Corner Brook, Newfoundland

It's not too easy to get to Corner Brook, Newfoundland. The land is rather rugged, so visitors have to go to the nearest airport - Deer Lake - for a 40-minute drive into town. There are ferries into Newfoundland from the mainland, but they aren't close either. 

Once arriving, they'll get a look at the second-biggest city in Newfoundland. Admittedly, the population is not a big number. Corner Brook peaked in 1971 at 26,000 people, and it's down around 19,000 now. But it's the center of activity for Western Newfoundland. A new billion-dollar hospital supposedly was just completed, and it's easy to think that it will be a game-changer for the people of that region. 

The Corner Brook Paper and Pulp Mill is the biggest employer in the city, and its factory certainly stands out on the waterfront. Elsewhere, cruise ships pop in so that passengers can spend some money there. There has been some immigration into this region, which is shown by a number of restaurant types not usually associated with this part of the world. 

The biggest sports star to come out of the area is probably Keith Brown, a defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks from 1979 to 1993. Keith might be best known as the player taken after Ray Bourque in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft. That worked out fine ... for Boston. 

Here's a look around:

Corner Brook, Newfoundland: Railway Society of Newfoundland Historic Train Site

Trains aren't exactly a huge part of life in Newfoundland. After all, they can't leave the province since there are no bridges to the mainland. 

But that doesn't mean there aren't a few of them around. The Railway Society of Newfoundland has collected some of them, and put together a cute little area not far from downtown Corner Brook. It's right across the street from the water.

The "Newfie Bullet" was popular in the 1920s and 1930s, but some engineering problems sentenced it to the dustbin of history. However, it lives on here. A couple of other trains are on the small site, including the railroad snow plow shown here. The plows first turned up on the island in 1957, and are still in use in certain sports of Newfoundland according to reports.  

There are certain hours for tours of the area, but we just showed up and walked around the outside of the trains - taking a peak inside the cars and the station. The train buffs out there no doubt will be entertained by the display.  

 

Corner Brook, Newfoundland: The Emporium

For those who like to shop for unusual items while on vacation, the Emporium in downtown Corner Brook may work quite nicely. It's ranked No. 2 in the city for shopping on Tripadvisor. 

There are all sort of items here, none of which have much to do with what's a handful of feet away in more traditional stores. A list would include antiques, souvenirs, art, local historical items, and soft crafts. There are also a good supply of used books in the basement, which is definitely worth exploring if you enjoy such things.  

The staff is extremely friendly, and will be happy to chat with you for quite a while. I don't expect this to be for everyone, but it will hit a sweet spot for some. 

 

Corner Book, Newfoundland: War Memorial

Corner Brook picked some prime real estate for its War Memorial, right in the heart of Remembrance Square at the intersection of two busy city streets. 

Two soldiers are part of the display - one for losses during World War I, and the other for the Canadian soldiers who died in Afghanistan. The caribou is a symbol for the First Battalion of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment that was chosen way back in 1914. 

The plaza is often during into something of an open-air market during the summer, complete with colorful decorations. It looked like it generates a good amount of pedestrian traffic. 

 

 

Corner Brook, Newfoundland: Captain James Cook Historic Site

Captain James Cook is most famous for his work as an explorer and Navy officer who was the first European to visit Australia and the Hawaiian Islands, and he all sailed around the islands of New Zealand. All of that came between 1768 and 1779.

Yet it was in Newfoundland where the good Captain built his reputation. 

Cook spent the years between 1763 and 1767 surveying the island of Newfoundland. He did such good work that he was a natural to continue on as the British headed for the Pacific to look around. Cook had some success before an incident involving the Hawaiian natives led to his death in 1779.

The Captain is saluted on a scenic view in Corner Brook that overlooks the harbor and some islands. There are kiosks with information about his life, and a statue saluting him. It's a draw for tourist groups for obvious reasons, so don't be afraid to be patient to wait them out to enjoy the view.