WEATHER WOMAN
A friend of ours married a girl from the mainland who says; The only thing she dislikes about Newfoundland weather is the amount of complaining Newfoundlanders do about the weather!” Like us, she believes Newfoundland & Labrador has the most spectacular environment on the planet, and together we marvel at the many misconceptions about the…
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MAMMA MIA
Every drive through Newfoundland’s Humber Valley elicits a little chuckle, an opportunity for personal reflection, and a special offering of thanks to our mother, Regina McCarthy, founder of McCarthy’s Party Tours. “… share that joy…” We often share that joy when we enter the city of Corner Brook on the first…
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DRY DOWN
While “Staycationing” with friends in Greenspond we were invited to watch their family’s “Trap Crew” set fishing gear for the schools of ‘Caplin’ that were soon due in Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador. This is an especially eventful weekend since much of the community’s livelihood is based on the fishery, and caplin adds a completely…
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BLOW HARD
A friend recently said that his uncle only went “Down” to Greenspond, Newfoundland & Labrador on a Northerly wind. Given the width of Bonavista Bay, we nodded in agreement, thinking this made perfect sense since he would likely make the entire voyage with only a single change in sailing direction – heading eastward to the…
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TRUTH OR DARE
We encourage guests to capture a guide’s attention whenever they see something of interest, desire a photo stop, or simply want to ask a question on tour; “Scratch, holler, scream, kick, jump up and down – do whatever it takes. Our busses have good brakes and this one even has a reverse gear!” “……
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CAPTAIN CANADA
Tomorrow our nation celebrates its 153rd birthday, albeit in a terribly different fashion than most Canadians have ever experienced. Without fireworks, concerts nor music, limited patio space, and only small, family size gatherings – many will find themselves in a state of quandary, weighing options and trying to decide on the best course of action…
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CANADA BAY
A brilliant Facebook post from ‘Gays Around the Bay’ reminds us of the many world class attractions we find in Newfoundland & Labrador. An article that notes some incredibly significant, and fair comparisons that include; the Grand Canyon and Western Brook Gorge, the icebergs we share with Greenland, wildlife safaris like those on an African…
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RAIN RAIN COME AGAIN
Know what a guide talks about on a rainy day in Newfoundland & Labrador? Why the rain of course! This is a watery paradise where we celebrate an abundance of precipitation and all its resource potential. Newfoundland’s seasons aren’t defined by weather – rather what we see and experience when we wake and embrace each…
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FARMING FRIENDS
During a discussion about our children’s schooling and the pandemic’s effect on their quality of education – our Mother was quick to remind us that many of England’s schools were closed for the duration of World War II and that generation proved to be extremely successful. Supported with an important footnote; for those children were…
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FLAGGED
Midst all our talk about the “New Normal”, this is probably a good time for us to start thinking and preparing for the many changes we’re facing, and perhaps more importantly, our ability to adjust and embrace the transformation of our future world. While some may view this as an exciting time, the majority of…
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BACK TO THE FUTURE
May is usually a time of great anticipation for McCarthy’s Party Tours. Though our travel season doesn’t officially start until June, we celebrate early arrivals with a gusto, welcoming specialty groups and conference travelers who are fortunate enough to experience the last of a wonderfully whimsical winter and this magical month of weather madness. Remember,…
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HAIR FOR YOU
In times of “self isolation” its important to maintain a good sense of humour, vigilantly seeking any source of laughter and cheer. Thankfully, our social media channels supply an endless feed of creative memes and videos that capture the lighter side of this pandemic and the crazy extremes we have taken to enhance our physical…
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EXIT STAGE LEFT
The winter of 2020’s ‘Snowmageddon‘ was devastating for many of the traditional “Stages” and inshore fishing infrastructures in Newfoundland & Labrador. This is especially saddening since these original edifices represent an incredible period of ingenuity and architectural wonder. Buildings, wharves, storage facilities and dwellings which hang precariously from their rooted perches on the cliff faces…
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WHALE’S WORLD
Newfoundland & Labrador enjoys superb whale watching and guests should be constantly prepared for a viewing – regardless of the season. Every day yields a world of potential, but we must be diligent in our preparations; educating our guests on how and what to watch for, keeping a mindful eye to the ocean, and dressing…
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BIF NAKED
Here’s something to try while you’re self isolating – memorizing phone numbers. In times of emergency its best to be prepared in every way imaginable. You need rations of food and water, candles and secondary heat sources, flashlights with extra batteries, a charged phone/laptop/tablet, as well as a list of phone numbers. And not so…
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