For most travelers arriving by ferry, this region is their first introduction to The Rock. It's like starting a symphony without a prelude, jumping right to the crescendo: There's instant drama in the brawny, verdant Long Range Mountains that run parallel to the Trans-Canada Highway en route to Corner Brook. Then come the towering seaside cliffs of the Port au Port Peninsula and intriguing coastal villages just waiting for your exploration. It's a polar-opposite travel experience to, say, flying into Charlottetown or Halifax and lazing along the backroads of PEI or the South Shore of Nova Scotia.