|
 The Killick Coast stretches from St. Thomas’s to Logy Bay on the northeast coast of the Avalon Peninsula and includes Bell Island. This is a favourite scenic drive that takes you into old fishing villages, a former mining town and through farmland.
Explore the Mines One of the most popular visitor attractions in the region is the Bell Island Mines. Closed in 1966 due to technological changes in the international steel industry, the main mines stretch out for miles underneath Conception Bay. The town now sports several huge murals on some of its larger buildings that depict events and people from Bell Island’s past. Mine tours are available from the community museum.
Flatrock features the Flatrock Grotto, a shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes. Blessed by Pope John Paul II, it is believed to be the largest religious shrine of its kind in eastern Canada.
Historic Torbay was the scene of a strategic military maneuver in 1762. On September 13 of that year British forces under Colonel Amherst used this village as the base of operation to retake St. John’s from the French army that had captured it. The British expedition landed at Torbay and marched overland to outflank the French and overwhelm them. Torbay was likely named by Devonshire fishermen from a place of the same name in England.
Spectacular seascapes
At Torbay, turn off onto Route 30, a scenic route called Marine Drive that winds in and out of the small communities along the coast. This is one of the best points on the east coast of the island for viewing and photographing the magnificent Atlantic seascape. The elevated cliffs, exposed beaches and wild seas that this coast is famous for are visible from a number of excellent highway vantage points and seaside parking facilities. During late spring and early summer it is a good area to see icebergs and during the winter when Arctic ice drifts south to these waters, the ice stretches to the horizon. Middle Cove Beach is a traditional area to catch capelin.
Continue on to Logy Bay; the location of the Ocean Sciences Centre where a program of continuing oceanographic research is being carried out into the ocean habitat that surrounds the province. The centre is part of Memorial University and its tourist attractions are the seals.
The Admirals’ Coast 
The Admirals’ Coast follows Route 60 along the western and southern shores of Conception Bay from Marysvale to Conception Bay South and Paradise. It is a mix of rural and urban. The rural western section includes Conception Harbour where there’s been a garden party every summer for more than nine decades. At Avondale the province’s railway history is preserved in the museum located in the old station. Holyrood is known for its marina and annual summer Squid Fest.
Visit communities scattered along the coast
Conception Bay South is a collection of shoreline communities from Seal Cove to Topsail. There’s a linear natural heritage park and walking trail at Manuels River and Kelligrews will be forever associated with the folk song Kelligrews Soiree, also the name of the annual folk festival held in early July.
There’s a marina at Foxtrap, the Royal Newfoundland Yacht Club is in Long Pond and a day use park at popular Topsail Beach. Just past Topsail there’s the Town of Paradise where you’ll find walking trails around Neil’s Pond and Topsail Pond. Turn left off Route 60 onto Route 50 through St. Thomas and St. Phillips to Portugal Cove, where you can take a ferry to Bell Island.
Baccalieu Trail  Only a forty-five minute drive east from the ferry terminal in Argentia or west from the airport in St. John’s, the Baccalieu Trail offers breathtaking scenery and a rich cultural history. Around each turn is another community, beach or rock formation. Routes 60, 70, 75 and 80 all lead to this region and Routes 73 and 74 enable travellers to criss-cross between Conception Bay and Trinity Bay.
Coastline Communities
Travelling west on Route 60 you reach Brigus, with its charming old world atmosphere and scenic appeal. This historic town is best known as the birthplace of Arctic explorer Captain Bob Bartlett, and his former home, Hawthorne Cottage, is a National Historic Site.
Next is Cupids, the first official English settlement in Canada. In 1610, John Guy of Bristol, England established a plantation at what was then known as Cupers Cove. In 1995, archaeologist Bill Gilbert discovered the plantation site and began the excavation which continues to this day. The community museum and archaeology lab contain artifacts from the plantation as well as other interesting exhibits, including a postal history of Newfoundland. Cupids is now preparing for the Cupids400 Celebrations in 2010.
Turning north on Route 70 you will pass through the scenic communities of South River, Clarke’s Beach and North River. Head up Route 72 and visit the Port de Grave region, where you can drive or hike along the coastline. At the tip of this peninsula, visit the Fisherman’s Museum, Porter House and the old one-room school in Hibb’s Cove.
Return to Route 70 to visit the bustling town of Bay Roberts, a community named by Jersey fishermen from the Channel Islands. Visit the Cable Building on Water Street, which also serves as the town hall and houses a Mercantile Museum and Christopher Pratt Art Gallery. Take a walk on the majestic shoreline of the Mad Rock Heritage Trail.
Next is Spaniard’s Bay, named for its early Spanish settlers. Turn east to Upper Island Cove, a community known for its culture and heritage and then move through Bryant’s Cove on your way to Harbour Grace, a community first settled by the French in the 16th century. In the early 17th century, its most famous citizen, the pirate Peter Easton, settled here and used Harbour Grace as his base of operations. In Harbour Grace you will find St. Paul’s, the oldest stone church in the province, as well as the starting point of Amelia Earhart’s first successful solo Trans-Atlantic flight.
Secluded sandy beaches and walking trails Just over the hill is Carbonear. Take in a concert, tap your toes at the annual Carbonear Folk Festival or visit the Rorke Stores Museum to learn about the seafaring traditions of this community. Passing through Freshwater and Victoria you will come to Salmon Cove, which features a secluded sandy beach and well maintained walking trails where you “walk with the eagles”.
On the North Shore, the coastline is breathtaking. the Blackhead National Historic Site marks the first Methodist Church in Canada. Northern Bay has one of the province’s finest beaches. When you reach Old Perlican, the Trinity and Conception Highways converge. Go right to visit Bay de Verde, a picturesque fishing village settled by Irish fishermen. From Red Head Cove view Baccalieu Island, an ecological seabird reserve with the world’s largest population of Leach’s Storm Petrels.
On your way back to Old Perlican, visit Grates Cove, where the Rocks Walls are a National Historic Site, and learn about the legend of Cabot Rock.
Lighthouses, fishing stages, wineries and more! Travelling on Route 80, turn off the highway at Hants Harbour to visit the lighthouse and heritage stages and learn of the sorrow that surrounded the Willow Tree. At Winterton, you can visit the Boat Building Museum and the churches that dominate the community. The colourful “Hearts” communities are your next points of interest. Heart’s Content is famous for its Cable Station, a Provincial Historic Site. You will pass through Heart’s Desire and Heart’s Delight-Islington on the way to Cavendish with its wide-open beaches and Shag Rock, a highlight of Whiteway’s ocean view. For golf enthusiasts visit scenic Pitcher’s Pond Golf Course.
In Dildo, the coastline is picturesque and a trip to the Fisheries Interpretation Centre is a must. Take a boat tour of historic Dildo Island or visit the Whaling & Sealing Museum in South Dildo. Further south, in Blaketown, learn about our pre-history at the Russell’s Point Beothuk Archaeological Site.
Travel on to Whitbourne, which was named after Sir Richard Whitbourne, who set up the first English law court in 1615. Just down the road is Markland home to Rodriguez' Cottage Winery, which uses local berries to produce a high quality wine and is open to the public for tours.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
St. John’s offers an outstanding destination experience
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
One of the most popular visitor attractions in the region
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
This is where the New World began!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A favorite area for fishing and hiking
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A favorite area for fishing and hiking
|
|
|
|
