So I'm actually making it up to the Rock next month, for anyone that doesn't already know. Thoughts on what I should do? My 2 biggest things...I MUST to play some sessions (I sing, play bodhran and guitar)/catch some music, and I NEED to get me some nature. To much smog and concrete here in NYC!

Thoughts? I really want to experience the culture, the music, and land. Pointers welcome.

Oh yeah, and I'm really poor, so think cheap.

---

"We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us."
-Charles Bukowski

"Bad as I am, I'm still here."

Will you mostly be in the St. John's area? How far out are you planning to go?

In terms of nature, I recommend The East Coast Trail. It's a great hike. You don't have to do all of it, but that would give you several nice walks to choose from.

Many of the smaller communities around St. John's are gorgeous. If you've got a car rented, I'd suggest just going for a spin and stopping if you come upon something especially picturesque.

Middle Cove Beach is very nice, and shouldn't be mobbed with high schoolers this time of year. You should definitely get out to Cape Spear, of course.

In St. John's, Signal Hill will give you a nice view of the city, and it's just one of those things you pretty much have to do.

(All those things are free except for transportation to get there.)

I'm not sure if you're interested in museums at all, but The Rooms would be worth a look. It contains the collections of the old Provincial Museum, which used to be on Duckworth Street, as well as some more art-type stuff.

In terms of music... O'Reilly's Pub has live music every night. Tuesday is open mic night, and on Friday and Saturday some of the "bigger name" local bands play. The music quality at O'Reilly's is generally very high. (If you get there early on the weekend evenings, you won't get charged the cover, and the trad session before the band on Saturday is fun anyway. There's no cover most weeknights, except Tuesday when it's $2.)

The Ship Pub (formerly The Ship Inn) has folk night on Wedenesday. The quality of the music is much less consistent than O'Reilly's. Some of I can only describe as beautiful and inspired, but other times it's just weird beyond belief. I'd check who's playing before you go. Cover for folk night is $5, not sure about other nights.

Bridie Malloy's also tends to have good music. While you're walking around downtown, you'll probably see posters for other bands you might be interested in, who are playing at different pubs. Those are often worth a listen.

George Street has all kinds of bars and pubs to choose from. Some people really like Club One or Sundance, but it's not trad music. Personally, I wouldn't bother with Sundance because people often seem to have to stand in line (unless you manage to get yourself on a guest list) and I don't think it's worth it, but if you absolutely cannot leave St. John's without going there, I'd say go early and dress warmly.

Enjoy your trip!

Cape Spear is the place to be, man. It's beautiful out there, even when completely covered with fog. The hike up the 200 or whatever steps there are is way worth it. Make sure you take the tour of the lighthouse.

Fort Amherst - They still have a few cannons in place and some really neat buildings. Just don't get deafened by the fog horn.

Oh, and definately cruise around Petty Harbour. The locals are so friendly and welcoming (that was my favourite place on the trip) and they have some really cute little shops. Check out the liquor mart and bring us back some Screech, eh? I ran out! Oh, and the Hatching, Matching and Dispatching stuff is pretty neat too.

Shopping on Water and Duckworth Street is a must! Go visit Freds and Living Planet... I haven't heard anything about the Two Chefs, so I dunno if they're open yet. And, just 'cause I had to, make sure you climb that huge set of stairs going up from (I believe) Water Street.

Now, the Cabot Tower on Signal Hill didn't do much for me. But definately drive up there to see the scenery. That view out over the Atlantic is incredible. I loved the feeling of being so far East.

And get a look at the Battery. It's got some really pretty scenery as well.

Oh, and you might wanna check out Bannerman Park... There's trees, and who doesn't like trees?

Take a stroll down, I believe it's Gower Street, where they have the most colourful rowhouses you'll ever see. The woman on the ferry called it "Jellybean Row". Too cute!

And I didn't do it personally (had plans with Cory Tetford that night), but I've heard the Haunted Hike is a neat thing to see. And the Newman Wine Vaults look like a place of interest, if you like historical stuff - Heck, maybe they give out free samples!

Report back if you're doing other parts of the island too. I have unlimited suggestions.

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~Delaney

Scars are souvenirs you never lose,
The past is never far...

I think Haunted Hike is over for the season? I could be wrong about that, but I thought they were done. I know they do something special at Hallowe'en, but I'm not sure that they're doing regular tours again till spring unless you can book a whole tour with your own group. They are fun, though. *blush*

Another suggestion I forgot to mention before: The Irish Loop is a really nice drive if you get a chance to get out of the city a bit.

Oh, right! I forgot that the hike doesn't run year round. *Slaps self* I'm losing track of time and I keep forgetting it's almost November.

Bran, could I possibly talk you into touring Cape Breton too? Cabot Trail is an amazing drive!

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~Delaney

Scars are souvenirs you never lose,
The past is never far...

quote:

For this year only, 2005, there will be no regularly scheduled Hallowe'en Haunted Hike. Tour organizer Dale Jarvis will be performing at the Quebec Intercultural Storytelling Festival in Montreal during Hallowe'en week. We will still accept group bookings, but unfortunately, there will be no regular evening Haunted Hikes Hallowe'en week.

What time of the month are you here? The St. John's Storytelling Festival will be going on from Nov 2-6. Festival

Branwyn

St. John's is great ya gotta love it and the things around there to do are great. but take a day to drive out around. take the baccalieu trail go out around the bay. Go out Roach's Line and down around the bay. You might find where my sister lives ( Western Bay) but a few miles down the road you will find a little town that may be a little familiar "Gull Island". I have never actually looked up Sean's house but I am sure there are people who know where it is.

And driving all around the trail you will drive into Heart's content where you can visit the museum, the first cable to reach from Europe to America came through there to allow communication.

TO drive further up da shore and stop at the most famous road sign in just about all of Newfoundland ( and my home town) DILDO. Don't steal the sign, costs too much to replace but have your pic taken with it. There is much history in that little town and let me know if you need a place to stay. I'll hook ya up.

Go off the avalon and visit Bonavista where John Cabot came ashore. To the west coastand visit Gross Mourne National park or up to lance aux meadows and visit the site of the viking's landing long before John Cabot ever discovered Newfoundland.

There is so much to see and do you will never get lonely or bored and in all your travel around the island you will learn that there are no price tags on the doors in Newfoundland.

angie

Thanks everyone for all the info and suggestions, wow! I'm going to be there from November 22-27, so I'll miss the storytelling fest and the hike, but I'm sure I'll find plenty to do!

Stitch...I'm totally printing your post out and putting in my little folder of info for my trip!

Delaney...trees? What are these "trees" you speak of? I've forgotten... I do want to climb Signal Hill, just for the view and the experience. I feel like I should start training now or something... What's the Battery? Oh, and Fred's and Living Planet are first on my list of stores to hit in St. John's! My hostel is right on Duckworth (Duckworth and Preston, I believe), about 5 minutes from George Street, so I'm guessing they won't be too far.

Unforunately I won't have a car...I never learned to drive (pathetic I know) and I'm not old enough to rent a car anyway. So I'll probably only get to see the area in and around St. John's, I'll just have my feet, Metrobus, and whoever I can hitch a ride with to rely on. I'm hoping I can find a way to at least get out to Cape Spear while I'm there, I really want to see it.

I would love to see all these other wonderful places all over the island, I really hope I get to...maybe my next trip I can bring someone who can drive!

And thank you Angie for the offer! If I can figure out a way to get travel out of St. John's for the day, I would love to go a little futher up the shore and see Dildo too (wow that sentence sounds really strange out of context!), I will definitely take you up on it! I've seen pics of the area and it looks amazing.

For all of ya in St. John's, we should all grab a pint one night while I'm there!

---

"We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us."
-Charles Bukowski

"Bad as I am, I'm still here."

I was going to suggest taking of the British Island Tours of St. John's but their season seems to have ended already.

Some cab companies will do sightseeing tours of the city and will probably take you out to Cape Spear but I have no idea how much that would cost.

btw, you can see Fred's in this pic: http://www.britishislandtours.com/Images/pic_dws.jpg and your hostel is in the next block to the left so it's really close. Living Planet is a bit further down the street to the right of the photo but really, not that far.

quote:

Originally posted by Branwyn32:
I'm hoping I can find a way to at least get out to Cape Spear while I'm there, I really want to see it.

Maybe Spencer will lend you his bike. And if he doesn't trust you out on your own with it, I'm sure he'll let you ride on the handle bars.

The Battery is... Dunno how to explain it. It was really just a hilly area near Signal Hill. It was really nice though, the kind of place you'd love to build a house on.

And no need to train for Signal Hill... Unless you're complusive and you must climb it. I just settled for the drive 'cause my family isn't in the greatest shape and they were rather annoyed with my constant we have to do this, we have to do that demands. I think next time I'll go on my own, or with someone who never tires and could make the whole trip without so much as stopping for food.

---

~Delaney

Scars are souvenirs you never lose,
The past is never far...

OF COURSE I HAVE TO CLIMB IT!!!!!!!! Jeebus Delaney! Nevermind that it'll be 0C and windy and I have weak ankles and I ain't in the best shape! IT'S A HUGE FREAKING HILL! IT MUST BE CLIMBED!!!!

Me? OCD? Never...

Melissa...someone did tell me I could take a cab to Cape Spear, but it would cost me like $25. Honestly I was kinda floored...It costs me $25 to take a cab home to my apartment in Brooklyn from midtown Manhattan! I guess compared to NY, everything is cheaper...

Cool pic of Fred's! Oh I'll be dropping some serious change there! So my hostel is really that close eh? Awesome!

---

"We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us."
-Charles Bukowski

"Bad as I am, I'm still here."

One of my favorite bits about St. John's was Leo's, the fish n' chips place. It was mentioned in a newsletter and was described as having a decor that was "somewhat dodgy."

But man, that was good fish n' chips.

Er, sorry... you're probably looking for places to go and stuff. I'm a fatty, though, so every time I'm supposed to give input on a tour, it always involves food.

Branwyn, you said your going to stay at the hostel on Duckworth, right? Well, if you are not too shy around strangers, make friends there, somebody will be bound to have a car. I managed to snag a ride from Brian (a guy staying at the hostel) up to Petty Harbour and Bell Island.
And there is always the DRL that goes around the trans Canada highway, and bus services that go from the highway to the towns.

---

'He was rough, but he was real.'
Steve, you will be missed, Mate.

www.sharkwater.com

nahhhhhhhhhhh chess's fish and chips at 5 and 9 freshwater road is the best place for fish and chips, and I love their wings chips dressing and gravy. oh now i am really home sick.

angie

and branwyn find a Mary Brown's and you will never eat KFC again that is unless you are vegetarian. One of those on Freshwater road as well and down on water street and in the avalon mall and on topsail road and logy bay road and I am sure in a few more locations in the city. Damn you wouldn't think I have been moved away for 15 years.

Angie

Having tried a few places in town, my favourite fish 'n chip place is Leo's. Some people love Ches's and other swear by The Big R but I'm a Leo's girl. It's the batter that makes the difference. Leo's isn't quite as greasy and I find the batter has more flavour. But to each their own. You know what, try both.

Mmm... but no matter where you go you've got to get it with chips, dressing & gravy. Mm..mm..good.