Vikings. Scottish. French. English. Portuguese. It sounds like the beginnings of a strange song, as if trying to memorize the countries like one does the alphabet. But Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, was the precipice of what many explorers believed were what they sought. Take legendary explorer, John Cabot. He believed it was the far reaches of Tartary, while trying to find a route to the Orient.

However, it was Vikings who would be the first to occupy the land. Remnants of their settlements can still be seen across the province, available for tourists, historians and locals to explore.

Though, if you decide to visit the province you’re more likely to notice the heavy influence of Britain and Ireland, rather than the Vikings, in their roots.

So, what else is special about NFL/Labrador? Is it the fog so thick that you can’t see your own hand? Perhaps the shores teeming with fish? Maybe Water Street… one of North America’s oldest streets?

Normally, when people consider NFL they think of the city St. John’s, but allow me to introduce Twillingate. This picturesque town is the perfect place for whale and iceberg watching, boat tours, hiking, museums, and festivals.

First off, who doesn’t love a good boat tour (land lubbers excluded)? There are three main boat tours for Twillingate. Firstly, there the Iceberg Quest Ocean Tours. They feature whale watching, icebergs and glacier sightings, coastal reaches and bird watching.

Twillingate Adventure Tours is another company that offers scenic views starting in Iceberg Alley and bringing you right up close to the whale and icebergs, so don’t forget your cameras.

If you’re looking for something a little more personal, then head over to Captain Dave’s Fishing & Personalized Boat Tours. You can do any of the prior mentioned activities, or you can catch your own haul of fish or help him with the lobster catch of the day.

Time to get a little exercise, sun and fresh air! There are at least 10 trails that you can explore near Twillingate. Here are a few highlights to check out:

Rockcut Twillingate Trails - French Beach to Spillers Cove Trail: a moderate, 6-kilometer loop trail that sits along the shimmering coastline. This trail shows off it’s stunning blue and green waters, bluffs and rocky shores all for you to photograph. Generally used May to September, people will find bird and wildlife along the path.

Nearby is Spillers Cove to Codjacks Cove Trail. This one features a number of geological formations, shimmering beaches, and sea stacks along the 5.5-kilometer track of moderate pathway. Perfect for a photoshoot on a sunny day — or get your social media pictures done alongside the waterfront.

If you want to see something a little different, visit Lighthouse to Lower Head Trail. It’s a 6.5-kilometer stretch that crosses an old copper mine, rugged cliffs and bluffs, and Sea Breeze Park. You also get a bird’s eye view of Crow Head, a small town just north of Twillingate. Not that it’s recommended copying the Titanic scene at the head of the boat (please remain safe), but the overlook from the cliffs is sure to set a fire in your soul!

Newfoundland and Labrador are actually great locations for filming movies because of the province’s stunning landscapes, weather and beaches. Some of Hollywood’s biggest names have been there to film, including Jason Momoa for the movies Braven and Aquaman; and Taylor Kitsch and Brendan Gleeson in The Grand Seduction. There have been at least 33 other films shot in the small province.

Twillingate clearly has much to offer Atlantic Canada despite their size, and perhaps overlooked status compared to bigger cities nearby (such as St. John’s, which is a few hours away by drive). Sometimes the least expected place is the most dazzling.