Getting info online for Newfoundland

Thinking of a vacation in eastern Canada?

Go all the way to the island of Newfoundland to see the rugged seacoasts, forests and rivers of the remote Atlantic island where the Vikings landed and where fishermen still set out from tiny villages to fish the cold ocean.

Here's a primer on getting Newfoundland information online (or you can phone the Newfoundland tourism office at 800-563-6353).

• Viking adventurers established a short-lived settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows on Newfoundland's northern coast. It's one of the National Historic Sites run by Parks Canada — www.pc.gc.ca Do a search for L'Anse aux Meadows to learn how to get there and pick up other visitors' information.

Also check out the photo gallery and information about the Viking Trail driving route, which includes L'Anse aux Meadows and other natural and cultural sites, at www.vikingtrail.org/ It includes details on where to eat and stay.

• Get an overview of the rest of the province from the official Web site of Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism — www.gov.nf.ca/tourism/ — the province includes Labrador, on the mainland adjacent to Quebec.

Start out by spending some time with the photos and videos of the scenery, from icebergs to towns. Then click on "What to Do" for suggested scenic routes, hunting and fishing information, festivals and attractions. "Where to Go" supplies links for the major tourist regions and more local scenic routes. There's also a directory of places to stay, from hotels to B&Bs and campgrounds.

• For Central Newfoundland, go to www.centralnewfoundland.com/ where you can explore spots such as the Dorset Trail and the Kittiwake Coast. Fish for rainbow trout all year round on the Coast of Bays, an area of 22 communities on Newfoundland's southern coast.

• If the hunting and fishing information sounded interesting, Newfoundland Lodges and Resorts Vacations — www.lodgesresorts.com/newfoundland.html — has links for fishing and hunting lodges and family resorts.

• There are two large national parks in Newfoundland showcasing the wilder faces of the island.

Go back to the Parks Canada — www.parkscanada.pch.gc.ca/ — and then search for Terra Nova and Gros Morne to get information on those national parks, which have campgrounds, hiking trails and more.

• But don't spend all your time on land. This is a maritime society, so get out on the water. Canada Whale Watching — www.nearctica.com/commerce/adventur/cwhale.htm — has links to Newfoundland boat tours and whale-watching. • Want to see some cultural sites? The Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador — www.manl.nf.ca can direct you to fishing and historical museums, lighthouses, pioneer villages and more.

• Don't miss the city of St. John's — www.stjohns.ca/visitors/index.jsp

The capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, the historic city is full of places to explore, with narrow streets of gaily painted wood buildings stretching down the hills to the sheltered harbor.