St. Pierre & Miquelon is a fascinating place. It is a slice of France off the continent of North America. More precisely, it is an archipelago (a group of islands), about 20 km off the southern coast of Newfoundland. St. Pierre is the smaller, more densely populated island, while Miquelon and Langlade are larger, more sparsely populated islands. St. Pierre and Miquelon can be reached by plane or ferry. When you arrive on the islands, particularly if you’re coming from Newfoundland, it won’t look that different. The architecture is similar and the rocky, jagged coastline is identical, however, the culture is vastly different. There are a few things you should know before you plan a trip there.
First, let’s chat about the practical stuff. The regular currency in St. Pierre & Miquelon is the Euro, however, CAD and USD are accepted pretty much everywhere, and Canadian debit and credit cards work for the most part, although you’ll want to double-check with your bank. The only place I found that did not accept currency other than Euros was the ferry. You need Euros if you want a snack on the way there or back! Prices in St. Pierre & Miquelon are very reasonable, despite the poor exchange rates right now. Expect to spend what you might in any other major Canadian city on hotels and meals. There is no Canadian cell coverage in St. Pierre & Miquelon that I know of, however, near the coast, you can pick up a weak signal from major towers such as Bell and Telus. There are a lot of hubs for free wifi, so gaining internet access shouldn’t be difficult. Finally, you will need a European travel adapter for outlets and plug-ins.
Next, let’s cover the meal times. You can enjoy a light breakfast, complete with decadent French pastries, at many restaurants and hotels. There are a few places that offer an American breakfast (bacon and eggs) and some crêperies if you’re craving something sweet in the morning. This information is hard to find online, but hotel staff are very knowledgeable and mostly bilingual and can point you in the right direction. Lunch is a whole other story. Almost every shop and restaurant in St. Pierre closes from 12:00-2:00, so there aren’t many places for lunch! UPDATE: A lovely reader from St. Pierre informed that there are restaurants opened during lunch hour. Yay! The whole time we were there, however, we ate lunch at Les Delices de Joséphine, which is open all day long and serves delicious sandwiches and quiches, as well as yummy desserts. You could also stop by a grocery store and keep food in your hotel room for lunchtime. We didn’t know we could go anywhere else. For supper, there are so many fine restaurants offering traditional, delectable French cuisine. My favourite restaurants for supper were Le Feu de Braise and the Crêperie (which offers far more than crêpes!), but keep in mind you’ll need reservations! Your hotel receptionist can help with that.
Now, we let’s discuss where to stay and how to get there. We stayed at the newest hotel in St. Pierre, the Hotel Jacques Cartier. It was clean, comfortable, and modern. Hotel rooms came with a coffee maker, an amazing rainfall shower, a minibar, huge windows, and extremely comfy beds. Breakfast is included in your stay and the staff were very helpful for booking tours and reservations. I highly recommend this hotel and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. You can get to St. Pierre by air or sea. The ferry leaves from Fortune, NL, which is along Newfoundland’s southern coast and is about 4-6 hours from St. John’s by car. Along the way, you can grab lunch at the Irving Big Stop in Goobies, get a photo by the moose, check out antique cars at Vernon’s, and catch glimpses of amazing NL coastline. You have to book the ferry in advance and it is a passenger-only ferry, but don’t worry, you won’t need your car in St. Pierre. You can also get to St. Pierre by air, and they have a gorgeous airport for such a small place. Travel between St. Pierre and the larger island, Miquelon, is also by ferry or plane.
Hotel Jacques Cartier 
Hotel Jacques Cartier 
Hotel Jacques Cartier
The weather in St. Pierre & Miquelon is similar to that of Newfoundland: unpredictable. It is an island floating in the North Atlantic, after all, so expect fog, wind, and rain. However, St. Pierre is full of surprises, and although the forecast called for rain and fog during our visit, we ended up with 25-degree weather and a sunburn! Prepare for both, especially in the summer.
The same view within 24 hours. 
The same view within 24 hours.
Finally, I suggest you grab the little wallet-sized map from the ferry or ferry terminal. It is super handy and has so much information about where to eat, where to stay, and what historical sights to see. The map is easy to read when navigating by foot. And most importantly- it is free.
Please let me know if you have any more questions about visiting St. Pierre & Miquelon! I am happy to help and update this article as I hear from readers. We really appreciate hearing from you and we are so grateful for your support! Comment, email info@twowildtides.com, or reach out on social media @twowildtides.
happy travels,
char
Our east coast roots run deep and there’s nothing we love more than stomping our feet to some tunes that remind us of home. Shanneyganock kept the crowd buzzing and I think just about everyone was getting their groove on. There’s nothing quite like being in a jam-packed room of east coasters who are just so happy to be hearing live music. Not only was the live music great but the crowd knew many of the songs and no one hesitated to sing along. It was a party.
Alan Doyle. Some performers just have this magical energy that they bring on stage with them and Doyle is absolutely one of them. Right from the get-go, he had that sparkle in his eyes. It was such a privilege to witness his work. I was especially impressed with how respectful and humble he was throughout his set. His gratitude for performing on the rock was thoroughly evident. Man, he knows how to put on a show. As a Great Big Sea fan he definitely did not disappoint; singing a mixture of old and new songs– the crowd was invested. Having the opportunity to not only see him perform but also see the friendly faces in the audience react to his performance was extremely humbling. (Also, I would like to point out that I was videoing in the media section and he smiled right at me!) We can’t talk about this performance without shouting out the vibrant beauty and talent that is Kendal Carson– she absolutely rocked it. The energy in that tent, on that night, was something truly special.
I’m so grateful that we had the opportunity to experience this event, to dance the night away and sing at the top of our lungs. If you’re ever in St. John’s in September– don’t miss this festival. Mark your calendars because it’s a hell of a good time. Cheers to that my friends!
This summer, I was lucky enough to be on board the inaugural 
Have you ever been to Terra Nova National Park? It is one of three national parks in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and is located in central Newfoundland. Being from a small town that borders the park, I have really taken for granted its beauty and value. Terra Nova National Park has so much to offer from boat tours to boreal forest to swimming holes, and lately, it was declared a ‘dark sky reserve’– I wasn’t surprised because growing up, I had always said that Terra Nova has the most beautiful starry skies in the world. Now, it has something else extra special to attract visitors.
What looks like something from War of the Worlds or a Mars mission is actually the newest way to camp in Terra Nova National Park. Located in both the Malady Head and Newman Sound campgrounds, ‘Oasis’ units are only six meters squared and comfortably sleep two adults. They are novel and unique, with only six in all of Canada, Terra Nova National Park has 5 of them.
Inside, you’ll find a relatively large table with comfy cushions and a ladder leading up to a hammock in the pointed ceiling. The table converts into the bed, which comfortably sleeps two adults, and supposedly two children can sleep in the hammock.
The hammock is unbelievably cozy and the perfect place to lie down with a good book, enjoy the view, and soak in the magnificent starry night skies I mentioned earlier. I could have spent all day and all night up there!
So, the big question: is the Oasis worth it? Is it worth $130 plus the cost of taking a trip out to Terra Nova National Park?
All that said, I definitely encourage you to head out to Terra Nova National Park as the area is gorgeous and there are so many fun things to do there. What are your thoughts? Have you stayed in an Oasis? Will you? We want to see your photos and hear your opinion! Comment below or message us on social media, @twowildtides on Facebook or Instagram.
#1- Have a fire at Middle Cove Beach + s’mores!!
#2- Yoga on the dock in Quidi Vidi
#3- Drinks and snacks in The Courtyard
#4- Visit the St. John’s Community Market
#5- Take a hike on the East Coast Trail
Make the most of your last few weeks of summer! Let us know what you try and what your summer go-to activities are. We love hearing from our readers! Leave us a comment or reach out to us on Facebook or Instagram, @twowildtides.
