Gander is a town that exists because of the sky. Its huge airport was once one of the essential stops on the North Atlantic air route, serving wartime ferry flights, early commercial aviation, Cold War traffic, and later emergency diversions.
That history gives Gander a stronger identity than most service towns on the Trans-Canada Highway. The North Atlantic Aviation Museum, the airport's mid-century lounge, and the story behind Come From Away turn what could be a practical stop into a place with a clear travel reason.
Gander is not pretty in the usual Newfoundland postcard way. Come for aviation, for the human story of 9/11 hospitality, and for a quieter look at the inland lakes and memorials around town.