St. John's

3 Reasons Why I Failed My First Thru-Hike

July 30, 2015 by Marie 14 Comments

If you read my blog or subscribe to my email list, you might know that I have been planning to thru-hike the East Coast Trail (a combined 260+ km of trail with varying levels of development and maintenance along the eastern coast of Newfoundland’s Avalon peninsula) for a few months now. It was my big project for the two months I would be home for the summer.

If you read the title of this post, you already know that it didn’t work out as planned. As much as I don’t want to be the person to make excuses, the truth is that I wasn’t being realistic with myself. I don’t have much experience with multi-day hikes, and this was a pretty big undertaking for me.

Rather than just avoid talking about it, I figured I would share the main reasons why the hike just didn’t work out (for now, at least). Maybe if you’ve got similar ambitions, this will help you be a little more prepared.

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On the Trails to Two Historic Sites in Newfoundland

July 24, 2015 by Marie 2 Comments

Newfoundland may not be the most popular island out there to visit, but it does have some unique history that makes it stand out within North America.

The highlights include a capital city that touts itself as the “Oldest City in North America” (the “oldest settlement in North America to become a city” would be more accurate), the presence of American bases from World War II that still stand today (from the days of the Dominion of Newfoundland, before it joined Canada in 1949), and remnants of French and British forts from the 17th and 18th centuries (the days when Newfoundland was fought over for its rich fishing grounds).

Here are a some experiences that will help you get to know a couple of these significant places.

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Why you should always know where you’re going

June 11, 2015 by Marie 9 Comments

A few years ago, I went for a hike. An innocent Sunday hike that my friend described as “Five-ish hours.”

Five-ish hours was a lot for me back then, admittedly. I came from a place where “hiking” wasn’t really a thing. People walked, people spent time in the woods, but this was a rural town where people mostly had a destination or a purpose. Not just a jaunt through the forest.

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Here’s Why You MUST Visit Newfoundland

March 18, 2015 by Marie 31 Comments

There’s something about growing up in a place that ingrains it so deeply in your heart. That’s not to say that I was in love with the place my whole life–it was all I knew. Sure, I wanted to get away. But, getting away is what changes everything. You start to take some ownership and pride in it. The little things grow and become integral parts of the culture and mindset.

Anyway, Newfoundland is a special place. It’s not a Maritime province, and it’s not “Eastern Canada.” It’s the east coast, Atlantic Canada: a not-so-little Island with a less-than-sizable population. Why should you go there? Let’s mull it over.

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24 Hours in St. John’s, NL

January 21, 2015 by Marie 3 Comments

“North America’s Oldest City,” St. John’s sits precipitously on the edge of the North Atlantic. It’s a mix between a romantic and hip downtown scene, and an aging, traditional seaside city. It’s an easy-going place to live, and an easy-going place to visit.

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24 Hours in St. John’s, NL

April 1, 2014 by Marie Leave a Comment

How to spend 24 Hours in St. John’s, NL

7:00 am

Get out of bed. It’s Saturday morning and what a better way to start it than with a gigantic, cheesy omelette and to-die-for hashbrowns at Bagel Café. Better get there early to avoid the lines, which will be out the door by 10 or so.

8:30 am

Wait to be seated. Yes, it’s a little cramped. Yes, you just played an accidental game of footsies with the person at the next table. But, it’s worth it when a mountain of food arrives at your table—one that will take some concentrated effort to finish, but it’s worth the stomachache you’ll have later.

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St. John's

How to spend 24 Hours in St. John’s, NL

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