8 Best Sights in Greater St. John's, St. John's

At the easternmost point of land on the continent, songbirds begin chirping in the dim light of dawn, and whales in early summer feed directly below the cliffs, providing an unforgettable start to the day. From April through July, you might see icebergs floating by. Cape Spear Lighthouse, Newfoundland's oldest such beacon, has been restored to its original form and furnishings. There is a visitor center and souvenir shop open in the summer. The historic gun batteries can be viewed up close from the walking trail whenever weather conditions allow.

The cliffs surrounding the lighthouse are beautiful but dangerous. Rogue waves and slippery rocks have caused fatal accidents in recent years. It is important to heed the warnings and avoid getting close to the edge, as there are no barriers and no rangers on duty during the popular sunrise hour.

A fishing village that lies along the coast between Cape Spear and Route 10, Petty Harbour is a great day trip with something for everyone all around one scenic harbor. Two of the prettiest segments of the East Coast Trail start from either end of town. Island Rooms of Petty Harbour is dedicated to keeping the fishing and boating heritage of the town alive and can arrange walking, fishing, and traditional boating excursions ( www.fishingforsuccess.org). North Atlantic Ziplines boasts the longest zipline in Canada, with views over the hills and ocean ( www.zipthenorthatlantic.com). The Petty Harbour Mini Aquarium has a touch tank and daily family programs ( www.miniaqua.org). 

Signal Hill is emblematic of the island's military history, of early technological achievement, and ancient geology. En route to the top, the visitor center exhibits the history of St. John's. Cabot Tower, at the peak of Signal Hill, was constructed in 1897 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of explorer John Cabot's landing in Newfoundland. In 1901, Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic-wire transmission near here, and today you can visit the Marconi exhibit on the top floor of Cabot Tower. The GEO Centre lets you actually go inside Signal Hill and learn about the ancient rock. The drive to the tower along Signal Hill Road affords fine harbor, ocean, and city views, as does the tower itself. Walking trails take you to the base of the hill and closer to the ocean. In July and August every year, cadets in 19th-century British uniforms perform military tattoos.

This tiny fishing village perches precariously at the base of steep cliffs between Signal Hill and St. John's Harbour. Narrow lanes snake around the houses, so it's a good place to get out of the car and walk. A public access to the North Head walking trail that winds around Signal Hill crosses the doorstep of a private home in the Battery!

An expansive Victorian park west of downtown, Bowring was modeled after the famous city parks of London. Dotting the grounds are ponds and rustic bridges; the statue of Peter Pan just inside the east gate was cast from the same mold as the one in Kensington Park in London. The wealthy Bowring family, which made its money in trade and shipping, donated the park in 1914. There is a swimming pool, a splash pad (both open July and August), a large playground, and walking trails.

Built deep into the earth with only the entryway protruding aboveground, this geological shrine is literally embedded in Signal Hill, itself made up of 550-million-year-old rocks. (The province's oldest rocks date back 3.87 billion years.) There are exhibits on the solar system and how Earth took form. Step on an oil platform in the ExxonMobil Oil & Gas Gallery, and learn about how oil and gas are formed.

The gardens at this 110-acre natural area include rock gardens, a Newfoundland historic-plants bed, peat and woodland beds, an alpine house, a medicinal garden, a native plant collection, a vegetable garden, a crevice garden, a shade garden, a dried-flower garden, and a compost demonstration garden. There are also five pleasant walking trails. You can see scores of rhododendron varieties here, as well as many kinds of butterflies and the rare hummingbird hawkmoth.

No one knows the origin of the name of this fishing village, one of the oldest parts of St. John's. The town is best explored on foot, as the roads are narrow and make driving difficult. The inlet, known as the Gut, is a traditional outport in the middle of a modern city, though a recent slew of new building permits means it is changing rapidly. It's also a good place to catch sea-run brown trout in the spring. Down on the waterfront is the Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios, an open arts-and-crafts incubator where you can meet the artists and buy textiles, prints, handmade clothing, and more. It has parking and is a good place to start your walk around the village. The Inn of Olde, Quidi Vidi Brewery, and Mallard Cottage are great stops for food and shelter and, of course, beer and spirits to keep you warm as you explore.