Popular tourist attraction and places in Gros Morne National Park, Canada

Where to stay: Small hotels and inns are located in Norris Point Rocky Harbour and Woody Point (the base for the Tablelends with its rare flat topped rocks). You can also find lodging near Lookout Point and along Trout River. In Rocky Harbour about an hour's drive from the Tablelands en route to the Western Brook Pond the waterfront Ocean View Hotel offers 53 air conditioned rooms with free Wi Fi and in summer live music downstairs in its Anchor Pub. Neddies Harbour lnn a 15 room boutique hotel in Norris. Its Shag Cliff room has panoramic Bonne Bay views from corner windows. If you need more space rent one of the hotel's three bedroom cottages.

How to get around: More than 60 miles of marked trails range from easy half hour walks to strenuous full day hikes. Local outfitter Gros Morne Adventures offers guided sea kayak tours of the park's fjord in Bonne Bay as well as kayak rentals to experienced paddlers. In winter explore the park's 32 miles of groomed cross country trails.
When to go: The park is open year round however snow can fall at higher elevations as early as September and linger on some hiking trails until mid May. For hiking and sea kayaking visit between late June and early September. Many communities host festivals including Norris Point's ten day Trail Tales and Tunes Festival in May featuring folk and bluegrass music cooking workshops special meals and hikes and Cow Head's Gros Morne Theatre Festival which stages six productions May 31 through mid September. These festivals are intimate like a house party Stone says. Travelers and visitors get to interact with the community artists and writers.


Tip of the day: What to eat or drink: From Norris Point take the 20 minute BonTours water taxi (summer only) across Bonne Bay Woody Point for a hot turkey sandwich or fries at the Old Loft of a former fishing shed on Bonne Bay the restaurant is known for its quirky wooden barrel chairs. Treasure Box in Rocky Harbour is primarily a gift shop but the small lunch cafe is worth a try for the moose soup or the traditional Newfoundland combo plate salt cod cake baked beans and toutons (silver dollar size bread dough pancakes). For fresh mussels salmon snow crab and scallop dishes head to the Seaside Restaurant on the beach boardwalk in Trout River open mid May to early October.