WestJet Airlines Launch New Direct Route, London to St. Johns, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada
Change your Instagram feed to a new destination : Unleash your inner Viking, grab your Iceberg spotting binoculars and be prepared to be ‘Screeched In’.
Canadian Airline WestJet will be launching a new London Gatwick to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador flight 3 times a week from May 1st through to October, 2024.
Here are ten reason you may want to change your Instagram feed to somewhere new:
Aah: Watch icebergs up close in Iceberg Alley – you may even be able to taste a chunk in your gin and tonic . Boat trips will take you out to view them or often, in season, you can see them from the land. Observe the colourful strata, waterfalls and birdlife making icebergs a home from home. The annual Iceberg Festival kicks off every June Home | Iceberg Festival (theicebergfestival.ca)
Glug : Get a local bar man to ‘Screech’ you in as an honorary Newfoundlander with a tot of rum, historically traded with the Caribbean as ballast in the trade of salt cod or discover the Newman wine vaults which were used to age Port in days gone by. Newman Wine Vaults, St. John’s, NL (heritage.nf.ca)
Hike : Skerwink, Rock Cut and Green Gardens! Lace up those hiking boots and take in the local hiking trails : East Coast Trail, Skerwink Trail, North Head Trail for spectacular views and challenging terrain, Rockcut Twillingate Trails (in Twillingate) and Green Gardens Trail in Gros Morne National Park all offer up opportunities to get those steps in, whatever your level. https://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/things-to-do/hiking-and-walking
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Ooh: See whales, on a boat tour along the coast. There is nothing like seeing a whale tail up close or see the spouts off in the distance. Every year, up to 10,000 humpbacks come to the shores of NL to feed. They’re very active and often put on quite a show as they breach and slap their fins and tails! You can sometimes see them from coastal hiking trails as well. St. Vincent’s Beach is another great spot—the ocean shelf drops off close to the beach, and so the whales come incredibly close to shore. You can almost reach out and touch them! Whale Watching - Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada (newfoundlandlabrador.com)
Roar : Unleash your inner Viking : Explore L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, where Vikings settled over 1,000 years ago. This is the only authenticated Viking settlement in North America, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site! L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site (canada.ca)
Shop : For unique hand made folk arts and crafts of Newfoundland head to the Newfoundland Insectarium or a handmade market. You’ll also find an endless selection of gift shops all over the island, even in the smallest communities! In St. John’s, there’s prime souvenir shopping for handmade local goods on Water Street and Duckworth Street. Try NONIA for knitwear, with a dash of unique history dating back to the 1920s. NONIA (The Newfoundland Outport Nursing and Industrial Association) was established in 1920 to assist NL outport communities to access health services by raising money from the sale of hand-knit garments to pay the salaries of public health nurses. Today, their products still come from women around the province—some have been knitting for NONIA for over 50 years. About Us – NONIA
Sing: George street in St. Johns is home to one of the highest density of bars in North America. With live music the norm you are more than likely to stumble upon a sing along of shanties, pirate tales and old folk songs alongside cover versions of more modern day ditties. Water Street is also a great place for bar hopping. In fact, downtown St. John’s—especially Water Street, George Street, and Duckworth Street—is a great hub for nightlife and a chance to meet the locals. George Street Live – The biggest little street in North America!
Tap: Uncover the history of modern communications at Signal Hill where Marconi tested his first signal between Newfoundland and Labrador and Cornwall in December 1901. Similarly, over 150 years ago, the first transatlantic telegraph cable was landed at Heart’s Content, which changed the way we communicated forever! Marvel at how this started the movement to be able to post Instagram and Tiktok films now. Signal Hill National Historic Site (canada.ca)
Tuck :Into fresh seafood and local delicacies at a lighthouse picnic , a lobster boil up on the beach, head for the local fish and chips shop or try cod tongues. Forage with a local or go fancy and dine in one of the islands award winning restaurants like Chinched Bistro.
Twitch : With a mineral and plankton rich coast line, the province is home to some 40 million sea birds. By May they are breeding and nesting, clinging on to the cliffs. The Atlantic Puffin is the provincial national bird and Ecological Reserves are set aside to protect them, where you can observe them diving and feeding. The island is also home to a one of the largest populations of Bald Eagles in eastern North America. When is the best time of year to see puffins in Newfoundland (visitnewfoundlandlabrador.ca)
So, why settle for the same old vacation photos when you can have stories to share unlike any other.
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