When all you have is 72 hours in a city, you best make the most of it. Knowing where to go and what to do can help maximize your precious time. In the first edition of our 72 Hours series, we head out to the most easterly province in Canada to soak up all we can in three days.
There are only two ways onto the island of Newfoundland, by plane or boat. Many major airlines have several flights into St. John’s on a daily basis which makes the colourful city easily accessible. You can also reach it by ferry from Sydney, Nova Scotia but if you only have three days, its best to fly in. Accessing St. John’s by boat can be a bit of a rocky approach any time of the year.
GET CHECKED IN
WHAT TO EAT & DRINK
There is no shortage of great restaurants in St. John’s. In fact, the city’s culinary movement keeps growing from year to year. Here’s a list of restaurants that are guarenteed to keep you going for at least 72 hours.
For a quick lunch stop into the Club on Duckworth Street. The head chef and owner, Mark McCrowe is one of St. John’s most promising chefs (he also has his hands in Aqua on Water Street) and the restaurant features everything from wild game to delicious fried chicken. It’s worth the pain of walking up and down St. John’s hills afterwards.
After dinner, if your still out and interested in a drink, head across the street to the Yellowbelly’s underground pub, the Underbelly. The atmosphere is dark and moody yet warm and entirely inviting. The serve spirits, wine and a collection of the Yellowbelly’s craft beer, made in house. It’s a great way to end the evening.
Thirsty? There are more pubs and bars in St. John’s per capata than anywhere else in North America. After a day walking around the city, a pint on the Sundance Deck will be the best way to quench your thirst. The deck is the largest in the city and boasts access to the most sunshine (when it intermittently arrives).
WHAT TO SEE, WHERE TO GO
If art isn’t your thing, St. John’s also features an interesting geology museum where you can explore the depths of Newfoundland and Labrador’s beginings. Some of the world’s oldest rocks have been found in Newfoundland making the Johnson’s Geo Centre a big draw around the world.
Several times a day, boats from various whale watching companies leave from St. John’s harbour to get up close and personal with icebergs (in season) and watch whales play freely in the Atlantic Ocean. Iceberg Tours and O’Brien’s are by far the most popular of these touring companies. A walk through downtown St. John’s will lead you to wonderful shops like Living Planet, Home on Water, Fred’s Records and the highly popular Newfoundland and Labrador Chocolate Company. They’ve risen to fame recently when there Newfoundland Sayings campaign made them a household name in Newfoundland and beyond. There are plenty of souvineer shops along the way where you can grab a memento of your 72 hour landing in St. John’s.
Before leaving St. John’s, drop into Trapper John’s and get yourself Screehed In. A Screech In has become a bit of a tourist attraction in the city but feeling like an honourary Newfoundlander is almost as good as being from there. It’s a lovely way to end your trip to St. John’s.
72 HOURS LATER…
There’s plenty more to do in Newfoundland and Labrador and we have given you a selection to simply whet your appetite. Visit the province’s website for more.
We are coming to your city next! For more information on our stops email us at hello@dayjobsnightlife.com
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Certain photography courtesy of The Rooms and Blue on Water