If there is a single location for a writer to sit and find inspiration in Newfoundland it would have to be the Ferryland Lighthouse on the Southern Shore of the Avalon Peninsula. Surely a visit with the lighthouse owner / operator Jill Curran would be more than enough as she can regale you for hours…

I finished my last scheduled tour of the season last week – well, a Newfoundland version of “last week” since it’s probably more like three weeks ago. Regardless, I’ve had a rather rough time coming off the road – basically trying to adjust to a less demanding schedule and just figuring out what to do…

A post from Mark McCarthy: A dear friend who recently moved from Newfoundland to take up residence in the City of Sarnia sent us a blog that was written by their Mayor about his recent trip to St. John’s where he took a McCarthy’s Party tour with my brother Andrew. Apparently Andrew received the letter from the Mayor…

I shared a most enjoyable conversation with a lady who called the office last week to inquire about joining our province wide ‘Newfoundland & Labrador Immersion’ tour. She was really excited about visiting Newfoundland and had heard so many wonderful things about McCarthy’s Party that she dearly wanted to spend as much time as possible…

I just left the funeral home in Bonavista. The father of a good friend passed recently and I joined the community to pay my respects, take time to remember a great man, and regale in the many yarns he could have shared with all in attendance. This story says a lot about Derek Hayley and…

A post by Jim McCarthy: When I read the story Andrew wrote about Ferryland a few weeks ago I thought it might be wise to further explain how Sarah Kirke and other 17th century plantations amassed such riches in Newfoundland. Sometimes I marvel at our lack of understanding and the limited respect we bestow on…

People often ask me when is the best time to come to Newfoundland. To which I always respond – “Right Now!”. And I’m not joking.     ‘Right Now’ is an especially exciting season in Newfoundland. The crab fishery started on Monday and while a late winter squall kept the the crews ashore on opening day,…

I woke this morning and was greeted by a lovely email from a guest who travelled with me on our ‘Dandy Line’ tour back in June of 2014. It made me smile; as does nearly every piece of correspondence I receive from this wonderful group and the incredible memories we share. For those of you…

My first visit to the ‘Colony of Avalon’ Interpretation Center at Baltimore’s Plantation in Ferryland, Newfoundland was a most confusing experience. While I had heard about George Calvert’s lavish expenditures and the painstaking attempts to establish every semblance of comfort for his family and those who would help him colonize 17th century Newfoundland – I was…

For years now I’ve been trying to make sense of the closing quote on the information ‘Flat Board’ located at Cape Spear, Newfoundland’s WW2 gun battery. I can only assume that it reads as a warning or perhaps consolation to visitors who might spend but a few moments at the site and could experience any…

If there was ever a time I’d love for our guides to contribute to the McCarthy’s Party Blog page it would probably be this month when the Christian world celebrates ‘Pancake Day, ‘Shrove Tuesday’, ‘Mardi Gras’, or ‘Carnival’. For all the unique and wonderful traditions exhibited throughout the world in the weeks leading up to…

A post from Jim McCarthy: I spent the day updating the McCarthy’s Party phone directory with my son Andrew and it was a far more enjoyable experience than I would have ever thought imaginable. My wife Regina started this list over 30 years ago and while many names have since been added (there’s well over 250…

My six-year-old daughter made a most profound observation yesterday morning. Expecting more of the cold temperatures Newfoundland has delivered in abundance this winter, we had bundled up warm for our morning walk to school. But when we stepped through the front door we were greeted by an unseasonably warm waft of air. Without missing a…

Our cousin Jacqui recently posted a photo on Facebook which depicted 4 of our Grandmother McCarthy’s cousins who served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War.     I had never heard of these young men and was intrigued enough to question my father and our Aunt Aggie about the relationship. Aggie has…

A post by Regina McCarthy: We are so pleased to share this story about our Mother and the many charitable works she performs in our community. Along with the many members of her quilting guild they have been creating these wonderful gifts for the Palliative Care Unit at Brother Jason’s hospital here in St. John’s…