Hotel Overlooking St. John’s Historic Harbor

Signal Hill stands high over St. John’s, Newfoundland, overlooking the harbor and the sea. From this vantage point, 19th-century signal men used flags to guide ships to safety long before the invention of ship-to-shore radio. Today, Signal Hill is a popular destination because of its maritime and military history, but also because of Lookout Trail, a footpath with one the best views of the city. Even if you don’t make it to the hilltop, you can enjoy ground-level views from the lounge of the Courtyard St. John’s Newfoundland—the harbor and rugged coastline lie just outside the hotel.

The property lies in central St. John’s, only a short walk from the business district and from George Street, known for its pubs and restaurants. But you won’t have to leave the property for dining; the onsite Fish Bowl Restaurant & Bar serves fresh local seafood. With this getaway, you’ll get handcrafted chocolates and a bottle of wine.

St. John’s, Newfoundland: Port City Steeped in Maritime History

St. John’s sits on the eastern tip of Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. There’s plenty going on in the capital city, but it manages to retain the charm of a small town, thanks in part to the brightly colored row houses, referred to as “Jellybean Row” by locals, that line the seashore. The Irish and English immigrants who founded the town have more than left their mark on it. On George Street, you can still hear the music of the Emerald Isle in many of the bars and pubs, most of which stay open into the wee hours.

To learn more about the area’s history, head to The Rooms, a provincial museum with exhibits on everything from the animals of the tundra to the cultures of the indigenous inhabitants. The Provincial Seamen’s Museum, a division of The Rooms, pays homage to the region’s maritime history with an expansive collection of artifacts from 19th-century sailing vessels, including an enormous wooden steering wheel and a waterproof cell-phone charger.

Nearby is Quidi Vidi village (pronounced “kiddy viddy”), a picturesque hamlet where schooners chug through the channel and houses nestle into the hillside. The village is known for its fishing history and for its stint as a military battery during the War of 1812. Today, it’s home to Newfoundland’s largest microbrewery.

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