L’Anse Aux Meadows and St. Anthony – Newfoundland – Out and About

We took a day trip from St. Barbe up to the northern tip of Newfoundland (the Great Northern peninsula) to visit L’Anse Aux Meadows. It was a cold, foggy morning which set the atmosphere for the lonely, quiet, peaceful road full of moose. We lost count of the number of moose we saw out and about on the side of the road eating grass. Luckily, none of them were out on the road but they certainly gave us plenty of photo ops. We did not see any caribou although people who drive the same road the day before spotted 5 of them.

Moose on side of road

Moose in bog

Moose grazing

Young moose kneeling to eat grass

On our way to L’Anse Aux Meadows we passed a number of small villages including St. Lunaire-Griquet which is a small fishing village that offers tourism activities such as boat tours and musical entertainment. It also serves as the service center for the surrounding smaller communities such as Quirpon, Straitsview, and L’Anse Aux Meadows. The Canadian National Park Historic Site of L’Anse Aux Meadows is located about 2 km south of the very tip where the town of L’Anse Aux Meadows is located. The Norseman restaurant is in the town and is well known as a great place to eat.

The Norseman restaurant – L’Anse Aux Meadows

Viking statue of Leif Eirikisson in town of L’Anse Aux Meadows

The coast at L’Anse Aux Meadows

A few small icebergs floating around

Colorful motel

Views along Hwy 437 towards St Lunaire Griquet

Fishing village

Iceberg

Fishing village

The surrounding community

Lots of firewood for the winter (or the summer)

Great Black Backed Gull

L’Anse Aux Meadows Historic Site

This archaeological site was discovered in the 1960’s when evidence of Norse explorers were found to have settled here over 1,000 years ago. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the only authenticated Norse site in North America. It was cold and foggy and windy with snow still on the ground when we arrived in mid June which set the tone perfectly. It was nice to huddle into one of the settlement mud huts where a fire was going and an actor in period costume was telling stores, playing music, and baking bread which he had us all sample. We were all so, so cold and it was nice to be inside and picture what it must have felt like 1,000 years ago (albeit with down jackets on). The bread was outstanding!!

Entrance

Nice sculpture in front of visitor center

Sculpture at entrance

Entrance to Visitor Center – still a bit of snow in mid June

Visitor Center – as seen from the back

Steps down the back of the Visitor Center to the settlement

Encampment area

Sculpture on boardwalk out to encampment

Boardwalk

Reconstructed settlement sod hut

Shall we go inside and get warm and cozy

Inside – warm and cozy – nice fire – terrific stories – great bread

Sea by the settlement

Area to walk around encampment area

Nice sculptures of campfires

Back at the visitor center – cold, so cold

St. Anthony

St. Anthony is the largest town in the Great Northern Peninsula in Newfoundland with a population of over 4,000. It, of course, is full of restaurants, stores, and lodging along with a full host of tourist activities and is well known for their icebergs and iceberg and whale watching tours.

Welcome to St Anthony

The Grenfell Center – life of a famous doctor in Newfoundland along with tea house, gift shop, and museum

The Lightkeeper’s Cafe

This is always fun to see – he, he….

Part of The Lightkeeper’s Cafe – offers Viking Feast dinners

Iceberg Alley trail by lighthouse

Coastal view from lighthouse

One of the many tour boats

Boardwalk trails near lighthouse

View of St. Anthony

Whale watching trail by lighthouse

Whale watching area

We departed St. Anthony and headed back towards St. Barbe passing more moose along the way along with some icebergs and a golden eagle and a few bald eagles. It was still a bit drizzling and foggy out but soon we were on the coast of the Gulf of St Lawrence and the sun broke out.