Gander

As the easternmost major fog-free airport on the north Atlantic coast, Gander was a frequent stop for both civil and military trans-Atlantic aviation. "Goose and Gander" were strategic transit points for the Royal Air Force Air Ferry Command during World War 2 and key refuelling stops for civil aviation in the early years of commercial "jet set" travel. Both airports have diminished in importance as range of commercial passenger aircraft increased to allow more routes to fly non-stop, advances in instrument navigation made a fog-shrouded landing in St. John's safe and routine, and de-escalation at the end of the Cold War curtailed military flights. On the other side of the Atlantic, Shannon in Ireland had a similar function (and still does for the LCY-NYC flights that are too heavy when taking off with a full tank) and became known as the birthplace of the Duty Free Shop at Airports.
There are various local memorials to aviators and servicemen, including Commonwealth War Graves for a hundred and one who served during the Second World War (Gander hosted air-reconnaissance planes, military defence forces and an anti-aircraft regiment) and a Silent Witnesses Memorial which overlooks a site where an Arrow Air flight carrying 256 peacekeepers of the 101st US Airborne Division "Screaming Eagles” home from the Sinai Peninsula crashed on take-off.
Gander accepted more diverted passengers during the September 11, 2001 attacks than any other Canadian airfield except Halifax and Vancouver and more aircraft than any city except Halifax, adding 6,600 people to its local population (in 2001) of 9650 in just a few hours. Lufthansa named one Airbus A340 "Gander/Halifax" to acknowledge both cities and a book The Day The World Came to Town recorded the incident for posterity.

By car

On Trans-Canada Highway 1, Gander is west of St. John's and east of Port Aux Basques.

By plane

• Gander International AirportServed by Air Canada and Sunwing Airlines, with daily flights from St. John's and Halifax. Wi-Fi, bar, 24-hour restaurant, various rental car firms on-site.

Busy Bee Cabs (+1 709 256-1444) and M&S Limousine Service (+1 709 256-8426) provide local transport.
Budget (+1 709 256-3566), National (+1 709 256-4934) and Thrifty (+1 709 256-8955) provide hire cars at the airport; there's also a Rent-a-Wreck (+1 709 256-7066) on the main highway.

• North Atlantic Aviation Museum

  phone: +1 709 256-2923
  address: 135 Trans-Canada Highway
  The history of aviation in Gander, once an important refuelling stop on trans-Atlantic flights. Museum exhibits cover wartime operations during World War II and the town's role in hosting 6600 travellers when 38 civilian and 4 military flights diverted to Gander during the September 11th, 2001 attacks.

• Gander Golf Club

  phone: +1 709 256-4643
  address: 251 Trans-Canada Highway
  Golf club with pro shop and "19th hole" restaurant

• Little Harbour

  address: Gander Lake
  Recreational park and marina, picnic/BBQ area, boat launch ramp and wharf/docking on fresh-water Gander Lake.

• Beyond Words Tours - A Come From Away Experience

  phone: +1 709 256-2923
  address: 135 Trans Canada Highway
  A tour that complements the Come From Away Broadway show. The 3½-hour tour shows the places and people that became the inspirations for the show. It includes a visit to the Gander International Airport, Gander Town Hall, meeting a notable local that is featured in the Broadway show, driving around key areas of the town (including schools and community centres that housed the "plane people"), exclusive mini-exhibit and finishes at the North Atlantic Aviation Museum.

Events

• Festival of FlightFive-day local festival with sports, parade, live music, fireworks on Gander Day municipal holiday.

• Gander Mall

  phone: +1 709 651-3784
  address: 132 Bennett Dr

• Fraser Mall

  phone: +1 709 651-3784
  address: 230 Airport Boulevard

• Foodland

  phone: +1 709 256-4860
  address: 151 Airport Blvd
  Grocer with water refill, fruit baskets, gluten-free products and greeting cards.

• Bistro on Roe

  phone: +1 709 651-4763
  address: 110 Roe Ave
  French/European.

• Ches's Fish and Chips

  phone: +1 709 651-CHES
  address: 132 Bennett Dr
  Small regional chain (seven locations, based in St. John's). Chicken, burgers, salads, fish and chips.

• Country Kitchen

  phone: +1 709 651-3200
  address: 132 Bennett Dr

• Tai Sun Restaurant

  phone: +1 709 651-2801
  address: 298 Airport Blvd
  Terrible food, but the only game in town if you're hungry for Chinese.

• Weston’s at the Airport

  address: 1000 James Blvd
  Home-cooked menu in a vintage cafeteria-style setting, ready-to-go meals, in-flight catering, and function room to host private events.

• Friend's Lounge

  phone: +1 709 256-7002
  address: 10 McCurdy Dr

• Beech Bar & Grill

  phone: +1 709 651-3434
  address: Gander International Airport
  Airport bar.

Hotels

• Sinbad's Hotel & Suites

  phone: +1 709 651-2678
  address: 133 Bennett Dr

• Quality Hotel & Suites

  phone: +1 709 256-3931
  address: 100 Trans Canada Highway
  Meeting and banquet facilities. Alcock & Brown's Eatery.

• Albatross Hotel

  phone: +1 709 256-3956
  address: 114 Trans Canada Highway
  Motel with 101 rooms, meeting facilities for 250 people, licensed restaurant serving traditional Canadian food, Newfoundland specialty dishes, seafood and pasta, hideaway lounge.

• Irving West Hotel

  phone: +1 709 256-2406
  address: 1 Caldwell St
  Outdoor pool, continental breakfast.

Bed & Breakfast

• Inn on Bennett

  phone: +1 709 256-4560
  address: 66 Bennett Dr

Caravan parks

• Country Inn

  phone: +1 709 256-4005
  address: 315 Magee Rd
  Motel (WiFi, coffee, continental breakfast) and one five-person cottage; 64 site RV/trailer park (34 with water/sewer/power hookups).

• Gander Public and Resource Library

  phone: +1 709 651-5354
  address: 6 Bell Place
  Free Internet and WiFi. Fax, scan, print. Books, CD's, DVD's.

• Beothuk Interpretation Centre, Boyd's Cove ( north) recalls the now-extinct native tribe.
• Terra Nova National Park is an hour east () on the Trans-Canada Highway
• Twillingate, Fogo Island and Change Islands are fishing villages with small museums
• Lewisporte is the base for coastal ferry service to various small Labrador outports not on the Trans-Labrador Highway