We're planning a week long trip to the Avalon Peninsula and are primarily interested in photography. Dates are flexible, but we are looking now at June 28 to July 5th. Any suggestions of central location to rent a cabin or cottage for a week that will allow easy access to the whole peninsula? Is this time frame a good time to see the birds at St. Mary's? Finally, I don't know much about Canadian holidays, but Canada Day would fall in the middle of our trip. Do businesses and tourist stops remain open? Any insights on this trip, including the time period we've picked, would be appreciated. Thanks.
Avalon Peninsula
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You should be Good for gannets, murres and kittiwakes at Cape St. Mary's. We were there July 15-16 a few years ago and there waw lots to see. Fog is an issue there and alowing extra time will increase your chances of experiencing it in different conditions. In two days we had thick fog and brilliant sunshine.
I would not be concerned about the holiday.
Pack some warm clothes.
You will have no problem with this time frame as far as birds are concerned and, of course, whale watching and puffin sighting off the coast on an ocean going boat is also an photographer's dream. Other delights on the peninsula are Cape Spear, about 15 minutes outside St. John's, Cape Maddox (1/2 hour) Flat Rock, Portugal Cove-Bell Island (all about 1/2-3/4 hour). In St. John's itself is the amazing Signal Hill, Quidi Vidi and "the gut".
St. John's is central and has lots of B & B's: we loved Maunder Manor on Forest Road right near the downtown which is very architecturally interesting.
My wife & I rented an apartment for the month of July last year in Holyrood, which is about 40 kms west of St. John's and found it an ideal location for touring the Avalon Peninsula. The apartment was at "Comerford's" (listed in in Nfld. Travel Guide) and was very reasonable with a friendly staff (but what else would you expect in Nfld?) The holiday should be no problem, other than banks being closed. As mentioned by Gavin, fog can be a problem at Cape St. Mary's but there will be plenty of birds. Would also recommend Middle Cove, north of St. John's, for photos and a whale watching boat out of Bay Bulls.