Sir Sanford Fleming, in giving us our time zone, gave us an extra half and hour to play. We tend not to waste it. This summer, what happens here, won't stay here. Because you'll surely want to take it with you.

If you truly do Newfoundland and Labrador right, you'll find yourself either hiking one of our many breathtaking trails, strolling along our city streets or shopping in the trendy boutiques, art galleries and music stores all while working up an appetite for a dining experience that's second to none.

Gros Morne National Park
If you give yourself only one treat this summer, do this: take the time to explore Gros Morne National Park. In fact, it's better to go with someone than go alone, because you'll have someone to share the awe with. And there's lots of it to go around. Sand dunes. Fjords. Hiking trails. Camping. Wildlife. Mountains. Coastline. And that's just the daytime wonders. At night there are theatre, music and literary festivals, good food, and comfortable accommodations. Plan for four or five days and you'll want to stay longer.

Battle Harbour National Historic District
This is the best-preserved fishing outport in the province, and truly a step back in time. The first clue? You can choose accommodations with no electricity. Here, they turn off the generator for the night, so all you hear is - nothing. Some of the buildings are more than two centuries old, preserved from the ravages of modernity when a fire forced people to leave between the 1930s and 1960s. Now restored, the community that was once the capital of coastal Labrador is an undiscovered gem.

St. John's 
It has style. It's part Irish impishness, with a dollop of Bohemian insouciance, and a dash of intercontinental cross-fertilization. A centuries-old foundation of traditional themes and elements supports new approaches to cuisine, visual art, design, clothing, dance, theatre, crafts, and - especially - music. This bubbly mix of old and new, here and there, then and now is constantly evolving, and constantly fascinating.