CANE

“Islands brushed by waves” is the wonderfully poetic name the Micmac Indians gave this small archipelago in the center of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. But it fails to capture the striking palette of the seascapes: white sandy beaches, pale dunes, ochre-red sea cliffs and deep blue sea. Most Madelinots live on the six largest islands linked by Route 199, which stretches 53 miles over rolling green hills dotted with cheerfully painted houses. At the southernmost end, historic La Grave is a hub of cafes, restaurants, shops, galleries, small museums and an aquarium.

Tucked deep inside an inlet on Newfoundland’s mountainous west coast, the working mill town of Corner Brook is the gateway to Gros Morne National Park. The park’s rare features – mantle rock and ancient oceanic crust – are a window onto continental movement 1.2 billion years ago, key factors in its World Heritage designation. Glaciers carved out the spectacular fjords, deep valleys, lakes and beaches. Coastal and forested trails invite exploration, while intrepid hikers can climb the 2,644-foot-tall Gros Morne.