Everything You Need To Do In St. John’s, Newfoundland
Updated: Nov. 13, 2018
Here is what you need to do in St. John’s No one knows for sure how St. John’s got its
Here is what you need to do in St. John’s
No one knows for sure how St. John’s got its name, but one of the oldest cities in North America has a long history of welcoming visitors from far and wide. With a notable number of people having descended from Ireland and England, 97 per cent of the population speaks English. (If you’ve ever been to Waterford, Ireland, you’ll recognize the accent.) Curiously, Newfoundland has its own time zone, set on and a half hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
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What to do in St. John’s: The Rooms
The Rooms is a one-stop cultural shop: It houses the provincial museum, archives and art gallery under its roof. Here, you’ll find remnants from 17th-century colonialists and artifacts used by the province’s aboriginal peoples. Not to be missed are the Beaumont-Hamel and the Trail of the Caribou. The First World War had a profound impact on the province, and this exhibit depicts the sacrifices made by local soldiers and their families.
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What to do in St. John’s: Coastal tours
Damper devils, scrunchions, lassy buns: Your culinary vernacular will get a workout during foraging adventures and Newfoundland cookery courses with Cod Sounds. Roll up your sleeves and learn how to make molasses buns, fish cakes and cod tongues from scratch with local Lori McCarthy. Or saunter along the East Coast Trail to gather Labrador tea leaves, which you’ll brew up once you arrive on a sweep of sand for an upscale beach boil.
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What to do in St. John’s: Great views
Signal Hill National Historic Site boasts commanding views of the city and the Atlantic. On a clear day, you can see right over to Cape Spear Lighthouse – the easternmost point of North America. Keep your eyes peeled for whales as you zigzag along windswept trails that take you into The Battery, a colourful community that anchors the harbour.
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What to do in St. John’s: Have a pint
Who wants to drink cocktails when you can down a pint of beer made from 10,000-year-old iceberg water? Quidi Vidi is a charming fishing village mere minutes from downtown St. John’s and home to Quidi Vidi Brewery, which offers tastings of its iceberg beer. Settle into nearby Inn of Olde – the most classic dive pub you ever did see – for a good chin-wag (and another pint) with the locals. Just keep these hangover cures in your back pocket.
What to do in St. John’s: Eat local
Housed inside a former Victorian home, The Reluctant Chef ticks all the right boxes: Great location, atmospheric setting, top-notch service and excellent value. Leave the wine selection in the hands of the sommelier, who takes his job very seriously – but in your classic, down-to-earth Newfoundland kind of way. It’s difficult to recommend a particular item on the ever-changing seasonal menu, but if you spot a dish with oyster plant, you’ll want to make sure you order it.
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