Newfoundland Icebergs & Taste of The Maritimes

Meals Included:  None

Sunday, June 2: is your travel day to St. John’s NL.  Your motorcoach driver and Prom Tours guide will be waiting and welcoming you to Newfoundland. Get settled in your Downtown Jag Hotel where we enjoy a 2-night stay and prepare for tomorrow’s start of a wonderful journey.

Jag Hotel: Right in the heart of downtown St. John’s,   The hotel has a restaurant

Meals Included: Breakfast, Welcome Dinner and Screech In

Wake up invigorated, enjoy an included breakfast and get ready to head to our first tour to Cape Spear – North America’s most easterly point; Signal Hill – high above the town and a St. John’s city tour. You will head back to the hotel to freshen up before we will all meet on Famous George Street at Kelly’s Pub for a Screech In and Welcome Dinner. Are you ready to kiss the cod fish and have a shot of Screech? 

Afterwards we will head back to our hotel and get ready for our departure as we head West from here starting in the morning, . Next stop Clarenville!

Meals Included:  Breakfast

Today we depart St. John’s . Rise and shine and enjoy breakfast before we check out and head out for the famous Gatherall’s Puffin and Whale Watching Cruise where we may even spot some more Icebergs.

Learn about Newfoundland’s incredible natural heritage during this top-rated wildlife cruise.  Professional, knowledgeable and friendly guides offer a live interpretation during each cruise. Our interpretation program details the lives of the birds & whales along with the journey of the icebergs and is interspersed with a colourful mix of local humour, stories and song capturing the essence of Newfoundland’s culture. Gatherall’s crew is a blend of youthful exuberance balanced with decades of seagoing experience.   Our shore staff and vessel crew are all here to make sure that you have a wonderful experience from start to finish.

After and exciting boat tour we will depart for Clarenville where we will settle in for the evening.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Boxed Lunch

After a wonderful breakfast we will do a driving tour up to  Bonavista NL where John Cabot first set foot in North America in 1497.

We will visit the Ryan Premises National Historic Site and the Bonavista Museum showcasing the salt fish trade – the cornerstone of Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy for centuries. We will also visit the Cape Bonavista Lighthouse For generation of mariners along this coast, the light at Cape Bonavista was their only connection to land while out on the dark sea. Built in 1843, the light at Cape Bonavista is one of the few in the world where you can still climb up the stone tower and see the same seal oil fueled catoptric light apparatus that was used in the 1800s. One of the most photographed places in Newfoundland and Labrador, this is a prime location to view whales, icebergs and puffins.

On our way to Gander stop for a photo stop at Joseph Smallwood’s Lookout, and then the Silent Witness Memorial. Get checked into our comfortable Sinbads Hotel for the next two evenings where you will enjoy complimentary breakfasts as well as dinners on your own in the attached Mystic Dining room or in the Lounge. The dining room lives up to its magical name. Dine here for an experience to truly savour. Allow yourself to be treated with a fine dining experience, paired with an extensive menu, or try one of the many close by restaurants if you choose to have a short stroll.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

After included breakfast we will enjoy a day trip to Twillingate today. First, we will stop at the Beothuk Interpretive Centre for a video and tour, with a chance for a nice stroll through the Ancient Gardens. You will then continue to Twillingate, located in the heart of Iceberg Alley, for a scenic tour, as well as lunch & wine tasting at Auk Island winery. You will have time to visit the Twillingate Museum and Craft Center, with a short stroll behind to see the cemetery situated on the hill facing the sea. Aboard your coach once again, you will have a short stop at the Long Point Lighthouse poised high on the cliffs for an opportunity to see some icebergs and a stop at the fudge store to buy some fudge or ice cream. You will then retrace your steps back to Gander for the evening for a second night at Sinbad’s Hotel where you will have plenty of time to pack for tomorrow and perhaps still time for a stroll.

Twillingate is a town of 2,269 people located on the Twillingate Islands (“Toulinquet”) in Notre Dame Bay. The islands provide an excellent sheltered harbour and easy access to the rich fishing grounds nearby. In recent years, a causeway named after Walter B. Elliot was built, which connects it to the mainland via New World Island. Labeled as “The Iceberg Capital of the World”, the town is one of the oldest ports on the island. Imagine… a now-extinct people with a unique language and culture, thriving on the rich resources of the land and sea: seals, birds, fish.

Meals Included: Breakfast

After our included breakfast we make our way to Rocky Harbour, making a stop in King’s Point to visit the Humpback Whale Pavilion and King’s Point Pottery, have coffee at By The Sea Inn and Cafe, We will then depart and stop for lunch in Deer Lake before carrying on to Gros Morne National Park we have a visit to the Visitor Center for a short video presentation and information on the Park. Then we will check into our overnight stay The Ocean View hotel. You will have time to freshen up, have supper and maybe walk across the street to view the ocean all before heading to the hilarious and entertaining evening Anchors Aweigh Show.

No Newfoundland experience would be complete without the music and wit of a group of local performers, and Anchors Aweigh is the very best the Gros Morne region has to offer.

For many visitors, a leisurely stroll to The Anchor Pub in Rocky Harbour is a defining moment of their trip. Here, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday night during the summer, a group of five local performers gets together to entertain tourists and locals alike with a rousing three-hour show.

Filled with renditions of popular Newfoundland and Labrador songs, and sprinkled with wit and one-liners, the show has become one of the best attended in the whole province. Almost by accident, and practically overnight, the Anchors Aweigh band has found its way onto the list of ‘things to do’ for local residents and visitors alike.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch 

Your tour of Gros Morne continues with your first visit being a stop at the Lobster Cove Lighthouse. You then head north to see the Arches and Broom Point (if re-opened), which is a restored traditional fishing premise that gives you a real glimpse into the vibrant lives of inshore fishing families of coastal Newfoundland. We will also enjoy and included seated lunch at Cow Head and have a walk on the beach, from here we make our way to CornerBrook for the evening.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Welcome Dinner

This morning after breakfast we will make our way to Captain Cook Historic Site

Take in the impressive view of the city of Corner Brook and the spectacular Blomidon Mountains, caves, and the Bay of Islands explored by Captain Cook.

From here we will make our way to Port aux Basques and board the ferry for the 6 1/2 hour journey to Nova Scotia. After docking we have a short drive to our awaiting hotel the fantastic Lynwood Inn at Baddeck where we will be treated to a Welcome Dinner.

Marine Atlantic Ferry: From lighter fare to full hearty meals, choose from a wide variety of dining options sure to satisfy any traveler’s tastes. Fuel up at a restaurant or cozy café, grab a refreshment from the bar, or scoop a cool treat from the ice cream shop! There’s no shortage of entertainment at sea. Stroll the decks and enjoy breathtaking panoramic ocean views and fresh air or check out the modern amenities indoors.

Amenities vary by vessel and cabin, but highlights include:

• TV
• Deck access for stunning ocean views
• Personal headphone jacks in reserved seating areas
• Full accessibility ship-wide
• Games for kids and teens
• Internet café
• Retail store

Meals Included: Breakfast, Boxed Lunch

Today, we will enjoy the spectacular scenery of Cape Breton Island, as you do a circle tour of the Cabot Trail. Enjoy picture stops and picnic lunch as you travel through Cape Breton Highlands National Park. This evening say farewell to your Nova Scotia Tour Director/Guide as you set out for Newfoundland tomorrow.

The Cabot Trail, named one of the best road trips in the world by Lonely Planet, is a trail that winds through stunning landscapes, along the Margaree River, a Canadian Heritage Salmon River, and through spectacular rugged highlands of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park of Canada.

The history of the Cabot Trail is a long and interesting one. The trail was named after Italian explorer John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto) who reached our shores in 1497, sailing on a mission for King Henry VII of England. The name also celebrates the meeting of Cabot and the Mi’kmaq people, the original inhabitants of Cape Breton Island, at Aspy Bay over 500 years ago.

The Cabot Trail, completed in 1932, joined previously isolated fishing villages along an approximate 300-kilometre loop. Today the Cabot Trail connects eight major communities with intriguing histories, ranging from the Acadian Region to Irish and Scottish settlements.

Meals Included:  Breakfast

Today after breakfast we depart Baddeck on our way to Charlottetown, stopping midway to learn about the Canso Causeway.

The Canso Causeway crosses the Strait of Canso, connecting Cape Breton Island by road to the Nova Scotia peninsula. Its crest thickness is 40 m (130 ft), carrying the two-vehicle traffic lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway, Nova Scotia Highway 104 on the mainland side, and Nova Scotia Highway 105 on the Cape Breton side, as well as the single track mainline of the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway. The Canso Causeway is a 1,385 m (4,544 ft) rock-fill causeway in Nova Scotia, Canada. Constructed in an “S” shape, the causeway has a base width of 244 m (801 ft) in waters having a maximum depth of 65 m (213 ft).

We will then take the Wood Islands Ferry and check in to our hotel the Quality Inn and Suites downtown Charlottetown.

Meals Included:  Breakfast, Dinner

Today, we will have a locally guided tour of Charlottetown before departing for a North Shore tour and the Anne of Green Gables Heritage Place. We will have time to visit Cavendish beach and dip our toes in the ocean and then have an authentic welcome to PEI, a Ceilidh (pronounced Kayley), and an oyster shucking demonstration where you may try a freshly shucked oyster! From here we will have an included lobster dinner at the home of the 60 ft salad bar, All-You-Can-Eat Mussels, and Seafood Chowder. Fishermans Wharf lobster suppers. This evening you will then be free to explore Charlottetown on your own.

Anne of Green Gables Heritage Place: Walk in the footsteps of one of Canada’s most celebrated authors and immerse yourself in the landscape that inspired the setting of Anne of Green Gables. Part of L.M. Montgomery’s Cavendish National Historic Site, Green Gables tells the story of both the author, L.M. Montgomery, and her most famous heroine, Anne Shirley. Explore the new visitor center, original house, 19th-century gardens, farmyard, and walking trails – including the Haunted Wood and Lovers Lane – Gift Shop, and The Cordial Café.

Meals Included:  Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, we will have a stop at the Gateway Village, a 30-acre retail and tourism development park. Next we cross the Confederation Bridge which joins the eastern Canadian provinces of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. We will then make our way to Shediak for a stop and picture with the world’s largest Lobster. We then depart for a short drive to the Hopewell Rocks Ocean Tidal Exploration Site. You will be given a guided tour and then have time for an included lunch.

The Hopewell Rocks: also called the Flowerpots Rocks or simply The Rocks, are rock formations caused by tidal erosion in The Hopewell Rocks Ocean Tidal Exploration Site in New Brunswick. They stand 40–70 feet tall, a place to appreciate a remarkable story interwoven through time, tide, and the intricacies of nature. These are the highest tides in the world. And they happen twice a day….every day.

After our fascinating view of Hopewell Cape we continue back into Moncton where we will visit Magnetic Hill  Cars simply don’t roll uphill. It’s impossible, right? Well, drive to the bottom of this world-famous hill, shift into neutral, and be prepared to be amazed. Our bus will roll uphill in total defiance of natural law, even as your brain is telling you it’s simply not possible. Is it magnetic, an illusion, or a gravitational mystery? Stories about Magnetic Hill have been around since the early 1800s, and this wondrous place has been puzzling visitors for decades.  Then we will check into our hotel  for the evening the Rodd Moncton.

Meals Included:  Breakfast

Today we depart Moncton and New Brunswick back to Nova Scotia where we will enjoy a 3 night stay at The Atlantica Halifax  On our arrival in Halifax we will visit  Pier 21. If your ancestors landed in Halifax they will have every detail of their arrival on Canadian Soil. Call them before your tour and they will have all the documents prepared for you upon our arrival.

Staying downtown Halifax you will have time for a leisurely lunch on the Pier at a restaurant of your choice before a visit to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.

restaurant of your choice before a visit to the Maritime museum of the Atlantic.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner

Today, after a complimentary breakfast we will head to Peggy’s Cove, Mahone Bay, and Lunenburg, and tour the city of Halifax.  Tonight you will get to enjoy an included Farewell Dinner with your new friends you have made on the tour.

Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse: Also known as Peggy’s Point Lighthouse, is one of Nova Scotia’s most well-known lighthouses and may be the most photographed in Canada. Located in the quaint fishing village of Peggy’s Cove along the South Shore, Peggy’s Point Lighthouse was built in 1915.

Mahone Bay: Boasts a simple yet extraordinary way of life. Experience it all from history to unique shops, artisans to culinary experiences, along the colorful and quaint streets.  Mahone Bay is a must-see town famous for its picture-perfect Three Churches photo-op.

Lunenburg: The best surviving example of a planned British colonial settlement in North America. Established in 1753, it has retained its original layout and overall appearance, based on a rectangular grid pattern drawn up in the home country. The inhabitants have managed to safeguard the city’s identity throughout the centuries by preserving the wooden architecture of the houses, some of which date from the 18th century.

Meals Included:  Breakfast

Today is your day to fly home unless you have arranged to stay in Halifax longer. Transportation to the airport is included today. If you choose to stay longer all transportation is on your own.