Banff National Park

Canada’s inaugural and flagship national park is impressive with more than 6,000 square kilometres of mountain wilderness and is part of the larger Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site. Banff National Park is home to magnificent 3000-metre peaks, meadows in the clouds rich with colourful wildflowers, brilliant turquoise glacier-fed lakes and the picture perfect town of Banff and village of Lake Louise.

Banff, Alberta, Canada

By Tony Webster from Portland, Oregon, United States - Banff, Alberta, Canada, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39882973

The park offers exceptional hiking, camping, skiing and scenic driving. Navigate the world-renowned Icefields Parkway, a drive that parallels the Continental Divide, where wildlife like bighorn sheep, mountain goats and bears roam.

Banff National Park
By Tony Webster from Portland, Oregon, United States - Banff, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39883728

Throughout the park, visitors can choose from thousands of campsites at 13 campgrounds surrounded by some of the worlds most breath taking mountain scenery, ski at three ski resorts and stay at a range of accommodations, from hotels to lodges.

What are 150 of our favourite Canadian things? Read about it here

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Marten River Provincial Park

Marten River Provincial Park is nestled in on 400 hectares of prime Canadian wilderness in Northeastern Ontario.  It is located just off of the highway by the hamlet of Marten River in the municipality of Temagami. 

Marten River Provincial Park attraction's include water front camp sites, good fishing, hiking trails that will put your weak ankles to the test and a very cool replica turn of the century logging camp, complete with a museum, camp buildings and outdoor displays.

What is 150 of our favourite Canadian things? Read about it here

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Trans-Canada Trail

Stretching over 21,000 kilometers, "The Great Trail" holds the distinction of world's longest recreational trail; that's right world, ours is bigger than yours. While the trail is not yet fully connected (goal is to complete the trail this year for Canada 150), it will one day connect Atlantic to Pacific and stretch from Vancouver Island to St. John's Newfoundland. It also reaches up to one of Canada's more northern continental regions in the Northwest Territories.

The trail is also multi-use, with sections for hiking, biking, paddling, snowmobiling, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. The trail winds through urban, rural and utter wilderness areas, truly representing all of Canada.

The trail is a symbol of Canadian cooperation, with over 400 community trails being managed by numerous community trail groups, municipal governments and conservation authorities. Though it is true that much of the trail runs next to highways, it is nonetheless a statement of Canadian commitment to outdoor recreation, adventure and fun to have created such a monumental trail.

Learn more at thegreattrail.ca 


What is 150 of our favourite Canadian things? Read about it here

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Drinking Beer in Collingwood

Once strictly viewed as a winter destination on account of the incredible Blue Mountain ski resort, Collingwood, Ontario has transformed itself into a haven for day-trippers and vacationers alike during all four seasons. Home to attractions like the Blue Mountain Village (complete with shopping, restaurants, hotels and an adventure park featuring the Ridge Runner mountain roller coaster, a ropes course with zip lines, the Apex Bagjump, and gondolas to the top of Blue Mountain), Scenic Caves, Scandinave Spa and a variety of other attractions, there is no shortage of ways to fill you days.

The town also features an incredible trail system. During our stay we trekked along the Heather Pathway which does a loop through the better part of the town and starts and ends at two magnificent lookouts over Collingwood Harbour.

With the development of four season tourism along with a strong community of both seasonal and full time residents, an array of beer, wine and spirit manufacturers have also found their homes in Collingwood. The town is home to three breweries; Canadian Mist Distillery, makers of the excellent Collingwood rye whiskey; and an array of wineries.

Never missing the chance to try local beer, I visited two of the three local breweries during my visit and found the following gems. I look forward to checking out Collingwood Brewery on my next visit.

Side Launch Brewery

Formally known as Denison’s, the brewery re-branded and are now named for the method of launching ships used in Collingwood for generations. Side Launch has experienced impressive success in the Ontario beer market. Their lineup is focused and features mainstays that are quality approaches to traditional beer styles, along with a revolving selection of seasonals.

Wheat

One of the brewery’s three mainstay beers, and likely their most popular, Side Launch’s wheat is a German Hefeweizen, and likely one of the better efforts at the style amoung Ontario breweries. Banana predominates on both nose and flavour and is backed with strong yeast character. Coriander and other mild spices round out the flavour.

Dark Lager

I’ve been drawn to this style (traditionally called German Dunkel), of late. The beer is pure malt on the nose with the flavour of light caramel, bready malt and a little bit of brown sugar. The beer leaves you smacking your lips long after your sip.

Northwinds Brewhouse & Eatery

A brand new entry into the Ontario beer market, Northwinds opened a little over a year ago and offers a great selection of food and beer at their brewhouse. You won’t find these beers in major retailers, but the variety of beers on tap is astounding. While there were a few misses, the following beers really grabbed my attention.

Brew Mountain SMaSH Series (Centennial)

A great entry in the American Pale Ale category. Thin body with plenty of citrus on nose and flavour. Grapefruit and floral/piney notes predominate with the centennial hops really coming through as advertised. Great for summer.

Old Baldy Farmhouse Ale

With so many saisons on tap I feel brewmaster Andrew Bartle must have been a homebrewer. While lacking the usually yeast forward character of many saisons, this entry brings the hops to the forefront with the hot taste of rye malt coming through. Unique and tasty.

Side note! If you are looking for a truly unique place to eat while around the Collingwood area, check out Hai Sai in Singhampton (20 minutes south of Collingwood). Managed by restaurant legend Michael Stadtländer, Hai Sai is completely and utterly surprising. Both food and décor are out of the ordinary and definitely worth the trip off the beaten path.

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Lessons Learned: 10 Tips for Your First Portaging Trip - Part I

Hot off our very first portage trip Sam and myself learned some valuable lessons and want to share them with you. Here are 5 things I learned about what to do before, after and during your portage trip.

1. Ditch the Packaging and go All Ziploc

A bear canister fills up fast with less food than you’d imagine. My recommendation is to take any food that has air in it and put it into a Ziploc bag. This will save you a ton of space. After repackaging use a marker or painters tape and label each bag to easily identify your food. 

Bonus Tip: Load the canister or bag in order of your consumption plan (day 1’s meals at the top and your last days meals at the bottom). That way you don’t have to dig deep to get your eats or repack it daily.

Food transferred from store packaging to Ziploc bags. Saves a ton of space in your bear canister.

2. Baby Wipes over Toilet Paper

Ditch the toilet paper and jump over to baby wipes. Not only do they pack up smaller but they can also get wet and are multi-purpose (washing your face, hands, wiping your butt, etc). The only concern is their scent, so save some room in your bear canister or bear bag. Trust me your butt will be much happier after crouching in the bush with these!

3. Invest in the Right Gear

Too often people buy an inferior product because of the price tag. The truth is you get what you pay for; you don’t need to run out and buy a $4000 tent. But think about this, do you want to spend $300 on a tent now that is built to last 20 years or do you want to spend $80-100 every 3 to 5 years on one at your local big box? The way I have approached gear is that I am slowly building up to having exactly what I want by making key purchases every season. I’m spreading out what I can deal with and what I need to purchase in order to maintain my budget. Make one big purchase (tent, sleeping bag or pack) and add on one slightly less expensive item and within 3 summers you will have a superb set up without breaking the bank.

Ed's new Kelty Grand Mesa 2 tent. Lighter and easier to assemble than his old tent.

4. Aim to Pack Less but Pack Smart

Less is more, especially when you have to carry everything you will need on your back. The keyword there was what you “need”. Reduce clothing to items you can stretch out for the duration of your trip and pack layers. On a recent 4 day portage trip I wore the same shirt, shorts and sweater for the entire trip; I’m not trying to impress anyone. Also make sure you have only essential items that you are able to comfortably carry. Real Man Travels recommends laying out all of the gear you think you’d need on the floor of your home. Then start to pick out non essentials until you are left with about 60-75% of what you had. From there load up your pack and see how it feels. If it is still too heavy think outside of the box on how to reduce, or give weight to a partner that has a lighter load. Just remember that walking around the house for 2 minutes with a full pack is not the same as a trail for an hour or more.

Bonus Tip: Pack a bag with fresh underwear and other clothing and leave it in your vehicle for when you re-enter society. Fresh clothes will go a long way for the ride home, or that pit stop at a pub for a much needed beer.

5. Portage with the Right People

This may be an oversight but if you are going to be canoeing and camping out in the wild for an extended period of time, you better like the people you are going with. Let’s face it, a trip can be make or break depending on the people attending. Positivity is key so eliminate anyone who will be a negative strain; the last thing you want is a Debbie downer moaning and crying when the day is filled with bugs, rain or some other undesirable element. If you are blending groups of friends, choose wisely who can attend. Look for similar humour styles, similar attitude towards the outdoors, similar interests, etc.

Fishing with a straw hat is an automatic in with our group. Sam and Derek doing some shore fishing. 

Those are my 5 things learned from this portage trip, be sure to come back later and check out part II when Sam will reveal what he has learned.

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Real Man Tested: GSI Pinnacle Soloist

A few members of the Real Man Travels team recently went on a four day portage trip in Ontario's beautiful Massasauga Provincial Park. This was our first real portage trip together with no coolers, luxuries or special amenities, so we had to be smart about the items we packed. The decision to mostly use just add water food for our meals made the most sense for weight and convenience. Enter the GSI Pinnacle Soloist cook set to boil all of the water for my meals. I bought this set at MEC for $45.50 + tax and put it to the test. Here are the results I found:

1. What You Get

The GSI Pinnacle Soloist comes with a 1.1L pot with an attached handle that swings up and down, a lid with an integrated strainer and spout, a 590mL cup with a removable insulation strip, a “foon” (telescopic spork), a stove bag made for an MSR Pocket Rocket style stove (stove not included), and a stuff sack that can double up as a wash basin.

Included in the set: A 1.1L pot, telescopic foon, cup with insulating strip, a wash basin and a strainer/lid.

2. Look and Feel

When I first went to MEC and looked at this set my initial reaction was that it is small... much smaller than I thought it would be. After unboxing it at home and seeing how it all stacks up within itself I realized that this was a well thought out product.

The pot feels sturdy and light and the rubberized handle sits firm in its locked positions. The plastic bowl has a little bit of flex but not too much to be nervous about squeezing out your contents while holding it. The pot lid is a hard plastic and I was skeptical about it not melting when in use. The stuff sack has a rubberized interior which allows it to stand on its own making it believable for use as a wash basin. The stove bag was a generic pouch made of canvas material. The telescopic foon (spork) felt flimsy and cheap in comparison to the rest of the superior contents.

3. Ease of Use

Unpacking and packing up the stove is a breeze as all the components fit into each other perfectly. As for actually using the product, it’s as simple as: fill the pot with water, set it on a lit stove and let the water boil, add food, fill your bowl with your cooked food, eat with the foon and clean up.

Simple stove to boil water!

4. Actual vs. Advertised

The GSI Pinnacle Soloist is advertised as a trail solution for one person, but I found that if anyone else in the group has their own mess kit it could actually be beneficial for two people. 1.1L of water is enough to make two Knorr Sidekicks or two of most Mountain House meals, two cups of coffee in the morning etc. And if there isn't enough water in the first boil, it doesn't take very long to boil another full pot.

All of the included components work as advertised, my only gripe is that the telescopic foon is flimsy, cheap feeling and retracts itself under the pressure of you scraping the edges of the bowl for the last little morsels of food.

5. Value

Priced at $45.50 CAD at MEC, I believe this was a steal as some big box retailers offer crappier products that are bulkier and don’t include everything you need for a similar price. This complete storage system allows for a small fuel canister and a stove to be packed into it so the space and bulk savings in my pack is well worth the price tag.

6. Practicality

500mL of water took, on average, three minutes to boil, and a full pot took about five to seven minutes (under perfect conditions). This meant I wasn't waiting too long to eat my meals. I ended up sharing the pot with a buddy and it worked well for the two of us. This set is small and took up very little real estate in my pack. I’d say this is a perfect set for a backpacking or portage trip where the luxuries are left behind. It could also be used on a car camping or “glamping” trip where you would want instant coffee or instant oatmeal in the morning.

Ain't nothing like a bowl of noodles after a long day of portaging!

7. Overall Impression and Final Score

Overall I am very impressed with this set. The pot boiled the water quickly, the cup held a generous amount of food and was soft enough to grip yet firm enough to not spill contents. The foon, unfortunately, was junk and I would recommend grabbing something else that is a similar size to keep the integrity of the way the set packs up. I never used the stuff sack as a sink, but it is capable of the function, even if it seems a little small. The entire set packs up tiny, and is pretty cheap. I will definitely be using this set in the future for my adventures and would definitely recommend it for your next adventure.

A well deserved score of 4.5/5 for the GSI Pinnacle Soloist

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5 Reasons to Book a Camping Trip Now

Ever since I was a little kid I have loved camping. I remember my parents loading up the car with all of our camping gear, and heading north of the city to spend three days immersed in nature. Funnily enough, the town near to where we used to camp is the town that my parents eventually settled in.

When I was old enough to go camping alone I took every opportunity I could to do so with friends. We’d hike, bike, swim, goof around the campfire and take care of ourselves with no adult supervision. Now that I am an adult who has a busy schedule and limited time I cherish every chance I have to disconnect with my daily life and reconnect with nature, preferably with some of those same friends I camped with as a kid.

Here are 5 reasons why you too should disconnect from the daily grind and reconnect with nature by camping.

1. Camping Makes You Appreciate the Little Things in Life

What I love about camping is shedding the unnecessary and only bringing exactly what you need. It puts things into perspective for when you are preparing to leave and when you return.

You can’t carry everything into the woods, so you must purge your lifestyle down to only the necessities. What those necessities are will vary for everyone, but it is a great feeling to realize what you really need versus what you think you need. 

Chris – “I feel camping is real and basic. I think I like it because it humbles me. It also brings my kids closer to me when I take them, almost like an adventure!”

Camping also makes you appreciate all that you have upon your return. Everyday items we take for granted become amazing again like your washer and dryer, your bed, TV, smartphones etc. All of these things that we relied on and took for granted are much more appreciated for their importance in our lives.

2. Camping Helps You Reconnect

Camping is a time to reconnect, not just with nature but with each other. Spending a few nights under the stars with friends and family is a great way to connect in ways you normally wouldn’t during the daily grind. As well you can reconnect with nature, lay under a starlit sky and ponder how small you are or walk through a forest and realize how quiet the world is away from the hustle and bustle of a city or town.

Scott – “I remember last year [at Man of the Year camping trip] on the Saturday morning when we all set out to fish, the water was still and the park was quiet. That’s what I love, a little bit of tranquility in all too busy life. And beers and jokes around the campfire.”

You’d think that we guys at Real Man Travels see each other often, but in reality we don’t. With our busy 9-5 schedules, families and plenty of side activities we don’t spend a lot of quality time together just hanging out. Our annual camping trip provides us the time to unwind and reconnect in a way that we don’t normally have throughout the year. Our Man vs. Wild camping trip is something we all look forward to doing each summer.

3. Camping Gives You Time to Think

I always take some time to myself on a camping trip whether it is fishing at 4:30 am off the shore, sitting down in a chair for an hour in silence or just going for a short hike. Camping provides an opportunity to be alone in relative silence to think about your life and plan out some things you want to do with no outside influence.

Fun Fact: Real Man Travels was created because of Chris taking some time to think during a camping trip that people would be interested in reading about the shenanigans we get into.

4. Camping Creates Self Reliance

If you’re going on a camping trip it’s a chance to learn to be self-reliant. You are picking the best spot for a shelter (in some cases building your own shelter), you are starting fires from scratch, chopping wood, cooking in ways you didn’t know you could, fishing for a meal, learning a little about first aid on the fly, and much more.

Sam – “The real reason I like camping is it gives me a chance to escape the everyday routine and reconnect with my surroundings. The chance to self-sustain, even for a weekend gives me a sense of caveman pride.”

In my opinion this is something we HAVE to teach the next generation of kids about. The more entwined youth get with technology the less happy they seem to be away from it. Camping is a small break that creates confidence and self-reliance when given the chance. So take a weekend away with no screens and become more self-reliant!

5. Camping is a Break from the Daily Routine

Camping offers an escape from the every day. A chance to escape the grind of work, the continuous flow of email exchanges and phone calls. There are no bosses, no co-workers, no workplace jargon or etiquette to follow (well there is some etiquette, please follow all park rules!).

Justin – “Hanging out with friends around the campfire and away from the distractions of regular life brings everyone closer together.”

There is just nature, family and friends, there is silence, there is beauty beyond description but most importantly there is a break from the real world that we all could use an escape from.

While this list may seem geared to traditional camping, it can also be accomplished by “glamping” in yurts, cabins or RV’s. Don’t feel that you have to rough it to the extreme to reap the benefits of camping. So pull up the website of a place you want to camp in and book your summer camping adventure now!

Have any camping adventures planned? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!

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Real Girls Go Rock Climbing

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm usually up for almost any sort of adventure. Naturally, when the opportunity to try rock climbing came up, I didn't even bat an eyelash . I met up with Chase, an experienced rock climber (and Honda Fit lifestyle ambassador) on a crisp fall Sunday morning and we set off in the all new 2015 Honda Fit! For such a little car I was surprised by the amount of pep and power it had on the highway! I was even more impressed with the super cool technology in this sweet little ride. It has blind spot cameras so when you changed lanes it showed a display of what was beside you. The dash had a very modern look with a fully integrated touch screen for all your entertainment needs and it even had a handy USB port so I could educate Chase on the finer points of quality country music! With lots of room for our climbing gear, and some sweet tunes, we were ready for the adventure ahead!

First stop was a great hike through the hills of Mount Nemo. Mount Nemo is part of Halton Parks, and I'll tell you, this hike proved to have some of the best views I've seen. It was a wonderfully clear day and I swear I could see my house from up there! It amazes me how very lucky I am to live in such a beautiful province. 

After our hike at Mount Nemo, we jumped back in the Fit and were on our way to Rattlesnake Point. Yes, the name is terrifying and makes one think of the dark area you can see from Pride Rock in the Lion King. "You must never go there Simba," yeah, well Moufasa, I went there. I would say this place is not quite as scary as the name implies. After a VERY twisty, turny (don't underline that in red spell check, I know that's not a word, but I'm using it anyway) and again twisty drive up, we arrived at Rattlesnake Point!

It was at this point the real fun began! We met up with our climbing guides, Dan and Karen from Zen Climb. They were very patient with me and helped me get my gear situated. My partner in climb, Karen, was very patient and extremely encouraging. There are a couple fantastic videos you can check out on my instagram @hmac158 The long and short of this is that I discovered 2 things on this beautiful crisp fall morning: 1 - rock climbing is hard! 2 - I have a fear of heights. Thanks to Karen I was able to work through some of that fear - at one point when I was really, really high up, (okay, it was only about 6 ft up a large rock face) I asked her "Has anyone got to this point and just said, "Ya know what? I'm good with this, I'm done.'" She simply responded, "Nobody." "Okay cool... I'm just gonna keep going." I made it to a ledge about 40 ft up and only had one other minor freak out when it was time to head back down (again video is on my instagram @hmac158). 

After completing my great Ontario rock climb, I decided to call it a day. Chase continued to climb a bit longer, as it appears he may had done it once or twice before. Despite my minor little freak outs, I had an incredible time and am so happy I had the opportunity to take part in this adventure. I love this beautiful province I call home and it was amazing to have this adventure to see it in a completely new and wonderful way! I definitely need to give a shout out and a great big THANK YOU to the people at Zen Climb! They were fantastic and they never let me give up. If you too are up for any adventure, I highly recommend braving the rock faces of Rattlesnake Point. 

Now what kind of post would this be of mine without a few selfies? After all that climbing and hiking we definitely built up quite the appetite, lucky for us a Beavertail food truck was in the park that day! Mmmm Beavertails! Thanks for being a great guide that day Chase, and thanks for putting up with all my picture taking!

If you're interested in rock climbing, or even just checking out these beautiful spots for hiking, picnics or camping, you can visit the links below:

http://www.conservationhalton.ca/rattlesnake-point

http://www.conservationhalton.ca/mount-nemo.

Special thanks for Honda Canada for sending Chase and his fancy Honda Fit and organizing the day!

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Favourites: The Pinery Provincial Park

A post by Scott F

Summer is almost upon us (just trust me on this); what a perfect time to use up the last drops of those summer memories that have been sustaining us for a long, cold winter before the opportunity presents to refill our reserves. Today's musing are on the Pinery Provincial Park near Grand Bend, Ontario.

The park is of striking contrast to most of what you expect when camping in Ontario. The prescribed thick, maple and pine forests are replaced by one of the world’s rarest ecosystems, an oak savannah. The flat, often soggy and algae covered beaches that stretch only about 50 feet from the shore, often associated with Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe, are replaced with beautiful windblown sand dunes that can tower in excess of 100 feet and stretch up to a kilometer inland. The prairie grasses reaching a meter high that stand in Lake Huron’s strong winds seem backward when compared to the sharp rock outcroppings that dominate the waterways in central and northern Ontario. As rugged and beautiful as much of Ontario is, the Pinery stands as a unique and surprising experience.

The oak savannah ecosystem which covers much of the Pinery’s 6,330 acres is truly astonishing. White and black oak trees dominate much of the park’s sandy soil. This nutrient deficient soil deprives the park of thick underbrush, making the forests sparse and allowing the terrain to be clearly visible. Sadly, the planting of pine trees in the 1960’s along with the suppression of forest fires means that some of the savanna is now overrun by pines. Controlled burns and careful monitoring are now being used to protect the natural balance. The Pinery protects 50 per cent of the remaining oak savanna on the planet!

Hiking the many long and varied trails in the Pinery provides you with an amazing cross section of various environments. The Nippissing trail is nothing short of breathtaking as you carefully climb up steep dunes and well constructed boardwalks eventually leading to a look out with a perfect vista of the entire park. All the trails offer something different. They are usually quite simple and well designed but several offer a better challenge.

The beach area of the Pinery is stunning. 10 km of near perfect sand accepts the often turbulent waves of Lake Huron. There are few better ways to spend a day than splashing around or boogie boarding in the decent sized waves that crash against the beach.

The best campsites in the Pinery are those closest to the water in the Dunes campground. These sunny, sandy sites are certainly not the most private, but being only a dunes-climb (fun in and of itself) away from the surf is amazing. When the waves are strong enough you can hear them turn from your site, perfect white noise for an evening by the fire. Avoid the Riverside campground, as it has even less privacy and none of the charm of Dunes.

The Old Ausable Channel also runs through the campground allowing for calm, picturesque canoe trips. They rent canoes, single and double kayaks, and hydro bikes. The river can be a bit crowded at times so it can be better to bring your own canoe and set off up river.

The store is fully stocked with everything you could possibly have forgotten. There is also a restaurant serving fantastic ice cream.

The Pinery is certainly not for the adventurous back country camper. There is little in the way of “escaping civilization.” But as a destination for visiting with friends and family I can think of few other parks with such a variety of activities; let alone the ability to explore such a unique and beautiful ecosystem. The park is open year-around and offers unique “Yurt” camping in the winter months.

Be sure to visit Grand Bend on your way to the Pinery. A slightly touristy but incredibly fun beach town, Grand Bend has numerous festivals, events and flea markets. It reminds of a cleaner, less busy version of Wasaga Beach (or perhaps Wasaga 10 years ago!).

The Pinery is a perfect place to spend a weekend with friends. The park has a wonderful atmosphere and offers something different than what you would expect from an Ontario campground.

Where are your favourite Ontario outdoor destinations?

This post was modified from an article originally posted on Ontarioisms.Wordpress.com.

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Five Things to Do in St. John’s, Newfoundland

A post by Scott F

St. John’s is the epitome of a little-big town. A city that, despite its size and majesty, still retains a feeling of coziness that makes visitors feel instantly welcome. While not the easiest thing to do, I managed to (sort of) narrow our experience down to a few key themes, all of which led to our exceptional experience in the heart of the Rock.

George Street

George Street holds the coveted distinction of hosting the “most bars and pubs per square foot of any street in North America.” That’s enough to cause any man to fall on their knees and exalt in Wayne’s World-type fashion, “we are not worthy!” But what really stands out about George Street is that is isn’t as touristy as one might expect. Instead you get a great mix of enthusiastic islanders and dumbstruck mainlanders all out for a good time. We found our way to O’Reilly’s Irish Newfoundland Pub where we were fortunate enough to catch a show by the outstanding Irish Descendants. Naturally, George Street is also the destination for those needing to be “screeched in” as official Newfoundlanders (Christian’s Bar does a fantastic job). Don’t look it up - just pucker up and do it.

REALLY see the Sights

Take in the incredible walk up to and around Signal Hill. There is a fantastic trail that takes you around the hill with stunning views of the city and the ocean. Take the quick drive to Cape Spear, Canada’s most easterly point, and walk the East Coast Trail that winds along the massive cliff overlooking the ocean.

Drink the Beers

Ya’ll knew I wouldn’t forget the beer. We found our way to two breweries during our time in St. John’s, and neither disappointed. Most highly recommended is the Quidi Vidi Brewing Company located on the breathtaking Quidi Vidi harbour. Don’t miss their feature brew, Iceberg, which boasts being made with 25,000 year old iceberg water. A truly refreshing lager, worth its more expensive price tag on warm summer nights. Their Eric’s Cream Ale and 1892 Traditional Ale are also solid selections.

  

YellowBelly Brewery and Public House is a great spot for some good food washed down with fresh beer made on site. St. John’s Stout is the beer to try. Delicious with hints of dark chocolate, coffee and tobacco; definitely worth a session.

Take a Drive just out of Town

The sights don’t end at the edge of town. Bell Island is a short drive a ferry crossing away. Home to a now defunct iron-ore mine, Bell Island feels a world away. Take in the mine tour; our guide was a third generation miner from Bell Island who explained the genuine hardships of life in the mine. Very humbling. Take a drive out to the lighthouse on the Island, as not to miss this:

Petty Harbour was equally worth the short drive. If you're looking for a bite to eat, try Chafe’s Landing of You Gotta Eat Here fame.

Walk

Do yourself a favour and just walk (starting at the top of the hill of course, if you know what’s good for you). The jellybean houses and views of the bay are breathtaking and need to be seen from the vast variety of vantages the city has to offer.

Travelers tip: download the Newfoundland and Labrador tourism app – it’s an valuable resource for attractions, inns, hiking routes, restaurants and a whole lot more.

Long may your jib draw. Avancez!

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