North America > Canada > Newfoundland > Grand Falls-Windsor
Grand Falls-Windsor is the main town of central Newfoundland, built around the Exploits River and the paper-mill history that shaped the valley. It is not as dramatic as the island's national parks or old outports, but it has enough substance to reward a traveller crossing Newfoundland with a free day.
The river is the reason to stop. At the Salmonid Interpretation Centre, you can watch Atlantic salmon through underwater viewing windows as they move upstream near the falls. Gorge Park gives a simpler walk along the Exploits, while local outfitters run rafting trips when conditions suit.
The town's history adds another layer. The Mary March Provincial Museum covers the Beothuk, geology, rail, and industrial stories of the region, and Harmsworth Hall is a reminder of the Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company that planned Grand Falls as a mill town. Time a visit for the Exploits Valley Salmon Festival in mid-July and the town is livelier than its highway-stop reputation suggests.