2020 SPRING Edition

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One of the best parts of my job at Hanover Holidays is the opportunity I get to connect with past, present and future clients. We all have a bucket list of places we’d like to visit and it’s different for everyone. When I meet travellers who are beyond excited for their up coming vacation, completely in awe as they experience something new or have returned from an extraordinary adventure, the stories they share with smiles on their faces and a sparkle in their eye, I know the staff at Hanover Holidays have once again gone above and beyond to help create lifetime memories! Inside this issue I am sharing a couple of stories from our travellers who both have experienced our Viking Trail of Newfoundland tour, an incredible journey full of laughter, stories, nature’s raw beauty and friendships. But no matter what’s on your bucket list of places to explore, rest assured the journey will leave you wanting to discover more!

Michigan Hidden Gems Be amazed by the what this area offers!

May 28th, July 30th or Sept 10th

Historic Inns Fall Tour Incredible opportunity to view

historic Inns and mansions surrounded by the rich fall colours

October 18th

Canadian Prairies A tour full of history & unique opportunities!

July 29th

Authentic Quebec Nature, culture and a Cirque du Soleil

Performance!!

July 17th

Northern Ontario Colours Manitoulin Island, Fall Foliage

and Sault Ste. Marie

Sept 22nd or Sept 29th

…..just to name a few

Sales, Hanover Holidays

©Assiniboine park Conservancy

©laurentides.com

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Thank You Rick! So glad you enjoyed your time with Hanover Holidays!

Travel Blog: 12 Days on The Viking Trail of Newfoundland and Labrador July 22, 2018 by rick young One the places in Canada I have always wanted to visit is the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Partially, I must admit, because of those beautiful promotional TV commercials put out by the province’s Tourism Office. You know the ones — red-haired children running along rugged coastlines and views of the Viking site L’Anse aux Meadows. That wish became reality this July when my partner, Val Cavalini, and I, spent 12 glorious days touring the province by bus on Hanover Holidays’ The Viking Trail of Newfoundland and Labrador. Rather than highlight each site and landmark we visited, I will structure this Blog under four headings: The Land, The People, The Culture, and The Tour.

THE LAND Indeed, Newfoundland and Labrador is very much a wild, untamed region of Canada. Calling it The Rock is not a derogatory stereotype, it’s a geological fact. We saw and visited many ports and seaside harbour communities and landmarks including St. John’s ( the provincial capital), Rocky Harbour, Cornerbrook, Signal Hill, St. Anthony, L’Anse aux Meadows, Gander, and many others. A highlight of the tour was our visit to magnificent Gros Morne National Park — a breathtaking geological wonder that should be on anyone’s itinerary if visiting the province. L’Anse aux Meadows, the site of the Viking Village believed to been settled by Leif the Lucky in the year 1000, is also a must-see. Each location had its own identity and stories to tell.

Wildlife? We saw plenty including three moose, one black bear, thousands of puffins, several whales, foxes, harbour seals, and gulls. One thing we learned is that there are no skunks or groundhogs on the island. For two people who were primarily raised in an urban environment, the landscape of the province was simply breathtaking.

THE PEOPLE To be sure, one thing visitors to Newfoundland and Labrador should do immediately is toss out all of their lingering preconceived stereotypes of dumb, indolent “Newfies.” Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Newfoundlanders and Labradorians we encountered were intelligent, resourceful folks who all expressed extreme pride in their province. All of them were natural-born story-tellers with wicked senses of humour. Most were old enough to remember when the bottom fell out of the province’s local fisheries economy when the federal government halted the cod fishing industry in 1992 due to over-fishing. They remember leaving the province to find work elsewhere and using all of their resources and resilience to survive the hard times. Many have returned home with skills and tools they are now employing in their native province. Younger entrepreneurial Newfoundlanders like Jen, the young woman we met in Gros Morne Park, who owns and operates a Newfoundland Wildlife Interpretative Centre with her husband, are proof that the province is in good hands for the future. By the way, just about everyone we met thanked us for joining Newfoundland in 1949.

THE CULTURE Music, storytelling and beautiful crafts account for most of the province’s culture. We listened to several live musicians and groups, all of whom brought their style to the traditional music of the island. East Coast music is infectious and you can’t help but stomp your foot and sing along. It may be a bit of an overstatement, but every “Newf” we encountered seemed to have a story to tell — usually one that was self-deprecating and had a twist. Many were politically incorrect, but who cares? On the bus, we listened to one of the province’s leading comedians, Jimmy the Janitor, who had us in stitches. Newfoundland crafts are, in a word, beautiful. Handmade items like socks, quilts, hats, silk screens and wood carvings were scooped up by our fellow bus-trippers. Oh, and the food and drink. We ate our share of local cod, salmon, crab cakes, and lobster, all of which was delicious. We were introduced to a local beer — Iceberg Beer — brewed with water from 20,000 year old icebergs. It was delicious, but unfortunately it is not available out of province. We also became members of The Royal Order of Screechers with our shot of Screech Rum and obligatory Kissing of the Cod.

THE BUS TOUR I know many people prefer to set their own itineraries and pace when traveling, but we have always preferred to let professionals familiar with the location introduce us to the sights of places we have visited, especially for the first time. This is why we chose Hanover Holiday’s 12-day Viking Trail of Newfoundland and Labrador bus tour. Our Tour Guide , Jan and Bus Driver, Ron were born and bred Newfoundlanders with a wealth of knowledge and anecdotal stories about every one of the sites we visited. Both were professional, approachable and very personable. The hotels were for the most part excellent with all the amenities one would expect on a 12-day bus tour. Jag Hotel in St. John’s deserves special mention for its classic rock decor. In terms of ranking, we would give the tour 5 out of 5 Stars. Highly recommended!

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Travel Tips

Special Request and Allergies

Hanover Holidays has noted your request and specifications in regards to room type, allergies or special dietary requirements. Please refer to your tour membership ticket for your requests. Please note, room assignments are strictly at the discretion of each hotel, but your request is noted on your file. Dietary needs/restrictions may not be accommodated fully on all tour itineraries. Deluxe continental breakfast consists of standard fare of fruit/juice, cereal/oatmeal, yogurt, toast/muffins, and coffee/tea. Substitutions in some cases may not be available to accommodate your specific need. Specific food requirements/allergies should be forwarded at booking to enable us to forewarn hotels/restaurants of the requirements, to try and meet your request to the best of our ability. Please note, many people have sensitivity to perfumes and cologne, and as such, we require all our guests to refrain from wearing such while on tour.

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our website www.hanoverholidays.com

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‘Kindness, caring, love’ prompts repeat visits to NL Visitor from Ontario has made eight visits to province since 2008

• Northern Pen, 27 Jul 2016 BY MELISSA JENKINS TC MEDIA

Ontario visitor Muriel (centre) loves to visit her Newfoundland friends, including Norstead manager Denecka and Viking interpreter Shirley in L’Anse aux Meadows.

Published in Northern Pen, Serving the Great Northern Peninsula and Southern Labrador, Wednesday, July 27, 2016

The moment Muriel walked into the largest building of the Norstead property in L'Anse aux Meadows, her eyes lit up. Visiting all the way from Dunnville, Ontario, she saw an old friend, Shirley, working in the Viking village. The two embraced in a hug, and happiness could be seen vividly on their faces. They met previously at Norstead in the same circumstance, Shirley working there, and Muriel visiting. This was the eighth trip to Newfoundland for Muriel. ln 2008, she made her first visit, solo. It wasn't long before she fell in love with the beauty, but more importantly the people of the province. "It’s relaxing," she said on July 12. "l love the scenery, I love the people because they're so kind and friendly and thoughtful. "She vowed to continue returning, and besides 2009, has visited every year since. Seeing old friends Clad in her pink Newfoundland hoodie, with the hood up keeping her silver hair from blowing around in the wind, Muriel walked among the tourist attraction with a bounce in her step. ln her hand was a journal, a keepsake she received as a gift. On the front cover it said, ‘Today, I will be happier than a bird with a French fry." This journal is not for her own thoughts. It's so her new friends, and old, could write messages for her to read after she leaves Newfoundland. Shirley and the site's manager Denecka remembered Muriel from her previous visits. And, in typical Newfoundland fashion ensured she felt at home. They were two of the many who wrote in her journal. One of the things Muriel loves to do with her Newfoundland friends is dance. She has moved her feet along with music at stops all across the island, from St. John's to L'Anse aux Meadows. Although there was no music this time, Shirley wanted to be sure she danced in the village again. She sang a traditional Newfoundland ditty, "l'se the b'y'' and grabbed Muriel by the hands. The two danced enthusiastically for a moment. When they were finished, they hugged again saying goodbye, until next year. Like nowhere else Muriel admitted she cried during one of her last visits because she had to leave this beautiful province. She knows she'll be sad when she leaves again. "Kindness, caring, love," she said. "It's hard to put it into words." When asked what her favourite place was in Newfoundland, she struggled to find an answer. She couldn’t pick one. L’Anse aux Meadows is one of the places she looks forward to visiting each year. But there are several that stand out in her mind, including Rocky Harbour and Ocean View. She also has adoration for Trinity and its beauty. Each year she comes on a tour with a busload of people. ln each stop, they take in the local surroundings and see different local sites. Being with the group has kept her in good company while travelling alone. And she said there's nowhere like it. She's not scared when she is on her own and feels safe everywhere she goes. "l know I have to go home, but when I leave, I have to get geared up to go," she said. “The people, all this draws me to come back." Muriel expects to continue making trips to Newfoundland each year. When she leaves Norstead, she hugs Shirley, who is dressed in her Viking character outfit, and with a smile, says she will see her next year.

This article was written by Melissa Jenkins TC Media and Published in

Northern Pen July 2016. Muriel continues to return to Newfoundland with Hanover

Holidays and is planning to return again this year.

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The journey is the experience, discovery creates memories and laughter builds friendships!

For Reservations please contact your Local Travel Agent Tours are operated by HANOVER HOLIDAY TOURS

73 - 14th Avenue, Hanover, ON N4N 3W9 1-800-265-5530 info@hanoverholidays.com www.hanoverholidays.com