There is much to do in the " Oldest City in North America"! A visit needs several days, at an absolute minimum!  The city is picturesque, friendly and quaint. And it has everything you need to have a great holiday! Whether your choice runs to the luxurious small inns/B&Bs or hotels…or to a backpackers’ hostel,  St. John’s won’t let you down.  Wonderful accommodation, often in historic settings, awaits you.   And don’t think you have to go far to take in some of the best fishing, hunting, bird watching, diving, and whale watching in the world!  It is all on our city’s doorstep.   

Cool, new things to do for 2007
As St. John's tourism industry matures, I never cease to be fascinated with all the exceptional talent that comes forward to put tourism products on the table!  Here are a few websites to wet your appetite. I think you will find them most interesting.

Wonderbolt
Founded in 1981, Wonderbolt has created more than 30 critically acclaimed shows and has toured every nook and cranny of Newfoundland and Labrador, across Canada, and beyond! Benni has workshops scheduled throughout June and July, why not give him an email and let him tell you about them!

The Boreal Poetry Garden, Portugal Cove
(20 minutes from downtown St. John's), The Boreal Poetry Garden is a five-acre site of mixed boreal forest with paths developed by the environmental artist Marlene Creates. Brief texts reflect the artist's interaction with the land where she lives, as well as some of the site's particular geophysical and climatic characteristics, its plant life, wildlife and social history.

Appointments can be made with the artist who will provide guided walks, readings of site-specific poems, and flora interpretation of over 50 native species. Refreshments using local wild berries available. Groups of up to 30 people can be accommodated.  

Adults - $12, students and seniors - $10, no charge for each accompanied child under 10. Call for appointment and directions (709) 895-1020.  

Fishing
The city offers access to all manner of fishing experiences:  salmon, trout, tuna, deep sea, small pond.  Fish to your heart’s content.  All within minutes of the oldest city in North America.

Bird Watching
Whether from the land or the water, St. John’s offers you the opportunity to observe birdlife in a pristine, uncrowded, peaceful setting.

Hiking
No shortage of activities here.  All manner of walks and hikes are available both within the city and within easy commuting distance.  The East Coast Trail is a great place to start.

Kayaking
Not long ago, I had occasion to kayak with Stan Cook and his (infamous) Dad, Stan Senior, as we know him from their site in Cape Broyle.  Kayaking in Newfoundland waters is a blessed experience.   Even if you are a novice to the sport – give it a try!  You will not be sorry. 

Diving
I am told that the relatively shallow water wreck diving just outside of St. John’s, off Bell Island, is some of the best, and the clearest, in the world.  Care to give it a go?  Check these operators for tours and prices.

Whale watching
No one can tell you what it is like to be the only small boat on the water, on an early morning run, with a pod of whales feeding on small capelin.  Exhilarating and conscious raising – this activity is one no one should miss.  There are several operators offering a variety of experiences operating within half an hour of the city.  Don’t miss this one.

Iceberg watching
St. John’s often sees passing icebergs.  As big as houses, these green and white pieces of glass and snow dot our coastline in late spring and early summer. Sit, on a late May morning all bundled up, on an outcropping on the Signal Hill Trail, and contemplate the shapes of these fantastic pieces of ice. Any of the operators listed under whale watching (above) would be delighted to have you sail out with them.

Theatres
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are a very musical, and theatrical group of people, we have a great gift of poking fun at ourselves!  Whether it is Shakespeare by the sea, or the wonderful Cape Spear Voices, or a dinner show by Spirit of Newfoundland Productions, plan to take in at least one of these events.  The dinner theatre should really be booked in advance to ensure space.  As you travel throughout the province in summer, you will find dinner theatres in almost every major community. 

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Enjoy our city’s architecture - built predominantly of wood, the cityscape is dotted with "jelly-bean" houses of describable colour and shade.  This site will let you have a wee tour of many of the historic buildings in and about the downtown end of St. John’s.  Leaside Manor is registered as “The Lea ”.

Parks
The Bowring Park Foundation

Take in the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Cape St. Mary’s
Whether you make this trip one of your overnight visits to the Cape Shore – or whether you do it as a day trip from St. John’s, you really must include it on your trip itinerary.  This UNESCO World Heritage Site is an adventure for the entire family.  Note that the walk out to the actual Cape is secure and picturesque – but it does require some walking.

Colony of the Avalon
Offering guided tours seven days a week during mid June to mid October.  These tours cover the Archaeological Site, the Interpretation Center and Conservation Laboratory.  

Newfoundland and Labrador Museum
A perfect way to spend a rainy day, and not to be missed on a sunny day, it boasts a life jacket from, among other displays, an excellent one on Newfoundland's first indigenous people, the Beothuks and on Sunday afternoons, our best musicians regale you with "history in ballad".

If you like music, why not visit us during early August for the George Street (Music) Festival and the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival.  You'll also be in time for the oldest Regatta in North America .


Try The St. John's Haunted Hike. I grew up with my grandmother telling me stories of the "visitors" --- it was either the "devil visiting Red Island" or "footprints up her walkway on a winter's night". We have lots of spook history! This tour gets rave tours, is very, very inexpensive and wonderful fun .

Food
lobsters think you will find that the variety and quality of the food in St. John’s is quite impressive for a city of its size.  Whether it is fish, or game, or French cuisine, or Italian.  Whether you would like to dine all evening or have a fast snack before hitting one of Charlie’s Scademia harbour runs, you will find an eclectic group of restaurants.  Most of the bars in the area also serve food, particularly those on George and Water Streets.

There is so much more to do in and around the city of St. John’s.  Here is a snapshot of activities that we often recommend to our guests:

• Start your day with a walk on the old Bullet train bed (page)
• Commissariat House
• Murray Premises
• Quidi Vidi
• Flatrock’s water falls
• Middle Cove Beach and capelin rolling Amherst Rock and the south side hills – don’t forget Shandidith’s grave
• Bowring Park
• Devon House
• Murals of Bell Island

Cycling
From late May to late October, you will find cyclists on the highways and local roads.  Try the  local operators – I think you will be pleasantly surprised at what they can put together for you.

Hunting
Hunting expeditions are easily coordinated.  Obviously the time of the year will be very important.   Don’t assume that you need to travel to remote parts of the island to satisfy your hunting wishes.

Boat operators, including city harbour tours There are lots of ways to see St. John’s harbour and these mini-cruises sho w you a cityscape that is dotted with colour and with history.  As is our tradition, these cruises always include a song or story for your enjoyment.

Try a local brew at one of the many George Street pubs.