Take a day trip and explore the Route 233 of The Discovery Trail passing through such charming communities as Bunyan's Cove, Musgravetown, Canning's cove, Bloomfield, Lethbridge, Brooklyn, Portland, Jamestown, and Winterbrook. This area has rugged coastlines, rolling fertile farm land and lush histories. The colonial atmosphere remains strong in the dignified old houses and the open fields, just a skip away from the brisk salt air.
Continue down the Bonnavista Peninsula through historic Trinity and Bonnavista or travel to Clarenville for the day.
Or, you can travel west on the TCH from Port Blandford to Terra Nova National Park. Within the park you will find the community of Charlottetown, and further down the TCH is the turn-off for the charming little community of Terra Nova.
Bunyan's Cove is located in a small cove on the south side of Clode Sound, about 15 minutes from Port Blandford on Route 233.
It was one of the latest areas to be settled in Bonavista Bay. Bunyan's Cove was first settled by George and Joseph Martin and their mother Elizabeth in the late 1800's. They left Elliston in a small rowboat with the idea of moving further up the bay. They landed in the upper part of Bunyan's Cove which they named "Peter's Cove". As time went on, more and more people continued to move to Bunyan's Cove, settling in the middle and lower parts of the cove.
Even today, locals still call the upper section of this quaint little community Peter's Cove. Here, the view of the Bay is breathtaking. You can watch boats traveling up and down the Bay on any beautiful summer day.
In Bunyan's Cove there are three small convenience stores, a Post Office, a Gas Service Station and Garage, a Plant Nursery, a well known battered chicken wholesale business called Aunt Minnie's Chicken a Strawberry Farm and a Dairy Farm. There is also a Lion's Club and a Volunteer Fire Department in Bunyan's Cove.
War Memorial Site
Bunyan's Cove has a War Memorial Monument in memorial of locals who were in WWI & WWII. Located on the Main Road through the community just past the Brook Bridge.
Old Road Trail
Hike along the trail that used to be the old Main Road. Along the trail is a Community Wharf sponsored by the Port Blandford-Winterbrook Development Association, an old cemetery, and breathtaking vies of Clode Sound. Access to this trail is at the end of Hobb's road. Please Note: This trail is not maintained and is to be used at own risk.
Musgravetown is located in Goose Bay, Bonavista Bay on Route 233, just past Bunyan's Cove. First settled in the 1860's by Joseph Greening, it was called 'Muddy Hole', but later received the name, Musgravetown from Sir Anthony Musgrave, who was Governor of Newfoundland during the mid 1800's.
Today, Musgravetown is a farming community consisting mainly of dairy, poultry and root crop farming.
Musgravetown has several Children's Playground areas sponsored by various community groups. Also, there are convenience stores, a gas station, a hardware store, a medical clinic and pharmacy, as well as a pub and eatery.
Malcolm Brown Memorial Park
This park is owned and operated by the Town of Musgravetown. Features of the park include swimming in the fresh water pond, relaxing on the sandy beach, fishing, a cook house, over night camping in tents or campers for a fee of $4 per night (fees are collected on site in the evening), a children's playground, outdoor toilets, change rooms, and a large field for tent camping or playing wide sports such as frizbee or soccer. Pets are permitted.
More information:
Tel: (709) 467-2726
Canada Day Celebrations
Canada Day Celebrations as Malcolm Brown Memorial Park. The Flag Raising Ceremony takes place at the Greenwook Rest Home in Musgravetown and then proceeds to Malcolm Brown Memorial Park for activities. Activities include a barbeque, contests for children, and other games. The Musgravetown area Volunteer Fire Department is involved in holding a fireworks display in Musgravetown as well.
More information:
Tel: (709) 467-2726
The Old Barracks Cafe and Gifts
This old Salvation Army Church was converted into a quaint little gift shop and cafe, serving traditional Newfoundland food and home-style pies and cakes. Operated from January 1 to December 24. Call for hours of operation: (709) 467-1000.
Drive to Canning's Cove to see the capelin rolling. To one who has never seen this spectacular sight before it's one that will never be forgotten as thousands of little capelin roll up on shore to spawn. In appearance they are a small silvery fish and a close relative of the freshwater smelt. Capeline are a cold water, schooling species.
Capelin spend the bulk of their lives offshore moving inshore only to spawn. Spawning takes place on beaches in June and July and attracts predators including fish, seabirds, whales, eagles and ospreys. Newfoundlanders call this the capelin "scull" and evenings in June and July you will definitely find adults and children down on the beaches equipped with buckets and dip nets to gather up this ocean bounty. Traditionally, capelin were spread on gardens as fertilizer. Dried salted capelin are a traditional Newfoundland snack roasted on a stick over a camp fire.
Continue down the Bonnavista Peninsula through historic Trinity and Bonnavista or travel to Clarenville for the day.
Bloomfield is located in Goose Bay at the bottom of Bonavista Bay on Route 233, just past Musgravetown. It was founded around 1860 by a man named Honeyburn. It was named Bloomfield because of the Cherry, Plum and Dogberry trees that grow plentiful in the area displaying beautiful spring blossom. Bloomfield is a small, quiet community of approximately 600 people. The Bloomfield population consists of woods workers, trades people, transport truck drivers and some fisherpeople.
Bloomfield has a Post Office, several convenience stores, a craft supply store, and a gas service station.
Newfoundland Outdoor Adventures
Offers ATV tours and Guide Services in the area. For more information:
Tel: (709) 467-2744
Cell: (709) 427-1842
Web:www.newfoundlandoutdooradventures.ca
Lethbridge is located along Route 233-234 from Bloomfield. It is mainly a forestry and farming community.
Lethbridge is known for its root crop farming, growing such crops as potatoes, carrots, turnips and cabbage. Berry farming, growing Strawberries and Raspberries is also a well known and successful farming enterprise. In addition to root crop and berry farming, there is a turkey farm and a limited beef cattle operation.
Lethbridge also has a thriving forest industry. There are some logging operations as well as pulpwood operations and one commercial sawmill. There are also several small family operated sawmills.
Lethbridge has a High School with a Public Internet Access Site, a Post Office, a restaurant, a pub, several convenience stores, a liquor store, a building supply store, a volunteer fire department and a funeral home.
Continue down the Bonnavista Peninsula through historic Trinity and Bonnavista or travel to Clarenville for the day.
Open Farm Day
Over thirty farms across Newfoundland and Labrador open their doors to the public for the annual Open Farm Day held usually around the last weekend in September. Come out and meet the people involved in the agriculture industry and learn about how the agriculture products you enjoy are grown.
Visit a nursery to get some fall gardening tips, take a tour through one of our local dairy farms to learn where the milk you drink comes from, and try some of the fresh local meats and vegetables that are grown on farms throughout the province. With hayrides, petting farms, gardening demonstrations, and farm markets, there's something for everyone.
Farms that have participated in Open Farm Day in this area include:
Bayview Farms
Owner: Wayde Peddle
Farm Description: Vegetable, strawberry and hay operation.
Hours of Operation: 12:00pm - 5:00pm.
Tel: (709) 467-2439
Farm market on site. TAke a hayride around the farm and meet the goat, horses, rabbits and ducks. The kids will love to take a pony ride while you relax and enjoy some of the refreshments that will be served throughout the day.
Discovery Trail Farm
Owners: George Greening and Lorne Simmonds
Farm Description: Beef farm and meat market
Hours of Operation: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tel: (709) 467-1210
Tour the beef pasture and hay fields. Then take a tour of the brand new meat market and packaging plant. And don't forget to pick up some fresh steaks for barbequing.
D&L Farms Ltd.
Owners: Darryl and Lisa Greening
Farm Description: Tie stall dairy farm
Hours of Operation: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Tel: (709) 467-1119
Take a tour of the milking and replacement barns and learn all about the booming dairy industry in the Province.
Bayview Lounge & Convenience Store
Bayview is a bar offering local entertainment on weekends. The Bayview Lounge is also available for functions such as weddings and parties.
Season: July 1 to September 30
Bayview Gardens Farm Market & Country Store
Purchase fresh crops and berries when in season. Local crafts, house plants, flowering plants, homemade preserves. Also carry gardening supplies, fertilizers, soil, flower & vegetable seeds, flower & vegetable plants. Open April to December, Monday to Saturday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm and sunday 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm. Tel: (709) 467-2399.
Greening's Restaurant
Enjoy this Diner style restaurant serving home cooked meals. Operates year round, however hours may vary depending on the season. Tel: (709) 467-2412.
Robertson's
Farm market and country store. Hours of operation vary depending on the season. Tel: (709) 467-5261.
The Gaffer
Private home in a quiet farming community, overlooking the bay, with beautiful sunsets. Color/Cable TV/VCR, Telephone Jacks in Each Room, Laundry Facilities, Internet Access, Daily Newspaper, Quiet Surroundings.
Season: Jan 1 to Dec 31
Tel: (709) 467-2250
Brooklyn, with a population of approximately 200, is located on Route 234 off Route 233 from Lethbridge. It was given the name Brooklyn because of its numerous brooks that weave through the small community.
Brooklyn was first settled in the 1850's by the Stares family, and at that time it consumed part of Lethbridge. Brooklyn and Lethbridge were then called Brooklyn and Brooklyn East.
Years ago, fishing and agriculture were important industries in Brooklyn. In later years, forestry has become the major industry. In 1940 one sawmill produced 75,000 - 100,000 fbm. Today, trees are cut and sold to the Jamestown Lumber Mill, in Jamestown.
Continue down the Bonnavista Peninsula through historic Trinity and Bonnavista or travel to Clarenville for the day.
Old Caleb's Vacation Home
One house with 3 bedrooms, open from January 1 to December 31. Original homestead circa 1920. Fully equipped house on 8 acres in a private seaside setting. Amenities: bath/shower, fishing, hiking, bbq, tv, telephone. Tel: (709) 467-5436.
Aspen By The Sea
Modern, spacious, delux hosuekeeping cottages with panoramic salt water view. 8 cottages, open from January 1 to December 31. Amenities: bath/shower, playground, bbq, laundry facilities, private patios, pets allowed, tv/vcr in each cottage. Tel: (709) 467-5219. Toll Free: 1-888-467-5219.
The Captain's Getaway
Log home with 3 bedrooms and 1 and 1/2 bath. Fully equipped(including towels and linens), dishwasher, microwave, tv, vcr/dvd player, stereo, washer, dryer, bbq. Three and 1/2 acres of private ocean front property. Tel: (709) 467-2461 or 722-4410
Portland is located on Route 234, between Brooklyn and Jamestown, on the east side of Goose Bay, Bonavista Bay.
Portland, settled in the 1870's, takes its name from a white rock, visible from the bay, making it look similar to Portland, England.
The area was originally used for winter forestry work and for schooner building as well as some lobster fishing and agriculture.
Very little fishing and farming is carried out today. A few people still log and own small sawmills.
Today, most of the homes in Portland are summer homes.
Jamestown is a small community with a population of approximately 150. It is located just past Portland on Route 234.
Jamestown was settled prior to 1870. The first settlers were Irish/English who mostly fished and logged.
In the 1920's there was a Post Office. The mail used to come three times a week by train. The mail had to be picked up and delivered to the train station in Lethbridge.
Vista Vacation Cottage
One cottage, open from may 15 to September 30. Two bedroom fully furnished cottage on Clode Sound in Jamestown and directly across the Bay from Terra Nova National Park.
For more information:
Tel: (709) 467-2353
Winterbrook is located at the end of Route 234 from Jamestown. Winterbrook was settled in 1900 by John Reid from Clarenville and his brother-in-law, Mosses Lowe from Shoal Harbour. They had heard of a place leading to the salt water and decided to bring their families and settle in this beautiful little community.
Winterbrook was originally called Northwest Arm because of its location near Sweet Bay. In 1934 it was changed to Winterbrook because of the many people who crossed the brooks in the Winter.
Winterbrook has a very small population of only approximately 64. In winter many of the older people leave to go live with their families living in other communities throughout Newfoundland and Canada, and return again in the summer. During the early years, the people of Winterbrook earned their living by fishing, farming, logging and trapping. Today most people work outside the community.
Modern technology was late coming to Winterbrook, but the early people living there were clever and wise and bonded together to help each other out.
Winter Brook has one church, the St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church. It also has the Hilltop Senior Citizens Club.
Clarenville is a thriving community located on the East Coast of Newfoundland & Labrador. It is nestled in the beautiful Shoal Harbour River Valley, between rolling hills and an arm of the Atlantic Ocean, called Random Sound. Since its incorporation in 1951, Clarenville has grown into a prominent community with a population of over 5, 000 people.
Attractions:
Rotary Trail
Bare Mountain Trail
Wellness Trail
Clarenville Goose Sanctuary
Clarenville Rotary Marina
Burgoyne's Cove Crash Site
National Historic Site - W.E. Cormack
Mag Ami Kayaking
The Barn Loft Crafts
Creative World Inc. Crafts
Saltbox Framing & Gifts
Random Island Charter
White Hills Ski Alpine Ski Resort
For more specific information please view the Town of Clarenville's website.
The northern half of the Bonavista Peninsula consists of all communities from and including Melrose to Elliston, to Bonavista and the Five Coves. This is an area rich in history. Travel to this area of The Discovery Trail to view whales, puffins, ice bergs, root cellars and more!
Attractions:
Ryan Premises National Historic Site
Season: May 15 - Oct 15, 10 am - 6 pm
Location: Ryan's Hill & Old Catalina Road, Bonavista
Tel: (709) 468-1600 · Fax: (709) 468-1604
Ye Matthew Legacy
Season: Mid - June - Sept, 10am-6pm
Location: Roper Street, Bonavista
Tel: (709) 468-1493 · Fax: (709) 468-2476
Toll Free: (877) 468-1497
Dungeon Provincial Park
Location: Off Cape Shore Road, Bonavista
Tel: (709) 635-4520 · Fax: (709) 635-4521
Port Union Historical Museum
Season: Jun 15 - Labour Day Weekend, 11am - 5pm Daily
Location: Mall Street, Route 230, Port Union
Tel: (709) 469-2159 · Fax: (709) 469-2304
The Factory
c/o Sir William Ford Coaker Heritage Foundation
Lovation: Port Union
Tel: (709) 469-2207 · Fax: (709) 469-2509
Trinity Loop Fun Park
Trinity, NL
Tel: 464-2171
Rising Tide Theatre
Trinity
Local Calls 464-3232
Toll Free 1-888-464-3377
Located in Terra Nova National Park west from Port Blandford, just minutes from the Trans Canada Highway, this coastal community is another popular vacation spot. In the last century, its rich forests, excellent harbour and shipping facilities made it one of the major lumbering centres of Bonavista Bay. With the opening of Terra Nova National Park in 1957, Charlottetown’s economy evolved to provide services for the ever increasing number of visitors to the area. When you visit Charlottetown, be sure to visit the sandy beach, and enjoy the warm ocean water of Clode Sound.
Platter's Beach Trail
Length - 10 km return; Time - 3 hours return
Trail follows coast of Clode Sound through mature fir forest to a nestled little cove with a long stretch of beach. There is a cookhouse available at this location. Access: At end of main road in Charlottetown on Bay's north side.
Dockside Cafe
This cosy little restaurant features Newfoundland decor, sits beside the harbour front and serves traditional Newfoundland meals. Call ahead for daily specials. Operates from June to early September. Tel: (709) 644-3146.
Clode Sound Restaurant
A family style restaurant has been in business since 1958 and serves delicious traditional Newfoundland meals. One of Clode Sound's main focus is utilizing fresh ingredients in season such as rhubarb, blueberries, strawberries, apples, and partridgeberries as well as fresh herbs and edible flowers. Homestyle bread and baked goods are made fresh daily from scratch. Operates from May to late September. Please call for hours of operation. Tel: (709) 644-3146
Located about 1 hour west from Port Blandford. Travel approximately 1/2 hour on TCH into Terra Nova National Park and take left turn-off to Town of Terra Nova. Travel further down this unpaved road until you reach the quiet, charming little Town. Spend the day at the sandy beach. Look for Pond Road or stop and ask a friendly local. This fresh water pond has a very sheltered sandy beach where kids can swim out to a wharf and use the community diving board. There are change rooms on site. Why not pack a picnic as well? Also in Terra Nova is a children's playground, and a little convenience/fast food store called The DEP.