I'm thinking I should see more of Canada. What made you want to go to Newfoundland? Did it live up to your expectations?

Don't let the fact that it is surrounded by ocean make you think it is a beach resort kind of a place.

But for a mix of history, scenery, insights into different ways people live, the challenge of understanding English as spoken by a true Newfoundlander, interesting, different and delicious food, especially from the sea...

I've been to Newfoundland half a dozen times, never for long enough. Pick your season, or be prepared for lousy weather, but that can be fun, too.

Newfoundland may be bigger than you think. Allow lots of travel time if you arrive by ferry and want to drive across to St. John's.

BAK

I'll answer your second question -- YES, it far surpassed my expectations.

We visited NL twice, each time for about a month. It's a rock, but in spite of that description there is beauty. (Go to my profile and to the site mentioned there for suggested places to visit.)

The people are outstanding. While the major export of the province is of talented young people who leave for education and jobs, those who remain are rugged individualists who have great pride in the province and are probably much like those who developed early America and Canada. When you go, take time to meet the folks, learn of their life, their concerns, their interests... Learn of the life of the fishermen, the miners, and others who live outside of the St. John's metro area. You'll then understand why many of those talented young people later return to "the rock" to work or retire.

Plus.. it's a big treat here when a Newfoundland and LAbrador travel commercial shows up on our television.

If the scenery is grat on TV (it's a nice TV, but anyway..)imaginehow much better it is in person.

Call the Newfoundland travel organization and ask for brochures.

BAK

Well, here's what you might see:
http://s560.photobucket.com/albums/s.../Newfoundland/

I love it, but it's my home, so that's hardly an unbiased opinion.

As a traveller, I'd say it's definitely not for everyone. It's big (about the size of Ireland), sparsely populated (500,000), rocky, and the winters are looong (don't come now).
It's not good for urbanites or anyone looking for luxury resort hotels.
The people who enjoy it as a destination are usually nature lovers, who want to see puffins, whales, icebergs, moose, cliffside walking trails, etc. Alternatively, some like the 19th c. quaintness of downtown St. John's. And a lot of visitors are captured by the culture. The Dictionary of Newfoundland English is not a joke; it's an 800 page work of scholarship. There is Newfoundland music, Newfoundland folklore. For anyone who thinks all Canadian anglophones are whitebread and indistinguishable from Americans, it's a considerable revelation.
I can't offer an opinion as to "living up to expectations", but I think "if it's the kind of thing you like, it's the kind of thing you'll like".

BTW, thanks for the recommendation for the Lindor in Vienna--it was a great, affordable spot for me last summer.

Thanks all. I started thinking of Newfoundland in part because I can get a very long way from Vancouver on only 25000 Aeroplan miles. I also have 19th-century ancestors who appeared to have landed in and lived in Newfoundland.

What about taking the ferry from Nova Scotia?

WillTravel, I don't think I understand your NS idea. Are you now thinking of flying into/out of Halifax? If so, be prepared to add to your vacation time. I'm sure Maritimers would agree that no one should just breeze through NS in a day. There are a lot of great places and scenery there.
The ferry is a six hour ride, remember--which will either use a day each way, or involve a night cabin (I think about $100 + the $110 for car & passenger one-way). So I wouldn't go to NS unless that's also a destination for you. And I think car rental agencies in either province will charge a small fortune for drop-off in the other province.
Anyway, here's a link to times, rates, and reservation info:
http://www.marine-atlantic.ca/en/index.asp
You should make a reservation if travelling in July/August--and you REALLY SHOULD make a reservation if you want a rental car in NL in the summer.

Nfldbeothuk, one hypothetical plan was to land somewhere in eastern mainland Canada, and then proceed eastward, and fly out of Nfld. Is the ferry ride interesting on its own as an attraction?

The ferry as an attraction--for most Newfoundlanders that's a difficult concept, since to us it's like--hmm--thinking of the Granville St. Bridge as an attraction. On a warm, sunny day it can be pleasant, but frankly, no, I wouldn't call it an attraction. Once in a while you spot whales, etc.--but it's not like a whale-watching tour, you probably see just ocean, and it can get rough.
An appealing ferry ride might be 45 minutes to the island of Fogo (off northeast NL). But if you're landing in mainland Canada, make sure you find out the logistics of car rental and drop off. The only part of NL that is accessible by public transit is the city of St. John's.

No, the ferry ride is a bumpy trip on the ocean, but you can do the overnight and then you just sleep through it.

I spent a month in Newfoundland this fall as part of my cross Canada journey. I have travelled to every continent of the world. Newfoundland is my favorite place. It is simple and pure with stunning scenery and amazing people.

It's a great choice. Wonderful, welcoming people and spectacular scenery. For some ideas, here are a couple of links to our experiences:

L'Anse Aux Meadows: http://www.notabletravels.com/destin...20Meadows.html

St. John's: http://www.notabletravels.com/destin...foundland.html

One of the highlights for us too was the East Coast Trail and great hiking, accomadation and food can be arranged
http://www.trailconnections.ca/

I spent two weeks biking Newfoundland's west coast and a few days on the Labrador Coastal Drive in 2008. I spent an entire week in Gros Morne park. I like rugged, wild and wide "empty" landscape.

Did it live up to my expectations? Well, I'm going back this year to bike more or Labrador, the tip of the Northern peninsula and the eastern part of The Rock.

It's fantastic. Gros Morne is fantasmagoric. Gros Morne has the most varied landscape I've seen in a canadian park. The surreal Tablelands, the lush Green Gardens, the rugged Gros Morne, inland fjords, the quiet beach of Shallow Bay. Newfies are a funny, easy going and welcoming bunch of people.

A few pics...
http://www.borealphoto.com/photos/35...6_K62Q4-XL.jpg
http://www.borealphoto.com/photos/38...0_9btM3-XL.jpg
http://www.borealphoto.com/photos/38...9_zeV8e-XL.jpg
http://www.borealphoto.com/photos/36...4_MPdKF-XL.jpg
http://www.borealphoto.com/photos/72...9_cUXjB-X2.jpg
http://www.borealphoto.com/photos/36...3_K2ZGN-XL.jpg

I understand perfectly wanting to make the most of your Aeroplan miles. I try to do the same. I'd say, go for it and fly into St. Johns. Unless you have a lot of time, stick to Newfoundland.
I agree with what everyone else has said. It's beautiful, the people are great, and it's wonderful if you are a fan of the outdoors. As Irecommend has said, the East Coast Trail is beautiful.

What drew me to Newfoundland originally was the promise of seeing puffins, whales and iceburgs... and I wasa thrilled to see them all.

The people are a real treasure.. hiking in Gros Morne is fabulous. I could go on and on.

It certainly did live up to my expectations! amd more.

The ads on TV really are amazing, and it really is like that..

OK, you convinced me! My hiking group of four couples would want to stay at a lodge or cabins with a good comfort level and access to good food. What do you recommend?

cmcfong: Where are you thinking of going in Newfoundland? I planned a trip for our group of 8 hikers last summer, so may be able to suggest places that worked for us. We stayed at both cottages and B&B's. Come back if you want more info.

Hi Clousie, we are going to Yoho this year so the trip would be in late summer or early fall 2012. I would love to hear your suggestions on cottages and b and b's. Do you have any photos from your trip you are willing to share?

Like, Nfldbeothuk, NL was my home: St. John's growing up and later Western NL(Corner Brook). I have lived all over the world (4 other provinces in Canada and 3 other countries including Italy) and can honestly say that Newfoundland is one of the world's great beauty spots.

Do split your trip between the East (St. John's, Cape Spear, Cape St. Mary's, whale watching, hiking the East Coast Trail) and the West (Corner Brook, Marble Mountain and east to Lark's Harbour, then up to Gros Morne and the L'Anse aux Meadows and Viking Settlement).

Truly it is best if you can take 3 weeks, but realizing that is not realistic for most folks, at least 2 weeks is best.

Advice to the planner: book your rental car well in advance (Newfoundland is notorious for running out of rentals esp. vans). Don't take the ferry unless you are really keen on bringing your own car from some east coast point of departure.

And if you are going to be in staying in St. John's itself, there are terrifc rooms with harbour views at the Battery, the Fairmont and Murrays Premises. But the B&B's (like Maunder Manor) offer genuine hospitality and the chance to meet the locals which, IMHO, is the BEST part of any visit.

Thank you so much for the advice, LJ. Sadly our trips are usually limited to just a week. Given that limitation would you go East or West

We would welcome any lodging suggestions you have. It does sound like a beautiful place.

Personally, I would advise going west: the trip to Gros Morne and then on to L'Anse aux Meadows is incredible...I hate to pick one coast over the other and will simply say `make this the first of two trips`.

As to accomodation, I am not the one to ask, as I stay with family. But there is a motel and B&B (combined) in Cows Head (half way up the Northern Peninsula and within easy distance of Gros Morne hikes) that has lovely rooms overlooking the ocean at great prices and does cod au gratin ( a local dish) really well!