At the far south-eastern tip of Newfoundland, St. John’s sits at one end of the Avalon Peninsula. The city is often compared to a mini San Francisco, thanks to its hilly streets and brightly coloured rows of houses, all set around the historic and prominent Signal Hill. It’s a lively, cosmopolitan city that still manages to retain a small-town charm, and the locals are always happy to stop for a chat.

For many years, St. John’s was the world’s busiest centre for cod fishing, with fishing merchants making their fortunes here. However, after the cod fishing moratorium in 1992, the industry collapsed, and many locals left to find work elsewhere. Today, St. John’s waterfront is a National Historic Site. While still bustling with small fishing boats, tourist vessels, and the occasional cruise ship, the city’s economy is now largely driven by the offshore oil industry.

Fifteen kilometres south-east of St. John’s is the National Historic Site of Cape Spear, the easternmost point in mainland North America. Just south of here, whale-watching boats depart from Bay Bulls, where there’s a good chance of spotting humpback whales and a variety of seabirds, including puffins, during the summer months. Further south and west, the Avalon Peninsula is dotted with remote communities, wilderness reserves, and hundreds of lakes, all framed by a rugged and breathtaking coastline.