3 Best Sights in Western Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador

An intriguing collection of live and preserved insects, spiders, and scorpions from six temperate zones is housed here, and there's a glass beehive with 10,000 honeybees. The verdant greenhouse is home to hundreds of live tropical butterflies. A walking trail leads through woodland to the Humber River and Rocky Brook—you have a good chance of spotting beavers and muskrats from the viewing deck. Check out the gift shop, which sometimes stocks lollipops with edible dried scorpions inside. Picnic tables provide a nice spot to stretch and rest, and complimentary pet kennels are available for use during your visit. The insectarium is a one-minute drive off the Trans-Canada Highway at Deer Lake; turn north onto Route 430, also signed here as Bonne Bay Road.

A visit here is a must, especially for kids who'll be enthralled by the touch tank, the centerpiece of the 45-minute guided aquarium tour. In addition to experiencing sea stars, crabs, algae, and other marine life firsthand, participants learn about the station's past and current research projects. Tours are provided by educated interpreters throughout the day.

This park is 10 km (6 miles) from Port aux Basques and makes a good first or last stop on the island, particularly if you're on a camping trip. The area is rich in natural flora, and the shoreline is a nesting site for the piping plover. The Smokey Cape Walking Trail to Cape Ray Beach covers a rocky, barren terrain; a smaller trail leads to waterfalls on the Barachois River. A sandy, freshwater lagoon is suitable for swimming. The park has 75 campsites, including 22 with electrical service. The day-use area offers picnic tables and fireplaces.