If you couldn’t get a rental car for your visit to Newfoundland and Labrador this summer, don’t worry, all is not lost. If you find yourself in St. John’s without wheels, you can still have an amazing trip. Follow along with my 3-day itinerary and see some of the best the city has to offer.
One of the city’s most hotly anticipated weeks is here. The ticket booths are setup. The stage is dusted off. The speed bars are gearing up. Over 50,000 people will party on the “biggest little street in North America” for 7 straight days. It’s George Street Festival time.
If you’re planning a trip to to St. John’s, NL one of the first things you’re going to need to figure out is where to stay. To help you out, I’ve hand-picked 7 of my favourite hostels and hotels near downtown St. John’s that each have a unique personality that I love.
Just about every visitor to Newfoundland and Labrador will spend some time in St. John’s, and they should. The most eastern city in North America has a lot to offer. So I’ve put together my top recommendations of things to do while you’re in town to help you create that bucket list.
Have you ever heard the sound of 8,000 sneakers hitting the pavement? It was a sound I wasn’t prepared for and was perhaps one of the coolest unexpected sounds. The dull slap slap that you barely notice when you’re logging solo training miles but when multiplied by 4,000 other runners it becomes a symphony of rubber and pavement.
Without a doubt, one of the other staples of any St. Johns’ summer is the annual Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival. It typically follows on the heels of the George Street Festival, but it couldn’t be more different, including what people wear.
What’s the best way to get the feeling of travel without having to hop on a plane or train? Book yourself a staycation in your hometown. I recently spent a relaxing, but stormy, weekend in downtown St. John’s checking out the brand new Alt Hotel.
We’ve all got that friend (or maybe we’re that friend) who’ve bought tickets to the NLC’s Beerfest not to thoughtfully taste new beers but just to drink as much as possible before the lights come on to “get their money’s worth.” Usually this results in a hot mess with no new appreciation for the brew. Craft Beer Attraction aims to change that beer tasting cliche.
There are a ton of reasons you’ll want to spend your next St. Patrick’s Day in St. John’s, Newfoundland. We’re the closest city in North America to Ireland. A good portion of us have Irish roots that we can actually trace back. We love our trad music and a good pint. The government even takes it as a holiday. St. Patrick’s Day is serious business here.
When you think luxurious, indulgent night on the town in St. John’s, two things should come to mind: dinner at Raymonds Restaurant and a stay at the Luxus. The prices aren’t for the faint of heart but both experiences are memorable and remarkable. I was recently lucky enough to experience both and I’m still pinching myself.
St. John’s, Newfoundland has long known hard times and with our developing oil industry we’re starting to know some good times. So it makes sense that St. John’s is a city that can cater to any budget. Here’s how you can balance your budget in the far east of the Western world.
