The wild, wonderful landscapes of western Newfoundland

Ancient rock formations, dramatic coastlines and dense forests teeming with wildlife: no matter which way you look in Newfoundland, you are sure to be amazed.

One of the most geologically unique regions in Canada, Newfoundland comprises the easternmost land in North America, 29,000 kilometres of coastline, 18 ecological and wilderness reserves, and two of the country’s most photographed national parks, including Gros Morne National Park.

With its broad alpine vistas, friendly outports and steep-walled fiords, home to whales and seabirds, foxes and moose, the province’s western coast is a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts from across the globe. In the summer of 2022, photographer Jenny Wong spent eight days exploring the region on a Canadian Geographic Adventure with Great Canadian Trails.

Gliding across glassy waters, our small boat follows the curve of a bald eagle’s wing to a rock face where the towering cedar forest meets the sea. The boat slows. Our guide points toward the rock. At first, we don’t see what we’re looking for.

Then, like a story that’s still being written, images start to appear. A flash of dark, reddish brown. Then people in canoes. People dancing. A jellyfish. Prawns. Someone holding a harpoon. Petroglyphs are scattered across the rock, time-worn memories of the coastal First Nations — Klahoose, Tla’amin, Homalco — who once had longhouses here. “This was a checkpoint for all the nations that came here,” says guide Leon Timothy of Tla’amin Nation.

It’s also a reminder: we’re on native land. A bald eagle swoops into view and settles into a tree, eyeing our small group as if to make a point.

Nestled in the westernmost point of the Florida Panhandle lies the quaint town of Pensacola. It’s a place where white quartz sand meets turquoise waters, a bustling downtown meets relaxed oceanfront dwellings, and heritage buildings meet vibrant arts and music festivals.

Alongside boasting incredible natural beauty across 80 kilometres of coastline, Pensacola also takes pride in its rich history – from pre-Civil War forts to the title of America’s first settlement. With countless landmarks to see and an endless amount of shoreline to enjoy, it can be difficult to decide where to begin. So here’s how to make the most of three days in this unique town.

With their distinct lack of furry cuteness, forked tongues, and nefarious Biblical reputation, snakes are not everybody’s cup of tea. Many see a reptile with venomous fangs waiting to strike from dark crannies and overhead trees, stoking a reaction that spans from ickiness to panic, infiltrating the pits of our imaginations. But instead of picturing snakes as a devious species, I invite you to open your heart (and hands) to a misunderstood northern wonder. Each spring, tens of thousands of red-sided garter snakes slink out of their rocky dens in one of Canada’s great and unheralded wildlife spectacles. Welcome to the largest gathering of any snake species on Earth.