One visit to any area of the province will leave folks saying; why did we stay where we’re to? We should have come where you’re at long ago.

 “It’s been overwhelming, overwhelmingly positive,” says Premier Andrew Furey of Come Home 2022. Furey himself has been touring the province as much as possible himself too, he shared.  

Exactly what NL needed

“It’s just been an incredibly joyous, happy occasion for communities throughout our province. Coming out of the pandemic, this is exactly what people needed. People celebrating life … all rallying around this call to come home. And I couldn’t be more proud with the results from this campaign,” he said.

From Regatta and Churchill Park Music Festival to Monster Trucks, George Street Festival, Tell Tale Harbor and Come From Away, Furey and team have been proudly supporting events held throughout the province.  “This was exactly what the province needed right now. For decades, centuries even, we’ve had a history of festivals in towns and communities. Of concerts, arts festivals and more, but because of the pandemic these things mostly stopped. We needed an injection of enthusiasm to reinvigorate them and I think that Come Home Year 2022 did exactly that.”

Whether it was a large concert or a smaller gathering on an outport wharf, it’s been quite a summer to celebrate. The numbers speak for themselves, he said. 

In auto traffic, the province is up 166 per cent from 2019 and growing. Travellers in general are up almost 300 per cent compared to 2021. “It’s special, it’s emotional and it’s economically beneficial at the end of the day as well,” Furey  said.  

Furey shared he figures he spent one weekend in his own bed this entire summer. “It was really nice to see the hope and optimism and the spirit of Newfoundland and Labrador on full display in many communities – all communities, frankly – around the province,” he said. 

This has always been an incredible place to visit, he added. “It’s really more than just about one year. It’s about reinjecting  enthusiasm and optimism … that will live beyond 2022.” 

The premier says he has been so proud as he’s travelled around. “I’d like to thank everybody for being involved and for embracing (Come Home 2022). We were in communities that normally only have 100 people in it and to see it grow to 300 or 400 people in an afternoon to  celebrate the culture of Newfoundland and Labrador … was just fantastic.  

Mark Bowering just might have the most perfect working conditions possible and as we stand in his Walsh’s Farm ‘office’  – a brilliantly sun-lit field in Colliers – he takes a moment to appreciate what a great summer it’s been for anyone in the business of growing blueberries. 

“The berries, they seem to do really good in the heat. They like it. And we always notice around big rocks that hold heat from the sun, the berries around them are some of the best,” he said. 

“It’s easy to be grateful for the heat when cold can cost so much,” he added. “You can lose your whole season in a frost in June. The plants are coming to flower in June and that actually happened here two years ago with a late frost,” he said.

Bowering, as president at Bowering Gardens – a landscaping company – and co-owner of Walsh’s Blueberry Farms, spends a nice bit of time outdoors and he appreciates every minute. 

The many berry-pickers Bowering employs seem to be enjoying their day in the great Newfoundland outdoors as well. We meet Vince Wade who has been picking berries for profit since he was eight years-old. 

Bren Bartlett, who shows off his berry-stained hands, has been picking for over 35 years. Chris England – famous for being both speedy and efficient – uses a two-handed method. “Been doing this for over 25 years and I loves being out picking berries,” England said. 

Helpful bees

There’s much to brag about when it comes to Newfoundland berries. The thicker skin – believed to be designed by nature as a way to protect the berry from the elements – is possibly the reason why locally grown blueberries are ‘the berry best’ tasting and the best for us, especially when it comes to their antioxidant value. 

No pesticides are used as none are required in this province. 

The plants require no watering and they need no other tending besides controlled field burning which is on a rotational schedule and keeps the low-bush blueberry plants healthy and improves yield.  We visit the resident bees on site and Bowering explains how their presence has been helpful.

“We’ve been using bees to try and experiment with pollination … to up our yields a bit. They’re just been doing fantastic out there and seem to be loving it,” he said.

Berry pickers

One fun bee/berry fact?  Bees who thrive around blueberry bushes make a pretty amazing blueberry honey. “The honey that they make from the nectar that they collect at the time of flowering is thicker than regular wildflower only honey,” he said. 

We watch the many pickers do their thing as we enjoy the sunshine – and the berries around us. Bowering smiled.  

“Some of these berry pickers here on this farm have been here for over 30 or 40 years. Some of the same people return and a lot of them are locals. It’s amazing to watch them work. One picker could pick anywhere around  450 pounds a day depending on how thick the berries are and their experience.” 

Who’s their clients? Blueberry pie making nannies? Bowering laughed. 

“Wine makers, beer makers, restaurants, supermarkets. We mostly do bulk sales for businesses but we also do online sales to locals. You can have delivery or arrange for pick-up.”

As for how he enjoys his berries best? “In oatmeal,” he answered.  Bowering shared that when he was first asked to get into the berry business five years ago, he stood on the same field we were standing in and saw nothing but grass and woods. 

“I just saw fields of grass. I’m like, ‘Where’s the berries?’ I didn’t see it because when you look in, it’s just all grass and how can there be berries?”

But he looked down and finally saw the potential.  “When you get out on the field and you finally see the sea of blue you’re in, it’s just amazing.” 

For more visit walshsfarms.com 

This summer The Herald has had the pleasure of meeting some incredible individuals who do some amazing things as they welcome come from aways and staycationers alike to their area of the province of NL. 

One thing has stood out: these men and women all had dreams and visions they’ve tenaciously – most against all odds – made reality. They saw what others couldn’t and went for it, proving that those who work in the tourism industry really are out of this world. 

Humber River Off Grid Tours ~ Humber River, NL

Ashley Hann is a treasure of a young woman. Passionate. Enthusiastic. Brilliant. Social. Compassionate. Strong. Hann is all those things and so much more. Her passion was evident even before we met. 

A scheduling fool up meant we were running late and Hann proved she was on pins and needles waiting for us to arrive when she tracked down my phone number and enthusiastically  asked; “How far away are ya now, girl? Are ya close?” Hann was waiting when we hauled up, not because she had business to attend to – her on the Humber River tent pods and her larger and more exotically luxurious glamping dom are pretty much serve yourself – but because she’s simply proud and excited to show off all she has to offer her guests. 

Show up with your grub, unzip, and enjoy, is pretty much all that needs to happen when you visit Hann’s little piece of heaven on earth, but Hann – along with her treasured Uncle Mel – are the real attractions at Humber River Off Grid Tours. Uncle Mel Cole, at 80, says that having Hann and her enthusiastic ways around “keeps him young.” 

Hann, who is actually Cole’s grand-niece, has lived on the property for over 20 years. While he owns both a business and a home in near-by Deer Lake, life on the river is so much more peaceful, he shared. 

“I’ve had this property about 50 years and I still loves it here. I came here salmon fishing when I was 17 and I always said if I ever found somewhere any nicer than where I’m too, that’s where I would go. But I didn’t. And I’m still here because I loves it here,” he said. 

So does Hann. What is it she loves about being on the Humber River? 

“Pretty much everything,” Hann opened with emotion. It’s easy to see why. Birds and goats and chickens literally eat right out of her hand, and she spends her time on the river just steps from her door. 

“I live here and I work here because my business runs out of here and I just absolutely love this place,” she said.  

Being outdoors is her happy place, she added. Growing up, she “lived and breathed sports,” she said. “I was always outdoorsy and always active, always on the go, game for anything. I done forestry in school and then of course when I came over here (with her Uncle) I started picking at the gardens and doing things like that just for something to do.” 

The vegetable garden Hann and Cole have on the property is amazing, and Hann often plucks the veggies right out of the ground for cook-ups on the Humber during her kayaking tours.  

She’s also started quite the strawberry garden. “I have a strawberry u-pick for next year for my guests. That’s three acres of strawberries, 10,000 plants I planted. So when it comes to outdoor stuff, I don’t stop. It’s nonstop,” she laughed.  

This is Hann’s fifth year in the tourism business. 

“You didn’t even think that anyone would come down this road yet it’s been booked solid for the past five years and just continues to grow.”

And they’ve hosted people from “all over.”  “People come from everywhere. It’s camping, only better. You get queen beds and all your dishes and your pots and pans and stuff like that. Same as camping, just that it’s fancier and a little bit different. You come here, you can camp, enjoy all the joys of camping without having to lug all your camping gear. Just bring food and water,” she said. 

There’s so much to enjoy. Remember, you’re off grid so there’s no cell service and no wifi, but that’s the attraction of the place and only adds to the magic of sleeping near the Humber River. 

There’s frogs and nature and beauty all around.  Hann’s is a place equally as enchanting for a romantic getaway with sunset swims or cuddles or for a family getaway – a place where a kid can be a kid and where life slows down for all. 

That’s what Hann loves about her tourism offerings. “Go back to the way things were. Enjoy each other,” she said. 

Of course Hann herself is busy as a beaver. From laundry and clean-up to tours and more, she’s got so much going on and she couldn’t be happier. A visit to Humber River Off Grid Tours “takes you back in time,”  she said.  “I feel like I’m sharing what I love and that feels great.”

Follow Humber River Off Grid Tours on Facebook and for more, subscribe to Hann’s YouTube channel, Adventures Off Grid

Smugglers Cove ~ Burin, NL

“For centuries, rogues, rascals, and renegades have found refuge here on the Coast of Legends,” the brochure for Smugglers Cove boasts intriguingly. There could be no better intro to this magical place that resembles the wild, wild west. 

Mike Brennan and Paddy Kavanaugh are the duo behind Smugglers and it’s all in memory of a friend, the late Tom Hollett who died in 2016. 

In Hollett’s honour, there’s Tom’s Roadhouse, “Where fellow rapscallions have a scoff and wet their whistle.” 

Chef and partner Clint Brewer is the king of the kitchen at Smugglers, and on the day we visit he delights us with halibut, a feed well worth the visit. But there’s so much to Smugglers. 

From special events and concerts to guided boat tours to Great Burin Island, Smugglers has a little something for everyone. Ever wished you could experience a sleepover a stone’s throw away from a frontier fantasy town? Well you can, in one of Smugglers cozy rustic but romantic (and practical) bunkhouses. The real draw, however, is the ‘town’ itself. Located on 1.7 hectares of land in Port-Au-Bras, the interactive ‘town’ of Smugglers Cove is a treasure built out of wood and sweat that has to be seen to be believed. While there, take a run into the town of Burin itself and visit more of Hollett’s Legacy left for others to enjoy. From  Hollett’s legendary Jiffy Cab Bug proudly on display as it welcomes all to Burin, to hiking trails, Brennan and Kavanaugh make sure ‘Tommy’s’ vision lives on. 

No one says it better than Brennan and the team in their own captivating way on their handout.

“Celebrating our notorious history, we tip our caps to those kindred spirits drawn to our shores. What calls the adventurous rebel home? Come and stay awhile – you’ll find out!” 

For more visit smugglerscoveburin.com

Jigs & Reels ~ Green’s Harbour

n the evening we visit, Natasha Hollett was happily greeting her guests  – which just happened to include Kellie Loder – with a smile. Passionate is one word that can be used to describe Hollett. Mom to two young boys aged six and eight, she has her hands full, but she doesn’t mind one bit. 

“People have always been a passion for me and I wanted to take a chance. When this came for sale, we jumped on it,” she said.

This Come Home summer has been good to them, she added. “Come Home has definitely been helping us bring people in. People are very excited to get home for the first time in several years. But summer usually brings people around anyway and we like to think there’s a lot of reasons to come here when they do.”

Jigs & Reels is beautiful. From the decor inside to the beautiful and inviting outside space, it’s a must visit location for sure. The food is good, the beer is cold, and the staff are friendly.  

The building was many things before becoming a spot to enjoy a meal and a beverage or to listen to some local entertainment. It was a sawmill for one thing, and then a gas bar and garage.    

Since owning Jigs & Reels, there’s been weddings and other events. The space holds 148 inside with an additional 100 who can enjoy the area on the beautiful back patio area. 

“We try to have entertainment regularly, like Friday and Saturdays. Typically, depending on what’s going on in the area, as we try not to compete too much if there’s something else on the go around,” she said.  

Hollett and her husband George are just getting ready to head home to the kids on the evening we visit. Still, the two busy themselves with whatever needs to be done. “We all do a little bit of everything. We come in and we just jump in and up whenever we can to help make our dream come true,” she said.

Not that every day is easy, they add.  “Taking over a business, it’s a lot of work, and there’s always something you can’t anticipate. But the locals are here for us and they support us and we appreciate that.”

We have to ask about the name Jigs & Reels. Any shout out to OZFM and Danielle Butt? “Absolutely. I mean, anytime Danielle wants to come here and host her show from here, come on out. It’ll be a fun time for sure and we’d love to have her,” Hollett says. 

From burgers to delight to nachos to rave about, Jigs & Reels is a special place run by some special people. Hollett smiles. “The staff here are the best and our customers are a blessing. The whole experience of owning a business has been amazing because it shows how good and supportive people are.”

For more, check out Jigs & Reels on Facebook

By The Sea Inn & Café ~ King’s Point

Krista and Corey Gillingham  are the proud owners/operators of By The Sea Inn & Café in beautiful King’s Point. With so much to do in the area – from hiking trails that lead to stunning waterfall views to shopping, dining and sightseeing – By The Sea is the perfect place to settle in for a few nights or longer and explore. 

This is the couple’s first year running this ultra-modern spectacular Inn and eatery with the most eye-catching view, though Krista worked there for over ten years before buying it. “It just started as a small, very tiny coffee shop and it kind of grew from there,” she said.

It was health issues that started the ball rolling, she added. Krista worked in the kitchen, but shoulder concerns meant she had to step back from kitchen duties and take more of a management-styled role. “That experience helped me be ready, I guess, so when this place was for sale, even though we are not related, it felt sort of like the business was staying in the family.”

While COVID had its challenges – including the loss of many of their scheduled bus tour stop overs – things have been good for the most part.   “That things are going back to what they were before COVID is wonderful for us and wonderful for the whole town,” she said.  

There’s a big sense of community pride throughout King’s Point. Even the garbage buckets are beautiful. With stores galore and incredible places to visit and enjoy, it’s a must see destination on any bucket list for sure. 

“The community as a whole and our town council does a great job and everybody in the town takes pride in what we have and what we’ve got. 

Everyone is constantly looking for new ways to improve what we have here.”

The food and the service is brilliant at By The Sea. “We do cater to a lot of locals when it comes to the menu but anyone who visits also loves to eat things like fish and chips and cod tongues,” she says. 

They have two seasons, she continued, the tourist season which runs from June till September, and their regular season, and both are important. The Inn – with one suite, The Eagle’s Landing, located in the main building with others next door, is a beautiful space to rest one’s head. And there’s more coming, Krista said proudly, as construction has begun on additional rooms.    

One bonus of a stay at the Inn is free breakfast in the dining area. “I find that a lot of people mention the food. People will say, ‘Who is the chef?’ And we always say that we don’t have chefs in our kitchen. We have cooks in our kitchen that were raised here in Newfoundland in a Newfoundland kitchen by Newfoundland mothers. We don’t have trained chefs in our kitchen, and here, salt is a seasoning, but the people in our kitchen were trained in life and there’s no better training than that, is there?”

For more visit bythesearesort.ca 

Roy’s Lighthouse Retreat ~ Catalina

Kristy Sweet has an interesting link to The Herald, she begins. “I was the baby of the year in 1980, and Suzanne Somers was on front cover. The Herald means something still to a lot of people, and having you here so you can tell our story means so much,” she said. 

There’s history here, Sweet continues. “Back years ago there were houses here, but they ended up towing them into town because they wanted people in the city to just make life easier for them I guess, but I can’t see wanting to leave here,” she said as her four-year-old daughter, Gracie Joe, played nearby on this picture perfect summer day. 

The setting couldn’t be more amazing. A lighthouse near the water in the beautiful town of Catalina with nothing around us but sea, sky and a stunningly inviting walking trail along the edge of the ocean.  Sweet appreciates the setting, and what the land around has to offer. 

“My grandmother is 89-years-old, my dad’s mother, and she’s out here every summer picking berries. My  grandma picks 20 gallons a year.”     

The reason why we are visiting on this day is to talk about Sweet’s late father, Roy Sweet. “My dad was a fisherman back years ago. He had two long liners, the Laura K and  the Laura K Two.” 

Laura was the name of Sweet’s great grandmother who lived on the now resettled Green Island. “When Dad wasn’t fishing he went into the woods in the wintertime to cut logs and then he opened up a sawmill and started selling logs,” she said, reflecting on old times.  

Sweet’s father’s grandmother’s father was a lighthouse keeper on Green Island: Joseph Sweet, and those old family stories captured Sweet’s imagination as a child and beyond. Her father also loved the family’s legacy and he always loved  lighthouses. 

Sweet’s dad passed away on March 15th, of 2020 and Sweet was crushed, she said. “He was my world. I just spent so much time with Dad, and I just wanted his memory to live on and this place here helps me. I come here everyday to the lighthouse and I remember him,” she shared. 

How this stunning lighthouse came to be is one incredible tale of a daughter’s vision fueled by love and devotion. 

With no formal plans, the work began on land Sweet’s father had purchased years before his death. Birchwood Construction helped Sweet’s dream become a reality and twins Terry and Perry Cullimore took over the inside finishing work. The end result is incredible. 

The response of those who stay at Roy’s Lighthouse Retreat has been incredible, she added. “It’s overwhelming. I love to see people come and enjoy this place I built in memory of my dad. Besides Gracie, this is my everything because it brings me closer to Dad and I know he would have loved it here,” she said. 

Watching the boats and the clouds  from the deck brings peace, she added.     Sweet also owns Gracie Joe’s Place, an 88-year-old family home in Catalina not far from Roy’s Lighthouse, but it’s here that she feels closest to her dad. 

“Dad is here. I can feel it. And I know he’s looking down feeling really happy with what we’ve done on this land in his memory.” 

For more visit Roy’s Lighthouse Retreat or Gracie Joe’s Place on social media and Airbnb. 

The Newfoundland Herald has hit the road this summer and we’ve visited some incredible locations. From Salvage, Tickle Cove and Keels to Steady Brook, Catalina and Green’s Harbour, we’ve met incredible people doing spectacular things.  

One thing has stood out above all others: those who work in the tourism industry dedicate their soul to the art of hosting others. From serving a cup of tea to fluffing a pillow to tickling our funny bones, these treasures of tourism deserve a shout out.

Rising Tide Theatre ~ Trinity, NL

Donna Butt is recognizable in voice and in stance. On the day we visit Trinity, Butt stood proud as a peacock in a sea of tourists almost as enthusiastic as she was about the historic village and its place in this province. From shops selling the most unique products (stock up for Christmas opportunities galore!) to the wide array of edible and entertainment possibilities, Trinity is a head turner and no one knows that better than Butt herself. “Isn’t this lovely?” she gushed after a warm hug of a greeting. 

“Trinity is just so special. It has history and heritage and you can tell just by looking around that the people here really care about the place they call home,” she said. 

She’s right. As perhaps 50 tourists mill about outside the prominent building that’s home to Rising Tide, tour buses continue to load and unload those hankering for a bit of outport history and hospitality. Butt and her team provide all of that and then some on their walking tours. But of course theatre – from short skits to more elaborate pageants – is what drives this diva of the dinner theatre. 

There’s the Trinity Pageant – which stars Luke Rowe, Julia Quinton, Mallory Clarke, Michael Power, Devon Bryan and Juila Quinton – and Woke Island featuring Devon Bryan, Donna Butt and Michael Power.

Shenanigans, which features the whole cast, is an opportunity to have a feed of fish while being entertained by the best of the best when it comes to live theatre on the edge of the Atlantic. From Out of It  and Salt Water Moon, to the moving No Man’s Land, Rising Tide and their shining stars make a visit to Trinity tops for any tourist. 

For more visit risingtidetheatre.com  

Round Da Bay Inn ~ Plate Cove West

Karen and Chris Ricketts buzz around Bella’s restaurant at Round Da Bay Inn in Plate Cove West. These two know everyone it seems, and if they don’t, they quickly remedy that with a smile and a kind word.  

When we finally sit down to chat, it’s near overwhelming. Covering in written word what this passionate, powerhouse of a couple have accomplished is quite the undertaking. First, it’s the inn itself. With themed rooms all with unique and distinct personalities, it’s worth a visit just to tour the premises. From movie stars to relics from Nan’s attic to finds from Pop’s old fishing shed, Round Da Bay Inn is a piece of art – or better yet, a masterpiece. But there’s so much going on. The Ricketts started the Welcome Home Project (New Beginnings on Facebook to contribute or follow their progress), for one thing. 

“We have three refugee families we’re sponsoring. We’re renovating a house with an apartment upstairs for a family and a downstairs unit that can operate as a business,” Karen explained.

There’s many fundraising efforts going on in support of Welcome Home, and one involves a man named Charlie who has captivated and captured the hearts of all he encounters. On the day we visit Round Da Bay Inn, Charlie Comrie, a 96 year old Second World War vet who moved to Plate Cove West from southern Ontario last December, is engaged in a lively breakfast conversation with some guests at Bella’s.

While Charlie isn’t sipping from a coffee mug featuring his own mug that boasts: I Know Charlie on it (funds raised from mug sales support Welcome Home) he is singing the praises of the Ricketts for all the work they do.

The Ricketts equally sing the praises of Charlie. At 96, he runs errands and takes care of his own home as well as lends a hand to help with renovations in whatever way he can.  

Charlie’s presence is a present, Karen and Chris share. “We got to know Charlie and his wife Anna from many visits to Newfoundland from Ontario. We kept in touch through the years. Christmas cards, then phone calls started and the friendship grew,” Karen said. On one visit Charlie mentioned he didn’t want to leave.

“When he was here last year he said, ‘I don’t think I’m going to go back (to Ontario) after all, I think I’d like to live here.‘ Well, we helped him find a house and he was here by Dec. 21st just in time for Christmas,” she said.

 We ask Chris (who is also renovating a recently purchased church) how the idea of the themed inn rooms started. Basically, they just had “stuff” they needed to use, he said with a laugh. “We bought a house full of antique furniture for a summer house or retirement home or whatever it was going to be, and at the same time we had bought this inn,” he said. 

Karen laughed, adding that things just “snowballed” after that. “Karen woke this night and said, ‘what if we did one of the rooms up like Nan’s attic? We can use some of the antiques in that and it would be different.’ And that was the first one,” he said with an almost sly smile. Karen laughed as Chris continued the yarn.   

“It was a middle of the night revelation of Karen’s but honesty, I was in my element.  I was like a junkie set free because then every time we were at yard sales or saw deals we’d pull up and say, ‘There’s something for the golf room, there’s something for the captain’s room, there’s something for this room or that room and then it just kept going.” 

We ask if they have a favourite room. The Seaside Retreat is Karen’s because it’s “so light and airy, and blue and pretty.” Chris has a fav too. Bayman’s Cove.  

“Meet your neighbours in Bayman’s Cove.  Gaze in through the ‘windows’ to see depictions of outport life and imagine the stories ol’ skipper could tell! Live your Newfoundland outport vacation,’ the room’s write up says. 

It’s like a little piece of heaven on earth, we say as we tour the rooms. Chris laughs. 

“You know, it really is. We didn’t realize at the time what this place would end up meaning for us or for others, but  we’re really glad we get to have a little fun and we try to not take ourselves too seriously while still having other people who come here really enjoy themselves.” 

There’s so much more to share when it comes to Karen and Chris so tune into future editions of your NL Herald! 

For more visit rounddabayinn.com

Chateau Chance Cove ~ Chance Cove, NL

Jordan and Jen Chubb know that it takes a village to accomplish many things worthwhile in this life – like raising a child – but they also found out how important that is when it comes to being involved in the tourism business. How did this young couple end up owning a rental property on the edge of the ocean in Chance Cove? By chance, of course!  

“We just saw the house and we saw the view from the pictures and we said ‘Let’s go see the house,’” Jen said. They loved it instantly and bought it. Then, the renovations began. “It needed lots of work but we said, ‘You know what, we can make a go of this place.’ So we ended up buying it and renovated it from top to bottom. And here we are three years later,” she said.  

One thing that required no reno was the sound of the ocean right outside the door. Jen beamed. 

“You are in there in the bedroom and the waves are rolling in or outside just watching the sea from the deck. That was definitely one of the biggest things that drew us to the place.” 

The couple knew they could get people to come to a small town like Chance Cove to experience the beauty of simple living. 

“Our scenery and all the things that Newfoundland has to offer. That’s priceless,” she said.

The couple’s adventures have really opened their eyes to the beauty of Chance Cove and of people in general, Jen continued. “When we were in the final stages of getting ready to open up the first two units it was June of 2020,” she said. 

Stores were just opening after the first lockdown and there was a huge shortage of goods on the shelves. It was so hard to find furniture, she added. “There were delays upon delays for online orders – up to a year,” she said. “A number of business weren’t in operation so we had a bunch of friends and family reach out and say ‘Hey! If you need anything, you’re welcome to look in my shed and see what I have,’ or ‘I’m moving and I have these end tables, do you guys want them?’ And I would be scrounging up all of these odds and ends and cleaning them and painting them to put in the units. It really did take a village to get started but somehow it all came together.”

And now? “It’s time to enjoy sharing the beauty of the ocean and the walking trail and the beach area of Chance Cove with others,” she said with a smile. 

“We didn’t even know where Chance Cove was when we bought the house and we have been learning to appreciate the area along with our guests so to speak.” 

A year after they bought the house they finally did the walking trail just minutes from their rental home.  “We love it there. Chance Cove is beautiful.” 

They’ve gained so much making the jump into tourism, in so many ways they never expected, she added. “This entire process was like a learning opportunity for us to kind of think about what’s there and what the place has to offer, because we’re not from Chance Cove. We’re kind of just learning to appreciate it a little bit at a time whenever we get a chance to go visit and we love that we get to share those experiences with others.”

For more follow Chateau Chance Cove on multiple social media platforms

I knew we were onto something that very first adventure of 2022. Meeting Courtney and Terrence of Grates Cove Studios and Seven Fathom – a seaweed based skin care line – set the tone for the many adventures that followed. 

The two seaweed/rural Newfoundland enthusiasts – one a local and one a come from away – shared their combined passions of place and an early lifetime of adventure with others through their many business endeavours. From a restaurant that serves creative cuisine to many skin care products based on the stuff that makes many go ‘ewww’ while navigating a dip in the ocean’s waves, these two showcasing the art of being creative.

Kristy Sweet of Catalina created Roy’s Lighthouse Retreat in honour of her beloved father. Designed to look exactly like a lighthouse, this vacation home is a sea-side treasure. Brilliantly beautiful, the retreat is built on land purchased by Sweet’s late father decades before for $500. To see what’s there now, you’d say it’s priceless. Perfect down to the last detail, Sweet admits she isn’t a designer. ‘’I knew what I wanted and I guess I asked the right people to help me and it came together in honour of my dad and his family’s lighthouse legacy,’’ she said.

But there’s many like her who have let their passions guide them through life and their visions now provide peace and tranquility to others. 

The folks who offer adventurous zip lining through the wilds of Petty Harbour obviously love what they do. Their occupation is more occupassion than anything and Phil Smith leads a team of equal-minded young people who instinctively know that emitting courage and strength with a good dose of humour is most motivating. 

Through adversity

One visit to Frozen in Time Winery will show you what preservation through adversity – like a loved one’s cancer diagnoses – can accomplish when you have the right team around. Likewise, Margie’s Place by the Pond in Placentia has a touching and personal story behind its creation. The loss of a beloved sibling can be a strong motivator in life. Luckily, that love and devotion can now be shared with others. 

Wendy and Danny at Iceberg Alley B&B in Twillingate made Newfoundland home (home again for Danny, new home for come from away Wendy) and now retirement looks very different than originally planned as their day’s work is now caring for others and sharing their love and passion of rural Newfoundland.

Kevin and Denise Moss at Sandy Cove Cabins are the same. With roots in the area, showing off the beautiful beaches in the Eastport region has become their gift to others. No toil for these two when it comes to greeting guests with a smile. 

Chris and Karen Ricketts of Round Da Bay Inn just might have a story that will take decades to tell. 

From their first meeting to today, these two are much more than a couple operating perhaps one of the most creative Inns around. 

With themed rooms – from Nan’s Attic to Captain’s Quarters – it’s a head turner of a spot, but the real head spinner is this tireless couple who do everything from wait tables to entertaining (and a most adopting) guests. 

In their spare time they sponsor refugees while also refurbishing a church. Ashley Hann, the brainchild behind Humber River Off Grid Tours, is one dynamo of a young lady. 

Energetic and passionate about keeping summer the way it used to be – with loads of time spent outside catching frogs and gulping in fresh air – Hann knows that the most treasured times are the ones spent off electronic devises while embracing Mother Nature. 

Many a Newfoundlander and Labradorian have a story to share. These are but a few of the tales from some of the incredibly inspirational people we have happened across so far this summer. 

More treasured tales to follow. Stay tuned.

Dustin Parsons, Sales & Marketing Manager at Marble Mountain, could gush for days about the fabulous summer they’ve had so far and the fun to come in the weeks and months ahead.   

Marble Mountain in the summer? That’s new! Oh yes! But it quickly became a hit for so many reasons.

“This summer marks the first summer ever that Marble Mountain is open and doing business, regular business, during the week over the summertime. It’s been a really interesting learning curve, but it’s also been a lot of fun to unlock a brand new asset we have right here in Newfoundland,” Parsons said. 

“It’s a given that ‘the mountain’ is a huge draw for the area. The view, the mountains, the location, the weather. There’s just so much going on. We had a really busy July with two major concerts. We had The Fables and then Classified.” 

The fun isn’t about to slow down, either, he continued. “Through August, we’re kind of re-gearing for the winter again, but visitors who come by Marble will still have lots to see and do as we want to position ourselves as your base camp for your west coast adventure.”

It’s not just about hiking Gros Morne, he added. “There’s so much to see and do right in the Humber Valley and staying at our (Marble Mountain) Villa is a great way to access it all.”

There’s a new restaurant that’s opened at Marble Mountain called Bishop’s Tavern, for one thing, Parsons continued. ”We’ve got this massive smoker and we’re doing Southern barbecue style food; beautiful smoked meats, and we have this massive outdoor beer garden and food area, so it’s a really unique place to come, eat, drink and hang out in the summertime while having an indoor/ outdoor experience. We’re dog friendly. We’re family friendly up until 8:00 in the evening, so it’s becoming this really, really fun hub of activity in the area.”

Live entertainment

Walk the dogs, hike the mountain, swim in the 200ft waterfall, or just chat and hang out.  There’s live entertainment (Kellie Loder for one, Parsons teased), open mic nights, trivia challenges (with cool prizes), and so much more.  

The vibe and the energy at the hill is changing for the better, he added, as the sunshine has added another dimension of fun.  

“You will notice improvements in customer service and product availability. We want this to be an open place where all people would want to come and be surrounded by music, good food, maybe a few animals, some kids and a few mountain bikers.” 

Check out the Spider Challenge, an aerial rope course designed to “test your nerve” while also being fun and exhilarating. There’s more! “We just finished clearing the first mountain bike trail and that will be open soon, but we have a new bike park which is basically a little skills park. People can bring their mountain bikes and their helmets and they can ride some different ramps and features that we’ve added. That’s part of a new partnership that we have with the West Coast Cycle Association who are having  a big race event in August.”  

Bottom line, there’s so much to see and do at Marble Mountain Resort, and Parsons is thrilled to spread the word.  

“This summer has been really cool for us and what we’ve been doing has been a huge hit.”

For more visit Marble Mountain Resort website: www.skimarble.com

For those unfamiliar, those young fellas tried to steel a lamb, ended up with the sheep, then – like the friendly lads they were – proceeded to feed the local authorities the best mug up of ‘moose’ they ever had eaten while the unsuspecting officials were out investigating the crime for poor ol’ Aunt Martha. 

Well, up until this past week I had never met anyone from Carmanville that I knew of, but the ones we met – like the lads in the famous song – most generously shared their grub.

‘Skipper & the missus’

Let me back up a little. The latest work-staycation adventures brought me to Twillingate,  Lethbridge and Muskgrave Harbour and the people –  Wendy at Dunrovin Cabins and RV Park, Eileen at Sansome’s Lobster Pool (or ‘mom’ as everyone calls her), Wendy and Dan at Iceberg Alley B&B and Thelma at the lighthouse in Twillingate (who thrilled us with tales of the town as well as provided some grand yarns about the late, great Geoff Stirling, who apparently took a liking to the town and its livyers, visiting often and showing up at some odd and interesting hours) – were all gems. So were the crew at the Twillingate-NWI Dinner Theatre (special shout out to Cathy and Ernie for the invite and to Denise, Chelsea, Sandra, Wayne, Jody and Gary for the hand clappin,’ foot stompin’ entertainment). 

But, as grand as all were, these special folks are in the tourism business. While it may come natural to be generous and thoughtful, a big part of their clientele comes their way through word of mouth, so it pays (big time) to be kind to strangers. But these folks from Carmenville we encountered were simply campground neighbours a few sites down from where we pitched at Banting Memorial Park. With a bellowed; “Skipper! Would you and the missus like a feed of fish stew? We has plenty!” we met our Carmanville  neighbour.

Being a skeptical townie, ’Skipper’ declined. Though my eyes glowed a resounding ‘yes!’ it seemed ‘Skipper’s’ will would be heeded. No fish stew for our crew, though our Carmenville-born and reared neighbour marched over bold as a buck and placed an arm load of uncooked salt fish – so Skipper or his missus could make their own stew, I suppose – on our picnic table, leaving before the crusty townie skipper could again refuse. 

‘Feed of lobster?’

Before long, buddy was back again. Coming around the corner of his trailer he hollered, ‘Skipper! Would you and missus like a feed of lobster?’ Skipper again declined, which rightfully earned him a saucy ol’ dirty look from ‘the missus.’ Now I (the missus) was crusty.

Before I could pitch too much of a fit,  a parade of youngsters headed our way with bowls of fresh, steaming fish stew in their tiny hands. Who could say no to children? Not even a townie Skipper! 

We dug in! Next thing, over comes buddy with lobsters – cut for us and all, and all females too, just how I likes ‘em!  We dined on the beach thanks to the kindness of well raised up folk. And that, my duckies, is my very own tale about the b’ys in Carmanville. 

Pam Pardy, The Herald’s Managing Editor, can be reached by emailing pghent@nfldherald.com

As an artist, Michelle Rowe knows beauty when she sees it, generously sharing that beauty with others at The Cove B&B and in her art studio as well, Ocean View Gallery and Gift Store located in the town of Carbonear. 

Rowe, who was born and raised in the Carbonear area, shared that she never even knew “The Cove” existed, it was that well hidden and secluded. 

“We were thinking about an old saltbox somewhere on the water and we were just kind of driving through (Freshwater) and I saw a for sale sign on the road and we went, ‘Oh, I can’t believe this is here,’” she said.

She’s long gravitated towards the ocean, she said, and the second she saw the property – perched on the edge of the ocean overlooking Carbonear Island – she was hooked.  “It was immediate for me. I instantly fell in love,” she said. 

An artist’s dream

It’s easy to understand why. Most every window overlooks the ocean, and those that don’t have an ocean view showcases instead the serenity and the peacefulness of the garden or the history of the century year-old property.

As a painter, inspiration is often found in nature, and The Cove is an artist’s dream cone true. 

“I live, breathe and sleep art. I’ve been teaching art as a career now for 15 solid years and painting longer than that, but now there’s a freshness to what I create since owning the property,” she shared.

On the day we visit, Rowe decides to teach this writer to paint – something she says “anyone” can do. 

From hanging dried salt fish and icebergs to old fishing store doors and more, if you have seen it around this province of Newfoundland, she has probably painted it. On this day, it’s fishermen mending nets against a brilliant sky that we are painting. Beginning with a blank canvas, with every paintbrush stroke, the painting takes shape. 

 ‘It’s only paint’

“I think if you have the right person to guide you through a painting, it will take all the worry away. Yeah. There are things that I can do for you to make things much easier, but I think more than anything, I’m just a motivational speaker. And I’m there to say, ‘Try this or do this,’ and to remind each student that it is only paint.” 

With Come Home Year 2022 in full swing, what’s she looking forward to most? Making connections with people again, she said. “Over the years, we’ve always had people come through the doors. During the winter months, it’s very much community oriented, but during the summer months it’s always about visitors and the experience of getting around the bay to explore and we’ve always been about providing something for them to take away with them, whether it’s through the gift store or if they get to create their own piece. Either way, they get to know you a little bit and you get to know them. It’s not just a painting relationship. It’s an experience,” she said. 

With all the beauty of the area and with the view from The Cove, we surmise that she will never run out of inspiration. Rowe smiled.

“I will never be bored in my lifetime. There’s not enough lifetimes out there for me to create everything that I’ve had the honour of seeing or experiencing.”

Her main inspiration comes from this province’s unique outport history. 

“If I see a piece of wood sticking out of the ground, I’m like, ‘Oh, what was that?’ I’ll do the research and I’ll find out what it was. If I see an old house with a curtain blowing out a broken window I go, ‘Oh, somebody lived there.’ I’ve gone through abandoned homesteads, I’ve walked through people’s gardens and there you can see the pits and the raspberry bushes and the remains of a vegetable garden. And there’s an outhouse out back and there’s an old twine loft there. There was life then. It’s just so sad that it’s gone and I just want to hold on to it and give it life again.”  

Come Home Year 2022!

There’s much going on in the arts world this Come Home Year, she added. From artist showcases to live painting events where spectators can watch the magic happen in real time.

“You’re painting outside and you’re not going by a photo. You’re looking at the colors as they are changing every few seconds. The clouds are moving and the lighting’s changing and you have to think differently and your paintings are more expressive and much more free,” she said.

Rowe hopes this year of Come Home celebration is an inspiration to everyone. 

“I have a real passion for this province, and so many others do as well, and I’m privileged that I get to capture the beauty and share my version of that with others.”

For more, visit The Cove at The Cove Vacation Rental, Carbonear on Facebook or michellesfineart.weebly.com or Michelle’s Fine Art on Facebook

From B.C. fires and Alberta floods to tornadoes in Ontario and ol’ blow hard hurricanes like Larry ‘round here, Canada has had it’s share of problematic weather. 

Residential schools, the freedom convoy, gas prices, and the fact that our Prime Minister has tested positive for COVID twice in the last six months – just as we’re about to kick off Come Home Year 2022 – is enough to make even the most positive among us pop a top and swig mightily before hiding out until the calendar turns yet another page. But then look what we’d all be missing out on if we did? At least if your living in the 709, anyway. 

We all call home

The finest Drag Queens this side of the Atlantic will be taking over the bandstand stage on George Street for the first time in history as they strut their finery for all in what aims to be one epic lip sync battle, true testament to how far we’ve advanced as a society when it comes to loving and accepting and celebrating one and all in this world we call home. 

Come Home Queer in Broad Cove aims to be the spot to be this July as towns in Conception Bay North give a whole new and wondrous meaning to Come Home Year 2022. There was a time not too very long ago when anyone who was perceived as being ‘different’ had to hall arse out of our outports for paved pastures in big cities up along. No more, and that’s a mighty grand thing. I’ve had the pleasure of doing some early staycationing around pockets of this island, and all I’ve experienced so far is positivity, love, and a roll out the welcome mat greeting. 

I stayed with Michael and Karen at SeaGlass B&B in New Perlican and not only did they share their home, their grub and their magnificent view with us, but their skill at stain glass as well. 

Side-by-side, Michael walked us through the creating of a sparkling star fish and a glittering sail boat, sharing tidbits of all the other wondrous sights that should be taken in while in the area. I met the gals from Just Like Sisters (they are cousins who look like they could be twins) Bakery & Sweet Shop, I climbed aboard the Irish Mist with Dennis and Paula at the Dildo Boathouse Inn and chowed down on the finest chowder along side some enthusiastic come from aways. I dined later that evening with Pauline and the gals while having a laugh at Route 66 Diner & Pub. Michelle Rowe put our weary heads down for a night, tucking us into her tucked-away piece of heaven on edge of the ocean called The Cove overlooking Cabonear Island. 

If that wasn’t enough, Michelle generously shared her painting prowess and taught two skill-less but wannabe painting wonders how to create paintbrush renditions of silhouetted fishermen mending their nets at sunrise. 

Where we stand

Tyler at Lobster Pods in South River, Jerry at  The Doctor’s House Inn & Spa and Todd at George House in Dildo – gracious hosts all who can’t wait to share their own little piece of Canadian heaven with the rest of the waiting world. 

While I might be feeling a little overly romantically optimistic after staying with some incredibly generous people in some majestic and incredible places around the island, I still think it’s fair to say that, at least in our little pocket of this country of ours, this is still the best place in the world to be, a place worthy of standing on guard for. 

My oh my, Oh Canada! Based on the view from where we stand, you sure are one beauty of a country to call home.

Pam Pardy, The Herald’s Managing Editor, can be reached by emailing pghent@nfldherald.com

Route 66 Diner & pub

Pauline Yetman can bring the energy level up multiple notches with just a smile. Her diner and pub, Route 66 in Carbonear, is the spot where everybody knows your name. 

In fact, Ray Johnson of Buddy Wasisname & the Other Fellers has his table all marked out. Johnson teaches accordion at the diner and he and his wife hang out and listen to a few tunes themselves before the teaching starts. Of course, Johnson can’t help but join in on a tune before he does so, to the delight of those gathered. “The special thing about this place is that you don’t want to leave. I guarantee a great experience. The food and atmosphere is amazing, but the people make the real difference,” Yetman began as Route 66 buzzed.

Abigale Follett and Melissa Whalen, who tag team the kitchen this evening, share her enthusiasm. “I started here when I was 16 and worked my way up and everyone here was so generous and kind and helpful. It’s just like a family feel,” Follett, who is now 19, said.

Whalen, who says perfecting everyone’s steak is her super power, agrees. 

“You work well with people you trust and like and this place has a great feel. Everyone gets it the moment they walk in,” Whalen said. Yetman beams. 

“There’s something totally different and it brings everyone in and keeps them coming back. From the pictures to the car booth, it’s just a fun place to visit,” Yetman added.

Route 66’s nostalgia is part of the charm. “I have customers drop in things from their travels or things from home. They know I’ll have the respect for the items to make sure next generation enjoys it. They know I’m going to value it.”

Another thing that makes people happy is music. “Music elevates the experience, and I’m all about making people happy!”

Just Like Sisters Bakery & Sweet Shop

Maxine Belbin and Beverly King are cousins who just happen to look just like sisters, and after decades of hearing it said, they decided to name their bakery and sweet shop – located in Heart’s Content – just that!

From cookies to the most delectable tasting turtles ever, these two have delicious on speed dial when it comes to calming the cravings of any sweet tooth. 

“We started just doing homemade chocolates at Christmas for gifts but then last April we started our business,” said Belbin.

The two shared that they love spreading the joy by sharing their sweets! 

“We’re having fun. We both love what we do and the name, Just Like Sisters, makes everyone smile,” said King. One bite of their adorable chocolate turtle makes that smile all the more wide!

For more visit justlikesisters.com 

SeaGlass B&B and Studio

When Karen Smith and Michael Laduke got married in Newfoundland in 2012, it was Laduke’s first time this far east. “Karen was from here, so she always talked about her love of Newfoundland and while I wouldn’t say I fell in love instantly, by the fifth time we returned to visit, I was hooked,” he said. 

The two self-taught stain glass artists finally fulfilled their dream and purchased a home smack dab on the ocean in New Perlican, creating the most majestic bed & breakfast and stain glass studio in the most picturesque setting imaginable. 

Laduke shared that he was ready for a fresh start, and leaving Quebec for Newfoundland offered that opportunity for adventure. 

“I remember coming to Newfoundland to visit and thinking, ‘Oh my God, this place is amazing,’ and then asking myself, ‘Why not move here? Let’s just go on an adventure. Let’s just try something new.’ And we did,” he said. 

SeaGlass B&B is a quaint two room bed and breakfast that, as Karen likes to proudly say, “feels a little like staying over a night at nan’s.”

From the furnishings to the decor, there’s a rustic yet classic and comforting feel, like receiving a warm embrace from ‘nan.’ The bedrooms have a little touch of both Laduke’s and Smith’s heritage and neither mind sharing stories of where the furnishings – and the room’s names – came from.

Smith, who happens to be a brilliant and talented photographer, generously shares her skills around the B&B’s walls. 

With a tiered deck to die for, offering a breathtaking view of both New Perlican and the vast harbour, there’s snap shot inspiration for all to be found at every turn. 

Speaking of inspiration, the stain glass studio is a spectacular spot filled with jaw-dropping splendour. From whale tail stain glass necklaces to seagulls that sparkle, there’s treasures galore in store!  The bonus? Laduke offers classes to anyone willing to sit at the old general store counter and take in his patient tutelage. 

From leaning how to select, then cut and safely ‘snap’ the glass, to soldering and grinding the creations, Laduke can make a stain glass artist out of anyone!   Laduke smiles. “I find my inspiration from my wife’s photography and because of where we live, it’s all nautical. Most of what I create has got to do with the sea and the mystical part of it – like the mermaids and whales,” he said.

With five years in business, including the two tough ‘COVID’ years, Smith says they are both excited for this tourism season. “We offer the charm of an old fashioned bed and breakfast. Home made muffins with rhubarb we grew and picked ourselves. The chance to sit and talk with others at a charming kitchen table overlooking the ocean before you head out for the day after having a great night’s rest. It’s like spending the night at nan’s and we hope to share that experience with others.” 

For more visit seaglassbb.ca