you have
it on your list, it is worth checking out.
https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/nl/grosmorne/activ/experiences/tablelands
We also explored an
11th century Viking settlement called L’Anse aux Meadows National
Historic Site.
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/4/
This was a highlight.
Seeing how the Vikings lived in their settlements was a nice glimpse into their
everyday lives. Worth visiting or just watch these YouTube videos about it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMVjNYogaLg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAOVRhfJQ2A
Renting a car makes
exploring Newfoundland much more manageable but also booking any activities or
shows seems like it would also make your trip more enjoyable. Should you visit
Newfoundland? That seems like a personal choice but if Newfoundland is one of
your dreams, make it happen.
Kingston
Kingston. I drive by
it every time I head over to Toronto. I sometimes stop to grab food or gas but
I have never made Kingston my destination. I was not disappointed! Did I
explore everything? No. Did I mostly spend the entire time just on one street? Yes.
Did I eat lots of good food, go to an arcade and drink the occasional bottle of
Soju? Maybe.
The main reason for
this trip was to go to Boldt Castle. I recently got my boating license so me
and a friend rented a Sea-Doo and took the two hour journey to Boldt Castle.
Here is the official history of the castle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZWbJVrtQ98
https://www.boldtcastle.com/visitorinfo/about
You know what’s fun? Sea-Doos.
Did we tip? No. Did I think I was going to crash it and have to pay for the
repairs? I certainly did. Should you go Sea-Dooing? Probably.
Kingston is filled
with bars, food and is a pretty easy place to walk around. You can take a
trolly tour, tour the penitentiary, or spend some time on the water. One of my
cousins has a not-so-secret love affair with Kingston and I am starting to
understand why.
There is a casino not too far away from Kingston; I recommend you avoid playing roulette there.
Those were the two
trips I took this summer. While it wasn’t as exciting as heading to Greece or Italy,
it has been nice spending time with family and friends in the Great White
North.
"Everything good, everything magical, happens between the months of June and August."
