6 MUST-SEE SPOTS IN ST. JOHN’S

It can be difficult to know how to spend your time in a brand-new city, especially if you only have a few hours there.

You want to hit the city’s notable landmarks,but you also want to have fun and see things“off the beaten track”— after all,that’s where you get the best stories from any vacation.

Put on some comfortable walking shoes and grab your camera,because you’re going to need it.

When your cruise ship drops anchor in St.John’s,N.L.,here are a few ways you might want to spend your time...

If you don’t want to miss out...

Signal Hill is pretty much a mustsee if you’re in St.John’s.It’s been a huge part of the province’s history and you’re going to kick yourself if you miss it — really.

Make sure to visit Cabot Tower, located at the top of the hill, to learn more about Guglielmo Marconi -- the inventor who famously used a kite aerial on Signal Hill for reception during the first Transatlantic wireless signal.

If you want to stand on the edge of North America...

Head to the Cape Spear Lighthouse for the rare chance to stand on the easternmost point of North America.When the sun rises, you’re among the very first people in the continent to see it — pretty cool, right?

Visitors describe it as“almost like being inside a painting,”and give rave reviews even if it’s a cold or windy day, so it’s definitely worth a trip.

If you want some exercise...

Lace up your hiking shoes and hit the East Coast Trail.There are 26 different paths — some easy, some strenuous — so you can choose one that works for you, based on how much time you have and how much you want to sweat.

If you want a little culture...

The Rooms is Newfoundland and Labrador’s largest public, cultural space.It stores more than 7,000 works of art,more than a million natural history specimens and more than a million artifacts that connect Newfoundland’s past to its present and future.

If you want a photo opp...

The famous “Jellybean Row Houses” of St. John’s make a beautiful photo — or a fun selfie! The bright, fun colours of the different houses make the perfect “Newfoundland background” for your next holiday card.

If you want to party...

George Street is the entertainment centre of St. John’s, with tons of pubs, clubs and bars all lined up in a row. In fact, there are more bars per square foot of any street in all of North America.There’s live music in most of the venues, and the road is closed off to vehicles, so you can roam around safely.

Stop by for a drink (or several) and you can even become an honourary Newfoundlander at certain pubs by being“screeched in.” If you can successfully speak like a Newfoundlander, eat like a Newfoundlander, drink like a Newfoundlander and “kiss the cod,” you’ll earn yourself a certificate to take home.