newfoundland – Two Wild Tides

How To Spend A Rainy Day in YYT

September 16, 2019 | 1 Comment

Newfie word of the day: RDF – an acronym used by Newfoundlanders to describe our frequent weather conditions: rain, drizzle, and fog.

Overcast skies and drizzly days are no stranger to us here in St. John’s. I applaud people who can enjoy a hike in the most dismal weather, or stroll around the streets downtown with an umbrella or road trip despite the downpour. Myself, however, I want nothing to do with it. I try to make the best of all situations, anything Mother Nature throws my way, but instead of being a trooper and bundling up in waterproof clothes, I find indoor adventures that allow me to remain warm and dry.

The following are my favorite ways to spend a drizzly day in YYT.

Mochanopoly. Located on Water Street (near the courthouse), Mochanopoly is St. John’s’ premier board game cafe. The warm, friendly atmosphere is a great place to spend a few hours with friends on a damp day, playing any board game you can imagine. Try the Nutella latte, it is literal heaven!

Escape Quest. Head down to Duckworth Street and challenge yourself to escape fun and intense rooms with NL themes. This is such a fun experience to try with friends, family, classmates, or coworkers. Let us know if you escape in time!

QEII. The Queen Elizabeth II library is located on the Memorial University campus. I know MUN students are probably groaning while reading this, but I enjoy coming here on a rainy day to catch up on homework, read a good book, or explore the stacks to see what I can find. Yes, I am a geek. #sorrynotsorry

The Clay Café. This place is a little out of the way (it’s located in Mount Pearl, on Commonwealth Avenue), but it is a great place to burn a few hours and flex your creative muscle when it’s raining outdoors. The premise is simple: pick out one of their premade ceramic objects (a plate, mug, figurine, etc.) and paint it however you like. They bake it and you pick up your creation a few days later! They also offer Cork and Canvas nights. You bring a bottle of wine, they teach you how to paint a masterpiece- how great does that sound?

The Rooms. I think this one is my favorite. The Rooms is our provincial museum, and it has so much to offer. They have an art gallery, gift shop, historical and cultural exhibits, and a lovely cafe. The best way to experience The Rooms when it’s wet out? Stroll around the exhibits then enjoy lunch with the best view in town. The “Warm Root Vegetable Salad” is a must!

G-Force Funderdome. Located in Paradise off Corisande Drive, the Funderdome is a super fun place for an adults day or night out when it’s less than pleasant outside. They have hi-speed go-karts, glow-in-the-dark mini-golf, Jack Axes axe-throwing, arcade games, pool, and, yup, a bar complete with local beers.

Give back. RDF got ya down? Spend the day giving back to your community. Not only will it benefit others, but it will lift your spirits as well. Volunteer a few hours with The Gathering Place in their soup kitchen; clean out your closet and donate what you don’t wear to the Salvation Army; play with cats at the SPCA; become a conversation partner with RIAC and help a newcomer to Canada improve their English (you can sign up by emailing esl@riac.ca); or, if you don’t have that much time to commit, grab lunch at the Hungry Heart Cafe– this lunch location is operated by Stella’s Circle, they employ vulnerable adults who may have trouble getting a job anywhere else and give them skills to work in the food service industry.

How do you spend rainy days in your city or hometown? We would love to hear about it!

Local Media Spotlight: Iceberg Alley Performance Tent

September 9, 2019 | Leave a Comment

The Iceberg Alley Performance Tent is a music festival that spans 11 entertainment-filled nights. The 25,000 square foot tent is in St. John’s on the banks of Quidi Vidi Lake. Performers from various genres will take to the stage to perform such as Brett Michaels, Loverboy, Tim Hicks, and Metric to name a few. Additionally, hitting the stage again this year on September 14 is Alan Doyle with Shanneyganock and Celtic Connection. Last year, Linds & I had the opportunity to take in this amazing show from the VIP Jag Sky Bar. It was a DREAM.

How often does the same concert happen twice? Hardly ever. You have the chance to have the same incredible experience that we did last year. There are still tickets available for Alan Doyle, as well as other, brand new acts throughout the festival! What are you waiting for? Here’s what you have to look forward to:

Our passes granted us access to both the main area in front of the stage as well as the Jag Sky Bar VIP section. This was a treat for sure. Private bar, private bathrooms, free munchies from Exile, and no line-ups in sight. You get a birds-eye view of the stage and the pulsing crowd. We love the whole venue, but we would absolutely recommend treating yourself to some VIP treatment at the festival. (For more details about the general admission perks, check out this article about past years.)

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 pit 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. What’s more? We’re going again this year! We’ll be getting down to Brett Michaels, Loverboy, Kim Mitchell, and David Wilcox. Mark your calendars because it’s a hell of a good time. Cheers to that my friends! Don’t miss this festival. Get your tickets here!

xoxo,
Char & Linds

P.S. Linds wasn’t lying– there he is, seconds before he smiled right at her 😉

Exploring Newfoundland’s West Coast: Western Brook Pond Boat Tour

August 29, 2019 | Leave a Comment

This post is a long time coming! On Canada Day Weekend (yup, months ago) my friends and I took a road trip to the west coast of Newfoundland. We mostly just chilled in the RV, played lawn games, and had some drinks, but we did find the energy to venture up to Western Brook Pond to do the boat tour through the world-famous, breathtaking fjords. I was slightly under-prepared so, unfortunately, the photos are only iPhone photos!

We booked our tour through BonTours, which is the only tour company operating in Western Brook Pond. It was about $65 per person and we did not have to make a deposit to book our tour in advance. I would definitely suggest you book the tour ahead of time as it can be quite busy in the summer.

To access the tour, you’ll need to walk about 3km from the parking lot to the dock. It’s a relatively easy walk and takes about 30-45 minutes depending on your fitness level. I suggest bringing a bottle of water and a snack as the food at the tour facility is quite pricey.

The boat tour was fantastic. It’s about two hours long. We stood at the front of the boat the entire time so our views were fantastic. There is seating on top of the boat, at the back, and inside. The tour guide was great. He was friendly and informative. On the way back, he even played a few local tunes and everyone sang along.

There are so many remarkable facts about Western Brook Pond. What particularly stands out in my mind are the tales of huge chunks of the cliffs falling into the water, once even causing a 100-foot tsunami. The pond also carries extremely low levels of electrical charge compared to other bodies of water, meaning it is unable to support much marine life and therefore the water is pristine.

I know my pictures aren’t much. You might even be wondering after reading this post, “why would I bother going all that way for a boat tour in a little pond?”

Well, words and photos will NEVER demonstrate the magnitude of the fjords. To give you an idea, the CN Tower is 553 meters tall, and the tallest rock face in Western Brook Pond is 600 meters. It’ll blow your mind!

Have you been to Western Brook Pond? My goal is to snowmobile it next, and hopefully hike it someday. Let us know what you thought of the experience in the comments below or by reaching out on social media, @twowildtides!

Check out our other adventures on the west coast of Newfoundland:

St. Pierre & Miquelon: Know Before You Go

August 5, 2019 | Leave a Comment

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

Media Spotlight: Iceberg Alley Performance Tent

September 24, 2018 | Leave a Comment

Recently, Char & I had a mini weekend reunion as we were together to shoot the Iceberg Alley Performance Tent on September 15th. It was such an incredible opportunity to have the official media title and be able to capture the excitement of the night in our photographs. The Iceberg Alley Performance Tent is a music festival that spans 11 entertainment-filled days. The 25,000 square foot tent is in St. John’s on the banks of Quidi Vidi Lake. The performers from various genres took to the stage to perform such as Shawn Hook, Serena Ryder and Dallas Smith to name a few. However, we were ecstatic to have the opportunity to shoot Shanneyganock and Alan Doyle. What a dream!

Luckily for us, our media passes granted us access to both the main area in front of the stage as well as the Jag Sky Bar VIP section. This was a treat for sure. Private bar, private bathrooms, free munchies from Exile, and no line-ups in sight. You get a birds-eye view of the stage and the pulsing crowd. We love the whole venue, but we would absolutely recommend treating yourself to some VIP treatment at the festival. (For more details about the general admission perks, check out this article about last year’s festival.)

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!