Vacations that Mattter

Newfoundland and Labrador- Maps + Facts

Newfoundland and Labrador is made up of the island of Newfoundland and a mainland area, Labrador, which is north east of the province of Quebec. Canadian's most Eastern province did not join the Canadian confederation until April of 1949. As a result, you will find the province has retained much of its own cultural heritage, including collections of music and stories, traditional foods and celebrations, and a treasured way of life.	Cape Spear, near St. John's, is the closest point to Europe in North America. Most towns on the Island of Newfoundland are near the sea, since early settlers made their living from the sea. Notable features almost everywhere in the province are hills and cliffs, rivers, lakes, ponds, a breeze from the Atlantic Ocean, and lots and lots of space!
The dialects and use of language are so distinctive that there is a "Dictionary of Newfoundland English." which has been reproduced online. The province has given the world the Newfoundland dog, the Labrador Retriever (which was called the "lesser Newfoundland" because of its smaller size), and the Newfoundland pony. All these animals have acquired specific characteristics that are adapted to the environment of the province.
Gateway City/Airport Newfoundland has several airports. Goose Bay, Labrador - Stephenville - Dear Lake - Gander - and St. John's are frequently used airports, located across the province. Air Canada and Provincial Airlines are the two major airlines servicing the province. St. John's International Airport located St. John's, the capital city, is the largest. St. John's is a 3-hour flight from Boston, USA; 3 hours from Toronto, Ontario; and six hours from London, England. Scheduled arrivals and departures are available through the airport web site - www.stjohnsairport.com	St. John's is the largest airport, and Marine Atlantic Ferries arrive at Port aux Basque and Argentia. Ferry Service from Nova Scotia Marine Atlantic runs a ferry service for passengers and vehicles between North Sidney, Nova Scotia and Argentia on the East Cost of the island and Port aux Basque on the West Coast of the Island. Schedules and information about the service are available through their web site - www.marineatlantic.ca.
Weather Because the province is so large and the Island of Newfoundland is in the Atlantic Ocean, the weather can vary greatly from one part of the province to another. Actually, it can vary from one minute to another. (There is a saying in province that you can experience all four seasons in one day!) If you are travelling to the province, even in summer, it is a good idea to bring clothing for both cool and warm weather, and for rain. However, the climate is temperate on the Avalon Peninsula. It seldon gets extremely hot or extremely cold. In the summer, there is always a comfortable breeze from the ocean to cool even the hottest days. Here is the weather report from the Canadian Weather Network for St. John's: www.theweathernetwork.com/cities/can/st__john_s_NF.htm