Why living on the West Coast of Newfoundland is Awesome!

I wanted to start on a positive note, though I have not yet decided if I am writing this to convince someone else, or myself, of the awesomness of this area. Countless days of mine are spent grieving for the sights and sounds of the city; the food, the rush and.. oh the shopping! Here, the world moves at a pace more suited to an earlier era, and life cannot be filled with frivolous entertainments. It is easy to forget the pleasures of living in "the country" when I scan facebook and see all my friends in new exotic places, going somewhere or seeing something new. Sometimes I even find myself associating coming back home with failure- that I have not broadened as a person because I have not broadened my horizons.

But then... the simplest of things remind me to appreciate and to take advantage of my chosen landscape. When I am able to laugh with my family, surround myself with nature, or watch the puppy run freely on the barrens, I am able to recognize the mesmorizing freedom that comes with sheding the metro maddness and immersing myself back into the heart of rural Newfoundland.

So what are the things I should always remember to appreciate? What are the things that make this place worthy of anyone's inhabitance (or vacation days)?


1. Marble Mountain



According to their website, Marble Mountain offers snow-sport enthusists 37 runs that accomodate all experience levels- all located in the snowiest part of Canada. As we like to say here "It's the best ski hill East of the Rockies". What it offers to anyone living here is the authority and invitation to become part of the popular "snowboarding/skiing" community- even if you have never ever set foot on Marble in your life. Here, you can wear your Volcom and Burton gear- even a local "Snot Rag", and instantaneously become part of something much bigger than yourself. When you tell people from the city (St. John's) you live on the West Coast, I can almost see their minds settling in on images of the Mountain- and you become something more in their eyes. It is something that we have that is all ours; that sets us apart, and we love to flaunt it. I used to ski but now I think I might be too afraid to start up again!





2. Gros Morne National Park






What Marble Mountain does for the Winters around here, Gros Morne does for the summer. You can hike, camp, swim, shop, learn, explore, be entertained or just drive by and take in the scenery that cannot be seen anywhere else on Earth (seriously). Gros Morne was even designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site because there is a piece of the Earth's mantle that decided to join us up here on the crust and create the Tablelands (one of the coolest places EVER). I had the pleasure of working in Gros Morne for a summer, back when I was a wee student. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life! I hiked every trail in the park (except the back country). What I would give to be in that kind of shape again!

3. brewed Awakening

We do not have a starbucks, which I grieved over for months and months after moving back home. However, we do have the locally owned and operated Brewed Awakening which, in my opinion, makes a vanillia latte that is just as good as any stuffy starbucks latte (or better). The cafe also offers a great "artsy" atmosphere, which is another big community in the area thanks to our fine arts school.

4. The Back Trails

I simply say "the back trails" because there are endless reasons why I love them. There is snowmobiling, four-wheeling, hunting, fishing, berry picking, camping, hiking and snowshoing that can all be done on them. You havn't lived until you snowmobiled on the Louis Hills, or baked muffins with the wild blueberries you picked yourself.

5. Family

OK, this is a personal one, but really, where else on Earth could I have a hot Sunday dinner cooked for me by two sets of grandparents or two sets of parents. Where else on Earth could I have free dog sitter no matter when I feel like going on a road trip. Where else on Earth could I have a place to stay when Jonathan goes out of town, because I am too scared to stay alone! That's right, no where, because no matter how disgusted I get with this place it is probably still where I belong. My horizons haven't broadened, but my appreciation and love for all things outdoors, my family and sense of community certainly has. That has to count for something, right?