I loved sharing my recent Alberta adventures with you. I feel confident that we did Covid travel really safely. We wore a mask everywhere we went, we did not mingle with other campers and hikers, and we closely followed government regulations at the time– however, the measures in place may have proven insufficient (and/or some people weren’t following them). Late this fall, the cases in Alberta sky-rocketed and we cut our inter-provincial travel off altogether to protect ourselves and others.
I miss the adventure and I am chomping at the bit to get back out there; but only when it is safe (and legal). So, as usual, I’m left reminiscing on past travel experiences. Just yesterday though, something clicked. Just because Alberta is locked-down doesn’t mean other provinces are! Right now, NL is closed to travel from other provinces but they are safe to travel within the province. Friends from back home, I’ve got your back. Here are my top suggestions for unique staycations across the island, all locally owned– some we’ve experienced, others we’re still dreaming of:
Whale House Guest House
Located in Mobile, just outside St. John’s, is a cozy little guest house with hot tubs, ocean views, and fantastic hospitality. Click on the post below to get the details and read about our stay.
The Old Salt Box Co.
I’ve been dreaming about sleeping in one of these quaint, lofty salt boxes for a long time. With locations in coastal towns such as Greenspond, Fogo, Francois, and more, you can pick your own baycation/staycation based on where you live, where you haven’t been, or where you have friends and family. My parents are staying in Aunt Gladys’ house in the Spring and I can’t wait to hear about it.
Murray Premises
In the heart of downtown, wedged between Water Street and Harbour Drive, St. John’s you’ll find the historic Murray Premises Hotel. I heard once that no two rooms are identical, which means guests can have a completely unique experience with every stay, unlike many traditional hotels. Click the link below to read about our incredible stay at this hotel.
Quirpon Lighthouse Inn
I believe this is at the #1 position on my NL Bucket List. Honestly. This is a restored lighthouse on an island only accessible by zodiac or helicopter. Included in the price of your stay is your boat ride to and from the island through iceberg alley. You’ll be the only person on the island throughout your stay– you might have thought you’ve had enough isolation after 2020, but this place will have you second-guessing! The Inn reopens in June and is operated by Linkum Tours.
Inn by the Bay
One of our most highly trafficked articles in twowildtides history is My Dildo Adventure, linked below, for obvious reasons. But the funny name of this now infamous (thanks to Jimmy Kimmel) town is not to mislead its charm. Inn by the Bay in Dildo is a lovely, clean B&B that makes the perfect HQ for Your Dildo Adventure.
Fogo Island Inn
If luxury, exclusive accommodations are your style, look no further than Fogo Island Inn (even though I know you’ve already heard of it). While the Inn is known for being luxurious and expensive, I’ve heard that it has an incredible atmosphere of humility and is a down-to-earth, grounding experience. I’ve yet to visit but hope to one day.
JAG Boutique Hotel
If you’re an avid reader of our blog, you already know that we love the Jag. We’ve been very lucky to partner with Steele Hotels several times, between stays at Jag and our coverage of the Iceberg Alley Performance Tent & Concert Cruise. Jag is unique because of its classic rock theme. Each room is decorated with posters and art related to legendary musicians. The staff are fantastic and the Exile Bar and Restaurant nail it every time.
‘Ome
In Burlington, which is in Central NL, you’ll find Shaun Majumder’s ‘Ome Glamping Tents. We haven’t stayed here yet, but we plan to on our next Summer trip home (or should I say ‘ome?). While an ocean view may not be hard to find in Newfoundland, glamping tents are not easy to come by– and these look absolutely gorgeous.
Bannerman Park Suites
Within walking distance of Moo Moo’s and The Parlour, Bannerman Brewing Co and Hungry Heart Cafe; Bannerman Park Suites are stunning guest rooms in historic downtown St. John’s. These rooms are like time capsules– regal and elegant. Read our full post at the link below.
I hope my friends and family back home read this post and feel inspired to explore our province safely in 2021. And if you’ve found yourself reading this article in a post-Covid world, welcome, I sincerely hope you enjoy our spectacular province!
P.S. I want to highlight again that all the accommodations in this list, to the best of my knowledge, are locally owned. Support local businesspeople, people!!
Let us know what you think!