Most people fly to St. John's to tour the city before a Newfoundland driving trip. We didn't realize the importance of the Port of St. John's until we embarked on a Newfoundland circumnavigation cruise. Every year, more than two dozen ships begin and/or end their cruises in St. John's Harbour.
 |
 |
 |
| Port of St. John's Harbour |
| Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll |
We were surprised how close the port was to downtown St. John's. It is walking distance from many attractions, shops and restaurants.
What can you see and do in St. John's before or after your cruise? It depends on whether you have a few hours, a full day or a weekend before or after your cruise. Here are a few suggestions, based on our pre- and post-cruise visits.
Downtown walking tour
Before boarding your ship, pick up a map of St. John's from the City of St. John's Visitor Information Centre at the International Airport or at 348 Water Street, downtown. You can also download a PDF map of St. John's from their website.
If you arrive by cruise ship, dockside volunteers give out maps and sightseeing information. (Look for the smiling people wearing red vests with question marks on the backs.)
 |
 |
 |
| Harbourside Park |
| Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll |
Harbourside Park
One street up from Harbour Drive, which borders the port, is Water Street, where sailors used to walk more than 500 years ago. We followed this oldest street in North America to Harbourside Park.
A plaque commemorates the arrival of Sir Humphey Gilbert, who laid claim to Newfoundland in 1583. Another sign depicts John Cabot who, according to tradition, named St. John's in 1497.
From the park, we could see the War Memorial and crayon-colored Victorian row houses on Duckworth Street, behind it. In summer, locals and visitors gather in Harbourside Park to listen to lunchtime concerts.
Labrador and Newfoundland dogs
Without a doubt, the most popular attractions in the park are the bronze sculptures of the Newfoundland dog and Labrador Retriever. Kids like to sit on them and everyone likes to pat their heads.
Depending on your interests, you can walk up to The Rooms museum, art gallery and archives or go shopping. (We enjoyed the Heritage Shop and Newfoundland Chocolate Company on Duckworth Street.)
After lunch at one of the many places to eat in St. John's, end your walk with a stroll past the pubs and eateries on George Street, the best place in the city for prolific music and bars.
Quidi Vidi Village
Another place to see, if you have a half-day or full-day before your cruise departs, is Quidi Vidi Village. This historic fishing village is located on "the gut," an inlet on the northeast side of Signal Hill. At the water's edge, colorful stilted fishing stages (for cleaning fish) and wharves (where fishermen dock their boats) look like a movie set, but they're genuine.
 |
 |
 |
| Quidi Vidi Village |
| Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll |
The St. John's Visitor Information Centre provides brochures for a one-hour walking tour. You can extend your walk to Quidi Vidi Lake, which is the location of the Royal St. John's Regatta. North America's longest continuing sporting event, it is held on the first Wednesday in August.
 |
 |
 |
| Renee Scott displays block prints of fish in studio |
| Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll |
Our first stop was the Quidi Vidi Brewing Company, a microbrewery that offers tours, tastings and evening kitchen parties.
Unique crafts
The yellow Quidi Vidi Plantation building houses studios for emerging craftspeople. It's a good place to see artists at work and buy their creations.
On the day we visited, we met Jenna Foulds who was making beautiful textile landscapes of Newfoundland. Renee Scott was arranging unique block prints of fish in a display.
Megan Jackman showed us her decorative fabric handbags. Stefanie Smith explained how she made glazed mugs by rolling clay like a pie crust and wrapping it around a wooden mold.
Laura Higenell carefully shaped a plate on a pottery wheel. Graham Blair showed us his hand-carved maple printing block. He explained how he rolled ink on the surface, covered it with paper and burnished it to transfer the images of his innovative Newfoundland playing cards.
We were awed by the amount of artistic talent in one location. Culinary talent reigns at the nearby Mallard Cottage National Historic Site where we enjoyed a tasty meal made by Chef Todd Perrin.
 |
 |
 |
| Cabot Tower and Queen's Battery |
| Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll |
National Historic Sites
Two more St. John's national historic sites are must-sees on any pre-cruise tour. Prior to boarding our cruise, Adventure Canada offered passengers a complimentary coach tour to Signal Hill National Historic Site, which boasts the best views of St. John's and its harbor. Cabot Tower, which was built from 1897 to 1900, now houses exhibits and a gift shop inside.
A plaque marks the spot of Marconi's historic reception of the first trans-Atlantic radio signal in 1901. Depending on the time available, you can tour the Visitor Center, hike along the Lookout Trail and North Head Walking Trail and visit the Queen's Battery.
From the top of Signal Hill, visitors can see light flashes from the modern lighthouse at Cape Spear. This National Historic Site, located on the easternmost point of the continent, was also on our pre-cruise bus tour. Standing here, with your back to the rest of North America, you are closer to Europe than anyone else on the continent.
Trails bring you to the original 1836 lighthouse and to viewpoints from where you can look for whales and icebergs in summer.
 |
 |
 |
| Petty Harbour on Irish Loop drive |
| Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll |
Day-trips
If you have a couple days before your cruise embarks or after it returns to St. John's, then consider two scenic driving tours.
Marine Drive is a 2.5-hour route north of St. John's that includes the picturesque Town of Torbay and the dramatic cliffs and surf of Middle Cove.
The longer (eight-hour) Irish Loop drive, south of St. John's, takes you to photogenic fishing villages such as Petty Harbour. Tour operators in Bay Bulls offer birding and whale-watching trips.
St. John's Harbour
Some of our best sightseeing in St. John's was after we boarded our ship. The highlight of our cruise through the harbor was The Battery neighborhood. Its rambling multicolored buildings brightened the craggy cliffs below Signal hill.
 |
 |
 |
| The Battery neighborhood below Signal Hill |
| Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll |
As we reached the Atlantic Ocean, the spectacular sight of Fort Amherst and its lighthouse on a rocky promontary was a dramatic ending to our pre-cruise tour of St. John's.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
City of St. John's
Cruise Newfoundland Labrador
Adventure Canada
More things to see and do in Newfoundland & Labrador:
Newfoundland Traditional Music in Black Duck Brook - Port-au-Port
Fogo Island Newfoundland - Brimstone Head Trail Hike
Tablelands Hiking Trail - Gros Morne National Park Newfoundland
Francois NL Hiking - Charlie's Head, The Friar and Pond Trails
