New website helps tourists, area

Did you ever want to visit an area but were frustrated with your online searches because you couldn't find much relevant tourist information about the place?
If you have, you're not the only one.
Local residents Christopher Newhook and Linda Grimm have come up with a clear and well laid-out website that promotes the many features and sites of the area including the Cape Shore.
Ms. Grimm operates Rosedale Manor, an 1893 waterfront B & B in the heart of Placentia.
She says she's been frustrated in seasons past to see so many people come off the Marine Atlantic ferry in Argentia and travel right through this area to other great locations in the province, like Twillingate and Trinity.
"When I do have visitors stay with us, they often ask me about what there is to do in this area, and I find myself repeating our attractions over and over," she said. "Now, I can just direct people to this website, and they can find out for themselves what we have and plan their trip in this area using Placentia as a home base. It saves me a lot of work."
She's hoping a clear and concise website like the one they are working on will encourage tourists to stay longer in the area and visit places like Castle Hill, Cape St. Mary's, the Placentia archaeology site and take in performances at the newly constructed Placentia Bay Cultural Arts Centre in the town square.
"This is such a beautiful place and there is so much to see and do," she stated. "We hope this will help the area grow. There could be boat tours, coffee houses."
Mr. Newhook is a visual artist living in Placentia whose photographs are a major draw to the website, highlighting the beauty and numerous sites of the area. He also designed the layout of the site, trying to make it as simple and easy to use as possible.
"We wanted to provide unbiased information to the tourist. Right now the website is still under construction, but people could visit to see the main attractions," said Mr. Newhook.
Mr. Newhook and Ms. Grimm plan on having a number of portals that provide information about many things about the area, not just sites to visit and places to stay, although those figure prominently on the website.
They also include a section called "Travel and Maps" which will provide links to buses, taxis, maps, road cams, transportation and weather, "Where to Eat" a listing of restaurants in the area, "Artists and Shops" providing information about musicians, artists, craftspeople and where one can purchase music, "Links" which, as implied, provides a list of links to numerous locales and sites. There will also be information available in French.
Local businesses can jump on board the website for a small yearly fee, and artists and musicians can be part of it for an even smaller yearly cost.
The co-owners of the site said that money simply goes to the webmaster for site construction and maintenance, and they make no money on this project.
"This was simply an idea for the area to come together and promote itself really well, which will hopefully benefit everyone in the area," said Ms. Grimm.
To visit the website, go to www.placentiatourism.ca. For more information, e-mail info@placentiatourism.ca, or contact Ms. Grimm or Mr. Newhook.
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