About CapeRace

Understanding Connections Between People & Places

CapeRace™ is a boutique travel company specializing in authentic self-guided travel experiences at Canada’s most eastern island of Newfoundland.

CapeRace offers outdoorsy, soft adventure, meaningful travel packages that bring Newfoundland’s rich history, performing arts, and the pristine wilderness together to create what we call an "Eco-Culture Experience"™.   This occurs at the intersection of Newfoundland's unique cultural heritage, amazing wildlife and scenic wonders.  It appeals to the mind and soul of the curious traveler and ensures the self-guided experience is filled with a sense of personal meaning and accomplishment.  Sense of place, or geographical character of our destinations is highlighted through the encouragement of traveler participation in the local community-- but on your own terms, your own time, and in an authentic, sustainable setting.   Get the Tour Details- Download the CapeRace Brochure>>

 

Award-Winning "Eco-Culture Experience"™

Winner "2009 Tour of A Lifetime" National Geographic, 2009

Winner  "Innovator of the Year Award", 2009, Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism, Culture & Recreation

Nominated "Cultural Tourism Award", December 2008, Canadian Heritage

 

Spontaneous Events & Unique Discoveries

CapeRace will give you a key that fits the locks of three newly restored homes situated in spectacular coastal locations, a car, and a self-published commercial-grade guidebook written specifically for your CapeRace trip.  Travellers stay at these authentic indigenous homes on an exclusive–use basis, and use the self-directing "Traveller's Diary" to explore unique and out-of-the-way nature sites, pubs, and music venues - recommending activities that will inspire the traveler to become part of three local communities.  Each are located within a three hour proximity, and offer a different measure of Newfoundland's intriguing cultural, scenic, and sporting assets.  The flexible self-driving, self-guiding circuit-tour gives you the opportunity to experience cultural and ecological discovery at your own pace, on your own terms.   In 2004 we introduced our first tour, the "Eco-Culture Experience".  This spring, the package was chosen by the editors of National Geographic Traveler as "2009 Tour of a Lifetime", based on a criteria of authenticity, seasoned expertise, sustainability, unprecedented access, and local connections.   See recent magazine stories about CapeRace Cultural Adventures >>

 

Accommodations- Authentic Coastal Homes

The three coastal homes you will stay at are owned and managed by CapeRace. This ensures that you will enjoy consistent quality while you travel from place to place.  You stay on an exclusive-use basis which maintains your privacy and autonomy to make day to day decisions. Two of the three properties you will stay at have been featured in Canadian Home & Country Magazine.  See the authentic Newfoundland Coastal Homes you will stay at >>

 

Sustainable Travel to the Exotic Island of Newfoundland

We base our travel principles on the newly emerging geotourism concepts. Geotourism is not about rocks.  It is tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place—its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.  Geotourism incorporates the concept of sustainable tourism—that destinations should remain unspoiled for future generations—while allowing for enhancement that protects the character of the locale.  We have integrated these ideas and concepts into our overall approach, and you will come away with a surprising newfound feeling of how and why responsible travel should be undertaken. See how the new travel concept works >>

 

A Life Less Ordinary

We have had a overwhelming response to our new concept in experiential Newfoundland travel. The key to having a life less ordinary while on your time away from home is the CapeRace Traveller's Diary, a commercial grade guidebook written specifically for your trip,  The custom guidebook will help you reach those elusive authentic social experiences and at the same time allow you to make decisions on just how mainstream-or not-- you want your trip to be.  It can guide you to the "good crowds", and keep you away from the bad.  It gives you choice.  The Traveler's Diary is also key to our desire to promote responsible travel.  Unknown to many, responsible travel often produces the best travel experiences, and at the same time takes care of our environment and preserves our sense of place.   Read about Responsible Travel and how the CapeRace custom guidebook works >>

 

Travel to Newfoundland- Three New Tours for 2009

For the upcoming 2009 season, CapeRace has added three new tours, including CapeRace ICE, a land sea and air adventure that brings you close to Newfoundland's spectacular icebergs and ice fields, CapeRace HIKE, an eight day hiking adventure geared towards the active mid-fit traveler, and The Amazing CapeRace, an exciting trip for the corporate incentive and team-building travel market.  All three trips are based on the original "Eco-Culture Experience"™ concepts which provide the traveler with the opportunity to travel at their own pace, and on their own terms.  See our customer's Newfoundland travel experiences on the CapeRace YouTube channel >>

 

Recent Press

National Geographic Traveler Magazine

May 2009

 

"When we started this annual roundup three years ago, we sought to bring readers 50 of the worlds most transformative travel experiences guided by outfitters that promised to leave no trace--granola-bar wrappers or ugly American stereotypes--in their wake. Using our criteria of authenticity, seasoned expertise, sustainability, unprecedented access, and local connections, we've chosen journeys that tap into transformative power..."     Read More>>

 

 

Pure Canada Magazine

May 2009

"This place recives people in its own style with a friendliness that takes some getting used to for someone visiting ..."  Read More>>

 

 

 

 

 

The UK Observer

August 2008

 

"Fresh and wild, beautiful, friendly, and completely offbeat. Why Newfoundland is North America's best kept secret...."Joanne O'Connor experiences both on an innovative holiday which aims to immerse visitors in the local community..."  Read More>>

 

 

 

 

The Globe & Mail

2008

"Forget pampering.  A growing number of travelers are on the hunt for 'deep authenticity,' flocking to destinations like Newfoundland to get away from such trappings. The only problem: When you can't understand the locals — or crack their inner circles. But one tour company may have a solution. Call it a concierge service with a twist..."  James Glave describes describes his experience on a CapeRace trip.  Read More>>

 

 

 

 

Canadian Home & Country

September, 2008

"CapeRace’s 10-day touring program around the province features stays in homes owned by the Sooley family, providing a unique way to travel and explore the region. Hipditch House, located on the slopes of Signal Hill in the Battery District, the city’s oldest, most picturesque neighbourhood, offers visitors a chance to walk the ancient winding streets overlooking the North Atlantic’s shipping lines"... Canadian Home & Country profiles Hipditch House in St. John'.  Read More>>

 

 

 

 

The Esso Review

2008

"With its often harsh weather and rugged terrain, “the Rock” can seem downright inhospitable. And yet, Newfoundland is home to the most welcoming, spirited and generous people one is ever likely to meet. Never have I fallen so truly, madly and deeply in love with a land so hard and so fast. Much of the draw of Newfoundland lies in discovering its infinite offerings, whether they are the local characters, the landscapes, the music, the art or the wildlife..."  Colleen Seto writes about her CapeRace experience. Read More>>

 

 

 

The National Post

2008

 

"Pondering a map that has community names such as Witless Bay, Chance Cove and Mistaken Point, visitors here must experience some trepidation navigating a rental car around this island..."   Read More>>

 

 

 

 

 

Canadian Living Magazine

2008

"The mystique of staying in different Newfoundland homes appealed to me... we began the circuit at chic Hipditch House in St. John's Battery neighbourhood  where we were wowed by it's big harbour views, and moved on to a 1930's outport house in Heart's Delight, before we bedded down at our last stop, a 19th century fisherman's home in Bonavista. It was exactly the unscripted experience we were looking for when we signed on with CapeRace Cultural Adventures... "  Read More >>

 

 

 

Westworld Magazine

May 2008

 

"Considering Newfoundland’s relative accessibility today, it remains one of the most unpackaged and unpretentious places on the continent. Our youngest province is a region apart – a time warp to a more innocent age, largely untouched by the soul-draining crush of mass tourism... " Read More>>

 

 

 

 

 

Canadian Tourism Commission

July 2007

"As vacations go, this was a new one for us. Our usual trips involve attraction-hopping, hikes and tours, three restaurants a day and puffy duvets in chic-yet-generic hotels. CapeRace is a whole other ball game. As is Newfoundland, AKA “The Rock,” on Canada’s wild Atlantic coast — a place so raw and remote, a culture so concentrated and distinct, it feels like another country altogether..." Read More>>

 

 

 

Home & Country Magazine

June 2008

"Inside, the overarching feel of E. J. Sooley House is a warm, cheery port in a storm, a treasure awash in turquoise hues to combat the harsh grey scenery out the windows. "The backdrop is undisciplined and undiscovered---it really is the last frontier of Canada," says Ken with conviction..."  Home & Country profiles the EJ Sooley House.   Read More>>

 

 

 

 

 

The Star Phoenix

2008

"Getting lost and getting found again is what an off-the-beaten track adventure is all about in Newfoundland. I had been invited to "test-drive" the latest new experiential travel product from CapeRace Cultural Adventures, a travel company that helps visitors craft a Newfoundland vacation into their very own "Eco-Culture Experience".  Provided with a key that fits three authentic historic homes located in spectacular coastal locations, I headed out on the open road. Aiding the adventure was a map and a custom traveler's guide..."  Read More>>

 

 

  Access the Custom-designed Google Newfoundland Travel Search Engine>>

 

Click here to view the People & Places Video>>

Click here to see the CapeRace ICE video>>

Click here to download the CapeRace Brochure>>

Click here to meet the CapeRace Team>>

Click here to see recent press >>

 

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