“Not all those who wander are lost.” These words crossed my mind as I hopped in my car and took off to God knows where. I picked a random route off of the Trans-Canada Highway that I had never driven before, snowshoes and camera in the backseat, and my mind was open to any adventure I might come across.
The route I took was the Botwood exit, near Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland. I grew up in Central Newfoundland, yet I have done little exploring in the area so I figured it is about time I start. The road led me past Botwood, through Northern Arm, through Point Leamington, and past Glovers Harbour, and finally into Leading Tickles. I was intrigued by not only the silly name of this town but also by road signs that boasted great hiking at Oceanview Park, so that is where I headed.
Oceanview Park, as I quickly learned, is a seasonal operation. It has a campground and hiking trails with stunning views of the water, and I would imagine it is an enjoyable place to camp in the summertime. I decided to strap on my snowshoes and hike the West Bear Cove Lookout trail, although there was another trail that led to a higher lookout I wish I had tackled as well (let us know if you have!). 
There is also a gorgeous beach off of the campground that allowed me to get up close and personal with the pack ice that was pushed up onto the sand. NEVER climb on the ice pans that are in the water, it is super dangerous!! 
The only disappointment of my day was that in all the towns I passed through, I never found a nice place to grab a bite to eat. There were several small convenience stores that I could see, but no sit-down restaurants. If any of our readers know of a place along this route, please let us know!
When I set out on this little road trip, I knew I would not be disappointed— Newfoundland and Atlantic Canada as a whole is so incredibly beautiful no matter where you go. Leading Tickles proved to be a quaint little town with a great outdoor adventure opportunity. I recommend it any time of the year! 
Have you ever driven this route? Let us know about your experiences and suggestions in the comments below or by shooting us an email or a message on our social media. We love hearing from our readers!
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