Winter is almost over! Isn’t it? No! According to the groundhog, we have another six weeks of winter to contend with. To pass the time, we can begin thinking about warmer temperatures coming our way. What does Newfoundland have to offer in summer? If you are a local tourist or a tourist coming into Newfoundland, filling your time during the summer will not be a problem. Newfoundland is known as one of the top ten friendliest cultures in the world and from coast to coast Newfoundland tourist attractions run the gamut from colourful people, cultural heritage influenced by the Irish, English, French and the aboriginal peoples, diverse landscapes, natural history, scenic views and vast open spaces. The influence of cultural heritage on Newfoundland tourist attractions is evident in the number of designated National Historic Sites in the province.
The National Historic Sites in Western Newfoundland and Labrador are just waiting to have their unique stories discovered and their rich and interesting history explored. To get a taste of some Newfoundland tourist attractions such as the National Historic Sites, a treasure-trove of exploration awaits when planning the trip of a lifetime to the western part of Newfoundland and to Labrador.
Port au Choix National Historic Site
To get an appreciation for the oldest peoples who lived in Newfoundland, tourists should make their way to Port au Choix in Northwestern Newfoundland. The Port au Choix National Historic Site is about a three hour drive from Marble Mountain in Steady Brook, another popular summer destination. This Newfoundland tourist attraction was declared a National Historic Site in the 1970’s as a result of archaeological investigations that discovered a rich history of four ancient cultures, including the Maritime Archaic Indians, living in the area more than five thousand years ago.
L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site
Continuing north on the Viking Highway past Port au Choix, more Newfoundland tourist attractions can be explored through the National Historic Site at L’Anse aux Meadows. Archaeological investigations led to the reconstructions of three Norse buildings depicting the earliest known European settlement in the New World. The L’Anse aux Meadows site is a display of the Viking lifestyle about 1000 years ago in Newfoundland and it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.
Red Bay National Historic Site
Another gem among the Newfoundland tourist attractions is the Red Bay National Historic Site. This site, the Red Bay Basque Whaling Station located in Red Bay on the coast of the Labrador portion of our province, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013. At this site you will step back in time, some 500 years ago, to see how whalers from the Basque region of Spain and France conducted a thriving industry producing whale oil (right and bowhead whales) for export to Europe from Labrador.
Newfoundland tourist attractions such as the National Historic Sites offer visitors of all ages a world of opportunities to discover their roots and their heritage. Discover three of the cultural treasures shaping Western Newfoundland and Labrador!
