On the fourth day of competition, teams will head to the spectacular Eastport Peninsula on Bonavista Bay, which once was the summer home to the Beothuk tribe. Known for its rugged shoreline and soft sandy beaches, the area will host stages in the historic fishing communities of Happy Adventure, Salvage, Eastport, and Burnside before heading east to Port Blandford.
This area known as The Road to the Beaches embodies what Newfoundland outports are famous for: startling coastlines, culture, history, entertainment and a welcoming environment second-to-none.
Eastport Peninsula is a popular vacation destination pulling visitors from all corners of the globe. In addition to the sandy beaches, you can enjoy spectacular views, hiking trails and endless opportunities for exploration in Terra Nova National Park.
Eastport (population 501) is home to the world class Beaches Arts & Heritage Centre, host to many well-known local, national and international artists, writers and musicians. Its sandy beaches, dramatic seascapes, hiking trails and majestic boreal forest, teeming with wildlife, provide exceptional opportunity for photography, beachcombing, hunting, berry picking – you name it.
Ranging from rugged coastal trails to leisurely strolls along beaches and through historic communities, the Damnable Trail network on the Eastport Peninsula and Glovertown has a trail for every hiker. The trails were developed largely from the remnants of old walking trails and hauling paths forged by the first settlers to the area. Eastport is also known as the “Festival Capital of Newfoundland” with literary, performing arts, and music events.
Happy Adventure boasts boat tours, public boat launches, accommodations such as Happy Adventure Inn, dining (Chucky’s Wild Game & Seafood Restaurant), a seafood processing plant and a place of worship. And for those with a creative soul, check out an evening of Palette Vino, with artist-in-residence Brenda Matchim.
Targa will celebrate its 1000th stage in the outport of Salvage (which rhymes with “age”) at the Salvaje Longhouse, the newest restaurant there in a former fish plant overlooking this picturesque, sheltered harbour.
Saltbox houses, red ochre stages, and St. Stephen’s Church, which was erected in 1859, are just some of the things you’ll see and experience in what may well be the oldest inhabited fishing village in North America. Salvage (population 124), perched on the rugged coastline of Bonavista Bay, is one of the most picturesque communities on the Eastport Peninsula.
With origins dating back to the late 1600s, today Salvage remains a working outport, focused on the fishery. It is most known for its red fishing stages and coastal hiking trails. Still a bit of a hidden gem, it has become a favourite for couples and families alike with its vacation rentals, fresh seafood, and genuine people.
Port Blandford is a beautiful little community nestled in the bottom of Clode Sound, Bonavista Bay, Port Blandford boasts natural scenic beauty and activities to suit any tourist or resident alike. Surrounded by dense boreal forest and bordered by three salmon rivers, Port Blandford has a relaxing and calming atmosphere. Here in Port Blandford you are sure to find the same hospitality and kindness that many travellers of over 100 years ago experienced.
The first national park in the province (Terra Nova National Park) was established on the border of the community in 1957 and features campgrounds, picnic parks, and hiking trails. With attractions such as Terra Nova Golf Resort, which includes a championship 18-hole golf course and a nine-hole course, great salmon fishing, and The Newfoundland T’railway, Port Blandford has become a tourism destination.
Visit the Tourism Newfoundland and Labrador site and check out Our Communities for more info.
