St. John's Vacations

Overview

This might be the most unique city in Canada, with tiny, wooden homes clinging to a rock face along the harbour, colourful fishing villages minutes from downtown, and one of the most musical streets in North America. The Battery is a most unusual urban feature.

Just a short walk from downtown you’ll find a series of small, weather-beaten homes that hang onto the side of a dark, rocky cliff overlooking St. John’s Harbour. You’ll probably find a series of hand-painted signs encouraging you to enjoy the walk and point out directions towards Signal Hill via the North Head trail, which actually begins on the front deck of someone’s house. As you pass the homes you skirt the harbour and walk along the base of the cliffs before heading up (and we do mean up) to Signal Hill. It’s hundreds of steps to the top via a series of stairs, so take your time.

Signal Hill offers amazing views of the harbour and downtown St. John’s. A little outside of town, Cape Spear is the most easterly point in North America. The community of Quidi Vidi is a picture-perfect fishing village on a small bay just outside of downtown St. Johns. There’s also a brewery and a fine restaurant called Mallard Cottage.

Back in town, The Room is a fine museum that tells the story of St. John’s and Newfoundland and Labrador, including indigenous history. George Street is filled with great bars offering live music, often rollicking Irish tunes that make every day feel like St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin. You also can take iceberg and whale-watching tours out of St. John’s in the summer.