Eco-Culture Experience: St. John’s & Outports Staycation

DAY 1 TO 4: ST. JOHN'S

St. John's is Newfoundland’s capital city—a place with a "San Francisco meets Dublin" vibe. You’ll spend three nights there, based at Hipditch House, our heritage cottage overlooking the sea, in the Battery, one of the oldest—and most colourful—neighbourhoods in St. John's. Hipditch House is a short hike from Signal Hill National Historic Park, via the North Head Trail, which starts quite literally at your doorstep. For the three to four days you spend here in North America’s oldest city, you can listen to live Celtic music, dine on fresh seafood, and hike the extensive coastal trail system—or simply head to the independent boutiques and crafters’ studios.

DAY 4 TO 7: HEART'S DELIGHT, TRINITY BAY

Arrive at Heart's Delight, a quiet former fishing village located directly on the Baccalieu Trail driving route. Spend three nights at the ocean-front EJ Sooley House, a restored traditional fisherman's house built in 1930 located on the banks of Trinity Bay. For three to four days explore over seventy small outport communities along 240 km of coastline. Drive the Cape Shore Trail driving route to Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve where 60,000 nesting Gannets settle on a 300-foot cliff.

DAY 7 TO 10: BONAVISTA PENINSULA

En route for Bonavista on the Discovery Trail, you’ll be treated to breathtaking ocean views, rugged scenery, lighthouses and with any luck, icebergs and whales. It will be your home base for three nights. You'll sleep at our historic Seafair House, a charming restored 19th-century fisherman's house. For three to four days, you can explore nearby outport communities, such as Trinity, Port Rexton, Elliston and Maberly. There’s a vibrant local theatre scene in Bonavista—with outdoor productions in the warmer months. Spectacular coastal hiking trails, as well as abandoned communities to discover by boat, are all nearby.

DAY 10: DEPART BONAVISTA

Depart Bonavista for St. John's International Airport. Spend your remaining time exploring the Discovery Trail or missed sites in St. John's before your flight.