The NE coast of Island Newfoundland contains one of the most scenic spots on planet earth! Green Bay is a smaller bay tucked into the western bottom section of Notre Dame. Geographically, we divide the area into two distinct regions, GBN and GBS. Both sections of the bay have their features which the locals are extremely proud of and which have a tremendous influence on visiting tourists. It is with these in mind that I give my reasons why I love Green Bay.
First of all, I was born and raised in Green Bay South. I became so attached to the area that I remained within the area to work, raise my family, and volunteer. There was no better choice to raise my children than in one of its communities. School life offered the absolute opportunities for my children. The teaching staffs were very dedicated and showed serious concern for all students to achieve to their full potential. The wide variety of extra activities on the schools’ curriculum was such that students could engage in those that they all felt comfortable with – whether it was a school band, a school club, or an opportunity to represent their school in a public speakoff.
One of the first features to capture visitors’ attention is the clean appearance of the towns. The condition of properties, the variety of decor offered by each town (hanging baskets of flowers and large flower-filled boxes, the beautiful signage and colourful displays), and the absence of garbage littering both streets and lawns. Many of the towns have taken it on them to cleanup streets, harbours, beaches, and to restore worn-down structures in an effort to give residents a sense of pride for their individual place of residence. Many of them have been rewarded for their efforts by having been awarded either the “Tidy Towns” or ‘Communities in Bloom” recognition from the province’s department of Tourism, Culture, and Recreation.
There is almost a limitless number of charms offered by the 24 communities which comprise the entirity of the area. These attractions range from the natural beauty of the area – the greenery, the variety of land formations, and the beautiful rivers, ponds and lakes – to the wide variety of infrastructure. This has been designed to improve residents’ living and well being conditions and to lure outsiders to visit for pure enjoyment and entertainment. There are senior cottages and retirement homes throughout the area, and a long-term care home and health care centre at Springdale. The area boasts whale pavillions, libraries, heritage churches and centres, B&B and AirBnB establishments, stadiums, restaurants and cafes, and a local craft/microbrewery which offers bunks, brews, and bites b’ys and the Bight Boys to entertain and advertise. These facilities ensure that the locals’ and visiting tourists’ needs and entertainment are satisfactorily taken care of.
The abundance of rivers, ponds, lakes, and the closeness of the ocean provide exceptional opportunities for boating – seadooing, canoeing, kayaking, row-boating, and speed and pleasure boating. Beautiful sandy beaches give extra spaces for swimming in addition to community swimming pools which are properly supervised. Add to all this the ease of engaging in cod, salmon, mackerel, and trout fishing; some of which can be offered by local boat tour entrepreneurs.
Green Bay has some of the most beautiful RV parks, campgrounds and trails in the province. GBN has parks and/or campgrounds at Springdale, just west of the Springdale Junction, and Kings Point. In addition, these communities, including Little Bay and Harry’s Harbour, also have walking trails. South Brook, the Gateway to GBS, marks the southern section of the area. There are four parks and/or campgrounds in the south as well as 5 walking and adventure trails. These trails range from easy to challenging, and they each have rest areas and scenic lookouts. Many, bordering on the coastline, provide users an opportunity for whale and bird watching, iceberg sightings, and a chance to shoot awe-inspiring photographs. Those located further inland, circumnavigating lakes, ponds, and rivers, boast various other types of wildlife. These areas, too, provide an opportunity to capture some unbelievable sights and sounds!
Two striking features offered by residents are their friendly and caring nature and their generosity in helping those in need. I strongly believe that this area of NL has a population whose contributions to charity per capita are amongst the highest in the province. My time with various community charitable organizations saw years of record givings for the Canadian Cancer Society, Red Cross, and Heart and Stroke Foundation. Year after year, communities throughout the region engage in various fundraisers for local disasters, and residents can always be counted on to support these projects. It is not uncommon, for instance, for a community breakfast to raise between $8000 to $10,000 to assist a family or an individual in need!
A popular community annual event which attracts a large turnout is the civic holiday celebrations.There are so many events organized, some running for many days, that it’s almost impossible to avoid scedule clashes. The amazing feature is that, even when towns in close proximity celebrate on the same day, they witness very successful events. It is during those festivities that residents go all out to provide a wide variety of NL foods, engage in local customs, and exhibit community talent (music, singing, and arts and crafts). The timing is right on for visiting tourists, from across the province, the country, and the world, who make a special effort to engage in them. Positive feedback suggests that they will schedule their visits to coincide with these celebrations, and they will keep coming back!
Without question, the newfunland section of NL has to be the Green Bay area. “Take the Ride and Bide!” is a sign slogan which invites you to visit and stay awhile. For the experience of a lifetime, visit Green Bay, NL – it’s beautiful, it’s inviting, it’s friendly, and it leaves a lasting impression on your body and soul!
