Overview
Introduction
Cape Bonavista, 80 mi/130 km north of St. John's, is reputed to be where, in 1497, John Cabot's ship made landfall in what became known as Newfoundland and Labrador (although no one knows the exact spot for sure). You can see a replica of the ship, the Matthew, in the town's harbor.
The lighthouse on Cape Bonavista, first used in 1843, is now a provincial historic site. Costumed staff play the roles of the lighthouse attendants who kept the flame in the tower burning for decades. Across from the lighthouse is a large outcropping where thousands of Atlantic puffins, the provincial bird, congregate in summer. Don't miss the interpretation center on-site.
Overview
Introduction
In the foothills of the scenic Davis Mountains and 335 mi/540 km northwest of San Antonio, Fort Davis is quite a contrast to most Texas towns—it has mountain scenery (at 5,050 ft/1,540 m, it's the highest town in the state), low humidity and, even in the summer, gets wonderfully chilly at night.
Fort Davis grew up around a U.S. Army outpost established in 1854 at the crossroads of the Chihuahua Trail and the Butterfield Overland Mail Route.
Texas Highway 166 makes a 75-mi/120-km scenic loop around 8,382-ft/2,554-m Mount Livermore (the loop begins and ends in Fort Davis). This is among the nicest drives in west Texas—rolling hills, towering mountains and abundant wildlife, including pronghorn antelope.