Get Away from the Everyday

You don't have to travel far to get away from it all, and you don't have to wait for summer to take a mini vacation.

By Nicola Ryan

Winter getaways are the ideal way to relax and recharge, and explore new places during the snowy months. This February, whether you’re a solo traveller, part of a loving couple, or a group of friends looking for a weekend break, there are loads of places and activities to check out all across Newfoundland and Labrador. Here are three perfect examples of what makes a really great escape.

Rosedale Manor

Placentia

Solo travellers looking for quiet, quality “me time,” might want to book a stay at Rosedale Manor. Located in Placentia, just a quick hour outside St. John’s, Rosedale is a beautiful, historic waterfront home dating back to 1893. Locals Christopher Newhook and Lori Pretty have recently taken over as hosts, creating a getaway perfect for anyone seeking a peaceful haven. Antique furniture, handcrafted quilts and Christopher’s original artwork decorate the bedrooms, and guests are welcome to enjoy morning coffee in the dining room, to nose around in the library of Newfoundland literature, or, in the warmer months, to sit in the flower garden and savour the character of old Placentia.

“What a place to come and get inspired, to relax, to disappear, to unwind,” says Christopher, noting that those of us who live in Newfoundland and Labrador often take our relative isolation and quietness for granted. “People are looking for a place to just find themselves, and also to find purpose and direction.”

A stay at Rosedale Manor will appeal to curious travellers looking for a personal connection – Christopher works with Parks Canada and has a wealth of knowledge about the local area. Let Rosedale serve as your home base while you check out Castle Hill National Historic Site, where the French and the English duked it out with cannons and stone forts in the 1600s. Wander along coastal hikes and birdwatch at Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, or head over to the Three Sisters pub for a hot meal or some live music. “I say the pub’s within stumbling distance,” Christopher quips.

Christopher and Lori are now in the early stages of development of weekend packages for various seasons, where you might pick apples or berries and bake them into fresh muffins; stroll around the town’s oldfashioned streets and learn about the Basque, French, English and American cultures that intertwined here, or head out with Christopher for an art experience en plein air. “I’m a trained visual artist,” he explains, “so you take your art kit and we’ll go for a little adventure. We’ll disappear into the forest or down by the ocean, and you just sketch or draw for an hour or two.”

Milton Inn

George's Brook-Milton

If your dream winter weekend includes frosty days on the trails and amazing meals, grab your sweetie and set a course for the Milton Inn. Located just outside Clarenville and not far from White Hills Ski Resort, the inn is a hidden gem with an incredible dining room operated by chef Trevor Adams. Trevor, who grew up in Milton, studied French and Italian cooking at George Brown Culinary School in Toronto, ON. He cooks everything from scratch on-site in a classic style with a uniquely local flair.

“We’re very different than your typical restaurant,” he says. “We do classic French and Italian dishes, but we use Newfoundland ingredients like moose and rabbit, caribou… and as much locally foraged or harvested food as possible. Our fish is caught by either me and my son, or a close friend of ours, in the waters just out from Random Island.”

The Milton Inn’s focus is on relaxed fine dining. “We want you to stop,” Trevor says, “We want you to stay.” While the dining room is small, it feels cosy and intimate; the tables are comfortably spaced so you can flirt with your date without being overheard. For added romance, the curated wine cellar is one of the best in the province, with nearly 140 kinds of fine wine to choose from. Be sure to make a reservation though, as the dining room can be booked up months in advance.

George’s Brook-Milton is conveniently located near the White Hills Resort, Terra Nova National Park, Thorburn Lake and Port Blandford. White Hills offers winter fun for everyone – try a downhill skiing lesson, or follow a snowmobile trail into the backcountry. The surrounding White Hills have 40 kilometres of groomed Nordic trails for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, and some are lighted so you can ski under the stars.

Trevor is keen to mention that no trip out this way would be complete without a couple of additional stops: Cabin 6 Pizza for a freshly made stone-baked pie; and the Newfoundland Cider Company, the province’s first craft cidery, for a small-batch craft cider. “It’s like we’re a little three-hub spot to hit, and we really thrive and feed off each other,” he says.

Upper Humber Settlement

Cormack

If you’re part of a gaggle looking for a winter wonderland on the west coast, head to the Upper Humber Settlement B&B in the tiny historic community of Cormack. Mark and Lauralee Ledrew purchased the six-acre property in 2012, and have been hard at work since creating a sustainable homestead and a new FarmStay Bed and Breakfast. Mark cleared the land and built the rustic, charming B&B himself with locally sourced lumber and repurposed materials. “It’s a cosy and intimate location for a winter destination,” says Lauralee, “with Canadian maple flooring, Newfoundland wood trim and 18-foot ceilings. There’s plenty of room for up to eight guests, so bring along your friends or family and make some memories!”

Cormack is an ideal spot for travellers – just 20 minutes from the Deer Lake airport and about 30 minutes from Gros Morne National Park. “We’re also around 45 minutes outside Corner Brook,” Lauralee says, “making us the ideal halfway point to see some of the west coast’s finest attractions.” Skiers and snowshoers can check out the trails in Gros Morne or at Pasadena’s Ski and Nature Park. Marble Mountain Ski Resort – Atlantic Canada’s biggest peak, with 230 acres of skiable terrain and almost 40 trails – is just 45 minutes away in Steady Brook.

Try out one of the winter experience packages the Upper Humber is offering, such as a Farm and Forage Cultural Snowshoe Cook Up where you can take a trek and have a boil-up using foraged flavours and tastes from the farm. Or head out on a snowmobile excursion on groomed trails, leaving right from the driveway. Snowmobile rentals are available nearby at Rugged Edge in Corner Brook – they have backcountry guides who can take you to Western Brook Gorge and the Lomond Sinkhole. “We’ll make all the arrangements for you and can even include a fully catered meal package for during the day and a hot meal prepared for your return,” Lauralee says. “We use many of the vegetables and meats from our farm to bring the FarmStay experience to your plate.”

Discover For Yourself

Castle Hill • Placentia: www.pc.gc.ca/castlehill

The Three Sisters Pub and Restaurant • Placentia: TheThreeSisters.ca

Cabin 6 Pizza • Milton: CabinSixPizza.com

Newfoundland Cider Company• Milton: NewfoundlandCiderCo.com

Terra Nova Resort & Golf Community • Port Blandford: TerraNovaGolfNL.com

White Hills Resort • Clarenville: WhiteHillsResort.com

Rugged Edge Outdoor Lifestyle Emporium • Corner Brook: RuggedEdge.ca

Gros Morne National Park: Parks.Canada.ca/pn-np/nl/ grosmorne

Pasadena Ski and Nature Park: PasadenaSkiPark.org

Marble Mountain Resort • Steady Brook: SkiMarble.com

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