Ice, Ice Baby: Newfoundland’s Iceberg Alley draws awed tourists to Maritime coastline
A massive iceberg off the coast of Newfoundland’s Southern Shore highway is stopping traffic, and drawing crowds. Newfoundland’s Iceberg Alley is predicted to have a record summer, with more icy islands sliding down the coast there’s plenty of tipping bergs to take in.
When the recent big berg drew big crowds, we knew staying at an iceberg is clearly ‘tip’ of mind. As self-proclaimed glaciologists we dug deep into the icy factors to consider:
· For starters, Icebergs aren’t exactly the newest hotel on the block, in fact they’d be the oldest at 10,000 years.
· No two are the same. Though Newfoundland has as many as 800 icebergs come down its coastline, each one is unique, making your hotel selection unpredictable.
· Thirsty? Iceberg ice is completely safe to consume, but you may have difficulty chipping a piece of ice off, icebergs are strong. So don’t go biting into a berg anytime soon.
· Tip of the iceberg. Though you may think you’re enjoying the full experience floating above the water, ninety percent of an icebergs mass is below the surface. Who said basement hotel rooms were shoddy?
· Hotel on wheels? No problem. Icebergs literally move at their own glacial pace, roughly 0.7 km/h, but they’re not the most stable. Icebergs can flip over or break apart in a matter of seconds, causing you to lose your luggage, and likely your lunch.
Considering the factors, it may do you well to stick to land.
For those of us wanting to be King (or Queen) of the world, these accommodations are close enough to break the ice:
1. The Luxus Boutique Hotel
This new upscale hotel in downtown St. John’s, NL offers a bar/lounge and other guest favourite amenities.
2. The Bayside Bed & Breakfast, Bay Roberts
This adults-only bed and breakfast in Bay Roberts provides guests with a free full breakfast, free WiFi and parking.
3. Jag Boutique Hotel
This boutique hotel in downtown St. John’s has both a restaurant and bar/lounge for guests to enjoy.
