Newfoundland + Kingston

Two posts so far this year. That is not acceptable. Here we go.

In July I went to Newfoundland with my mom and brother; it was a smashing success. This trip was for her 70^th birthday present and my guess is that she enjoyed herself. We don’t get too much kid free time so it was a nice change of pace just hanging out the three of us.

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 11^th 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."