Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland, a UNESCO site, is an spot in Newfoundland you would not want to miss. The park is amazingly diverse with a complete cross section of geology, beginning with coastal lowlands, deep fjord valleys volcanic rocks, limestone conglomerate, Precambrian gneisses and granites, simply to start the list of what comprises the mountain ranges. It's an amazing spot and a requirement on any Newfoundland travel itinerary.
On our way to Gros Morne National Park, (we decided to drive it from St. Johns instead of fly to Deer Lake) we travelled through widely diverse regions of Newfoundland. We stopped on the way at Cape St. Mary's, overlooking the sea stacks where gannets, a big and beautiful seabird, were nesting. On the quick stroll to the edge of the cliff, we were overpowered with the noise of the cawing birds. As we peered far beyond the birds, out at the sea, we could see numerous whales blowing and breaking. Newfoundland has about 6 species of whales.
Moving along down the road, we had to drive around moose - there were lots of them, particularly at dusk. I had only seen moose from a particularly far distance in Alaska but these were right up and really near. We made numerous stops at many colourful lighthouses where there were nesting puffins and a variety of other birds. Stopping at on one of the beaches, we took a long walk, enjoying the sea mist. We ran into two ladies who just experienced a whale plunge dining on the beach. They were wet from the spray but did not mind at all as it was an 'experience', they declared they'd always remember.
Once we arrived Gros Morne National Park, we were taken back by the pure wonder of the park. In the park, there were little eateries for locally grown food (fish and chips being a fave), old fishing villages with lobster cages stacked up neatly, attractive fields of colorful wild flowers growing, such as wild irises, as well as orchids. The hiking in the park is not tricky in several areas, which allows easy access to even more inspiring views. The beaches can be rocky or sandy depending on the beach you are on.
The ship ride on the enclosed lake of Western Brook Pond is a complete must do. The 2.5 hour trip takes us the length up and back on the pool with straight up cliffs. It's what I might call an inland fjord.
As we explored around Newfoundland, we ate at numerous local bistros. As the cod fishery has declined, we felt guilty eating fish and chips but they were superb when we gave in to our stomachs. There's a local berry called bakeapple or cloud berry but it is not like what you may imagine - if you're like me you will think about mom's fresh baked apple pie dripping with cinnamon and sugar, but this little orange berry that looks like a cloud is formed into a sauce that is kind of tart and superb but not at all like a baked apple. One day at a local bistro, I was contemplating what to eat. I made the statement I Had tried the rest on the menu, so I may just as well try the fried baloney. I didn't try it after all, but when we were jetting home, I was reading The Shipping News by Annie Proulx and started chuckling out loud on the airplane. My family looked at me as if I were crazy till I offered the following snippet from the novel to them: "I have tried everything else on the menu, I might just as well try the fried baloney."
That finished my wonderful trip to Gros Morne National Park and then I trundled off to the Viking Trail to keep on my adventure.
On our way to Gros Morne National Park, (we decided to drive it from St. Johns instead of fly to Deer Lake) we travelled through widely diverse regions of Newfoundland. We stopped on the way at Cape St. Mary's, overlooking the sea stacks where gannets, a big and beautiful seabird, were nesting. On the quick stroll to the edge of the cliff, we were overpowered with the noise of the cawing birds. As we peered far beyond the birds, out at the sea, we could see numerous whales blowing and breaking. Newfoundland has about 6 species of whales.
Moving along down the road, we had to drive around moose - there were lots of them, particularly at dusk. I had only seen moose from a particularly far distance in Alaska but these were right up and really near. We made numerous stops at many colourful lighthouses where there were nesting puffins and a variety of other birds. Stopping at on one of the beaches, we took a long walk, enjoying the sea mist. We ran into two ladies who just experienced a whale plunge dining on the beach. They were wet from the spray but did not mind at all as it was an 'experience', they declared they'd always remember.
Once we arrived Gros Morne National Park, we were taken back by the pure wonder of the park. In the park, there were little eateries for locally grown food (fish and chips being a fave), old fishing villages with lobster cages stacked up neatly, attractive fields of colorful wild flowers growing, such as wild irises, as well as orchids. The hiking in the park is not tricky in several areas, which allows easy access to even more inspiring views. The beaches can be rocky or sandy depending on the beach you are on.
The ship ride on the enclosed lake of Western Brook Pond is a complete must do. The 2.5 hour trip takes us the length up and back on the pool with straight up cliffs. It's what I might call an inland fjord.
As we explored around Newfoundland, we ate at numerous local bistros. As the cod fishery has declined, we felt guilty eating fish and chips but they were superb when we gave in to our stomachs. There's a local berry called bakeapple or cloud berry but it is not like what you may imagine - if you're like me you will think about mom's fresh baked apple pie dripping with cinnamon and sugar, but this little orange berry that looks like a cloud is formed into a sauce that is kind of tart and superb but not at all like a baked apple. One day at a local bistro, I was contemplating what to eat. I made the statement I Had tried the rest on the menu, so I may just as well try the fried baloney. I didn't try it after all, but when we were jetting home, I was reading The Shipping News by Annie Proulx and started chuckling out loud on the airplane. My family looked at me as if I were crazy till I offered the following snippet from the novel to them: "I have tried everything else on the menu, I might just as well try the fried baloney."
That finished my wonderful trip to Gros Morne National Park and then I trundled off to the Viking Trail to keep on my adventure.
About the Author:
Susan Green is a photographer who leads wildlife tours. One of her favorite places is Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland.
