The small town of Dildo, Newfoundland and Labrador, might be the butt of many jokes but the town certainly is no joke at all. Last week I visited the community for the first time and was blown away by how scenic, tidy, and all-around lovely it is. Dildo has been a popular tourist destination for many years because of its proximity to great iceberg and whale-watching locations, and of course, its unconventional name. Lately, the town has seen another tourist boom since the opening of the Dildo Brewing Co. and Museum earlier this year. The town lies just 20 minutes off the Trans Canada Highway at the Whitbourne junction, which is about 45 minutes outside of St. John’s.
We stayed at the Inn by the Bay which is on Dildo’s main road. To use the words of the woman who runs the inn, Colleen, the inn is “staggering distance” from the brewery– and she wasn’t joking, it’s basically across the road! The inn was perfectly located for us to spend the afternoon at the brewery and stroll over to Dildo Dory Bar and Grill for supper without having to worry about someone being a designated driver.
The Inn by the Bay is beautiful. As soon as you walk in the door you feel welcome and right at home. We stayed in the Warren Room, which has a partial view of the ocean (and a full view of the brewery!) and a cloud-like king-sized bed. There was also a full-length mirror, a table and chairs perfect for a game of cards, complimentary water, a flat-screen TV, and free wifi, as well as a cozy chair to curl up in by the window. The room was immaculate; you can tell the owners and staff take pride in what they do.
In the beautifully decorated dining area/common room there is a door to a small patio where guests are welcome to sit out and enjoy a glass of wine with a clear view of the harbor. The dining room is so inviting and comfortable, I really enjoyed sitting back and relaxing for a bit after supper. The breakfast, and I’m not exaggerating, was the best I’ve ever had at a hotel or b&b. It had a little of everything, it was perfectly cooked, and it was served fast and hot. Also, it’s not often you get such a great selection of fresh fruit, especially here in Newfoundland, so I appreciated that. With orange juice and a coffee, it was the perfect way to start the day. (I still think about that waffle to be honest!!)
The brewery was fabulous. I’ve checked out a couple microbreweries now, and Dildo Brewing Co. tops them all. As someone who likes beer but doesn’t love it, I was happy to be able to get a highball made with local vodka from Newfoundland Distillery Co. after trying a couple flights of their different beers. The atmosphere in the taproom is so rad, with rustic yet vibrant decor and friendly staff. I also thought it was awesome that we could get snacks as a lot of breweries don’t offer food. The wings and nachos were deadly and really hit the spot. After getting a good buzz on, filling our bellies, and checking out the merch I was truly satisfied with the whole experience.
Later that evening we took a walk around town and grabbed a light supper at the Dildo Dory Bar & Grill– home of Captain Dildo (yes, you read that right). We had a seafood platter called ‘Fill Ya Boots’ and a delicious fresh garden salad. The food was great and so was the service. Definitely pop by during your visit to Dildo! Maybe you’ll be brave enough to try the Dildo Sticky Pudding from their dessert menu (sorry–couldn’t resist!).
I highly recommend an overnight trip out to Dildo with a stay at Inn by the Bay; you won’t regret it. I want to send a huge shoutout to the ladies at the Inn for their incredible hospitality and for welcoming us out to Dildo for the night. They were super friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable about the area. You can get their website here and their Facebook page here. Have you been to Dildo? What did you think? Let us know in the comments, we love hearing from our readers! Tag us in your adventure pictures on social media, we want to see what you’re up to! You can find us @twowildtides.
Happy adventuring,
char
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