Eight Quirky Things You'll Love About Your Visit to Newfoundland

The stunning rocky coastline is one of the distinguishing features of Newfoundland and is home to thousands of puffins who thrive in colonies there.

By John Roberts

Newfoundland hangs off the northeast edge of North America, an island that can seem like a world of its own to outsiders.

I dropped into St. John's, the largest city and capital of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. My weekend visit went far too quickly, but I got a small taste and brief glimpse of what it means to be a Newfie.

The island has a population of just more than a half-million people, living together on a large, bitterly cold rock in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. The natives are descended from a centuries-long heritage of rough-and-tumble sailors and fishermen who landed upon the coasts of Newfoundland from Ireland and England.

The residents today still revel in their history, proud to be able to withstand the rough elements that persist nearly year-round and knowing they share a special bond that mainlanders will never be able to understand.

Yes, Newfies are tough. But that does not mean they are unfriendly. In fact, quite the opposite.

They openly welcome visitors to come give the island a try, and revel in sharing some of their admittedly quirky traditions and the unique features of the island.

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About My Trip with GMC

I was delighted to travel in and around St. John's in a new GMC Sierra Denali to see many of the fun things that make Newfoundland a special place.

The luxury truck was the perfect vehicle to zoom all around the island. It is spacious, fits up to five people -- with three in a roomy crew cab -- and has a large truck bed for hauling things like bikes, kayaks and camping equipment. GMC was showing off the 2019 model of its Sierra to highlight the features that make it a good fit for people who live or travel to rugged places like Newfoundland, which offers a slew of adventure opportunities.

Don't worry, my truck lovers, gearheads and auto aficionados, you can read more about what exactly the new GMC Sierra has to offer right here.

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8 Things I Had Fun Doing on My Visit to Newfoundland

When in St. John's, I suppose. Just one of the several new friends I made on my visit.

I liked the taste of this much better during my "Screeching In" ceremony.

Getting "Screeched In" -- Like all visitors to the island, I was invited to be "Screeched In."

This is a welcoming ceremony to initiate visitors as honorary Newfoundlanders. So, there I was in the back yard of a the Mallard Cottage restaurant, which is an old wooden residential structure that is listed on the Canada registry of historic places, unsure exactly what this Screech-In ceremony held for me.

It's a boisterous little event, and I was joined by a dozen others who are asked to eat a salted capelin fish, a bit of Newfie steak (fried bologna) and kiss a big codfish before downing a shot of Screech, which is a Jamaican rum. The ceremony can only be officiated by a native and is not complete until we complete a recitation. Asked "Are ye a screecher?" Our response is "Deed I is, me ol' cock, and long may yer big jib draw!" This means "Yes, I am, my old friend, and may your sails always catch wind."

We stumble through our responses with varying degrees of success and are all welcomed as honorary Newfies for our visits. It's a truly fun way to kick off our trip and serves as prelude for a fine night of dining and drinking with new friends.

You can come to Cape Spear to witness the first sunrise for North America each day.

Cape Spear -- St. John's is one of the oldest cities in North America (some accounts claim it is the oldest) and is the easternmost city. The point of the island is farthest east of them all is Cape Spear. The Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site sits on a rocky promontory and is a popular place to visit to see the first rays of sun reach the continent each morning. It is an amazing place to sit and turn your back to the ocean and realize the entirety of North America is all stretched out in front of you. You can also spot whales and numerous seabirds while here.

All in a Name -- A drive around the island yields plenty of beautiful natural sights as you go along the coastline and see pretty harbors, homes and villages. It's the names of some of the villages and towns that catch the eye of visitors. Perhaps the most-photographed road sign is the one indicating you have arrived at the edge of the town of Dildo. Tourists seem to find this roadside marker especially stimulating.

Passion was at play, obviously, when they named Heart's Desire, Heart's Delight, Heart's Content and Cupids. I stopped to snap a shot of the colorful fishing shacks near a bay in Heart's Delight.

The Ugly Stick doesn't look like much, but it adds a good sound to the musical arrangement.

Ugly Sticks -- The signature instrument on Newfoundland points to imagination and ingenuity in these parts. The Ugly Stick is a beauty of a music-making contraption. I was amazed at the sound it generated as I listened to a band play at a bar one evening. I asked what it was, and the musician told me all about his Ugly Stick, which is fashioned from a broom handle, beer bottle caps and a tin can. It's all anchored by an old rubber boot at the base. 

My favorite village is Quidi Vidi. You can spot the brewery in the green building at the head of the marina.

Quidi Vidi -- This charming fishing village (pronounced Kiddy Viddy) has a gorgeous harbor that sits at the base of a hillside, where you can spot residents out foraging for wild berries. Signal Hill also looms above the neighborhood and offers nice hiking paths.

Quidi Vidi is also home to Mallard Cottage, the historic wooden Irish-Newfoundland-style building that is an amazing restaurant that serves up regional cuisine. But my favorite reason to come here is Quidi Vidi Brewing Co., where you can sit back and enjoy the scenery while downing varieties such as Iceberg Beer.

George Street in downtown St. John's offers a bustling bar scene.

George Street -- This small roadway within St. John's is the heartbeat of the nightlife. Many of my fellow travelers compared it to a mini New Orleans' Bourbon Street. It transforms into a pedestrian-only street in the evenings, as it is filled with numerous bars and nightclubs. Activity ramps up after the sun goes down, and the party continues until early morning. You can also find plenty of food vendors and 24-hour eateries to hit up after you work up a hunger while partying all night. 

We could see thousands of seabirds over the waters and along the coasts during a sunset boat tour.

All the Creatures You'll See -- Water, water everywhere. You can spot whales and seabirds from the hillsides and coastal areas. This is enchanting for visitors but just a way of life for resident Newfies. I suggest trying a boat tour to get out onto the water to go spotting whales and puffins.

You can expect to come face to face with thousands of Atlantic puffins, which are the island's mascot and have attained protected status, meaning there are numerous colonies that make their homes along the rocky coastline. Whales, dolphins and porpoises also ply the waters off Newfoundland. Minke, humpbacks, blues or orcas can be spotted. Sea kayaking and fishing excursions are also available.

Any true Newfie owns a Sou'wester rain hat.

You've Got that on Backward -- Newfies even have made a splash in the world of fashion. You can really fit it when on the island if you get yourself a Sou'wester, a traditional collapsible rain hat that sure comes in handy when the winds and rains come whipping off the seas. Note: that gutter goes at the front with the big flap toward the back (the idea is to keep that rain from running down your neck. How do I look?

Thanks for reading, and you can find a few more of the best things to do in Newfoundland in my video below.

Happy travels!
JR