Bonavista

Bonavista is a historically significant town on the Discovery Trail of Newfoundland, widely celebrated as the 1497 landfall site of Venetian explorer John Cabot. For centuries, it was one of the island's most prosperous fishing settlements, a legacy still visible in its preserved merchant properties. The Cape Bonavista Lighthouse, operating since 1843, stands as a prime location to spot whales, icebergs, and thousands of Atlantic puffins that nest along the coastal cliffs. The Ryan Premises National Historic Site showcases the region's 500-year-old salt fish trade through restored 19th-century buildings. The full-scale replica of Cabot's ship, the Matthew, features a glimpse into early transatlantic navigation. The town's culinary revival features modern takes on traditional root cellar vegetables and fresh Atlantic cod. Located a three-hour drive from St. John's, Bonavista is best visited in late May and June for viewing the floating ice of 'Iceberg Alley', or in July and August for warmer hiking conditions and puffin nesting.

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A beautifully preserved 18th-century outport village offering heritage architecture, theatrical performances, and coastal hiking along th…

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