Getting Oriented

Newfoundland is part of the Newfoundland and Labrador province; the latter is on the mainland, bordering Québec. Most airlines fly in to the provincial capital of St. John's (not to be confused with the city of Saint John, in New Brunswick), on the Avalon Peninsula, making it the logical starting point for visitors to Newfoundland. Farther west is the Burin Peninsula, and to the north are the Bonavista Peninsula and Notre Dame Bay. On the west side of Newfoundland, the Northern Peninsula stretches up toward Labrador; Corner Brook is a good starting point for exploring the mountains. In Newfoundland, you'll do much of your driving on Route 1, the Trans-Canada Highway, which goes east–west from St. John’s to Port aux Basques.

• St. John’s. The capital of Newfoundland is usually the starting point for visits to the province. At the heart of the city is a working harbor full of fog and music. You'll find buskers, boat horns, cranes loading large vessels at the docks, seagulls, and wind. Beyong the harbor, St. John's has beautiful houses and lots of soul.
• Avalon Peninsula. This picturesque region is home to about half of Newfoundland's population. Cape Spear National Historic Site, consisting of wild cliffs, walking paths, historic bunkers, barrens, and a lighthouse, is the easternmost point in North America.
• Eastern Newfoundland. The Bonavista Peninsula has history, archaeological artifacts, and a burgeoning arts scene; the Burin Peninsula is more about stark landscapes. Clarenville, halfway between the two, is a good base for exploring, though not much of a destination in itself. Terra Nova was Newfoundland's first national park.
• Central Newfoundland and Notre Dame Bay. The central town of Gander is known for its airport and aviation history; it's mostly a good base for exploring fishing villages like Twillingate with its famous "Iceberg Alley" views.
• Fogo and Change Islands. These are remote islands off an already out-of-the-way island. Known for modern artists' studios and luxury accommodations, Fogo and Change islands have not lost their timelessness or air of solitude. This is truly the end of the earth.
• Western Newfoundland. The wild and rugged Great North Peninsula is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Gros Morne National Park and L'Anse aux Meadows), and the west coast is famed for its Atlantic salmon fishing, Long Range Mountains, winter sports, and the hub of the west coast, Corner Brook.