Mount Pearl is the second largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, with a population of over 23,000 (2016). The city is a twin sister to the provincial capital St. John's, and has grown from a playground for the summering rich into a thriving city.

Understand

History

Mount Pearl dates back to 1829, when Commander James Pearl and his wife, Lady Anne Pearl, arrived in Newfoundland with a Crown grant of 1000 acres (4 km²) of land, a reward for Commander Pearl's 27 years of distinguished service in the Royal Navy. In 1830, Commander Pearl built a house upon the most elevated section of his estate and named it Mount Cochrane in honour of then-governor Sir Thomas Cochrane. After the governor left Newfoundland, Pearl renamed the site Mount Pearl.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Mount Pearl became the meeting place of affluent members of society and lovers of horseracing. A large open air gallery, with benches for spectators to view surrounding lands was erected on "The Mount" in the 1940s. Horseracing continued to be prominent and Mount Pearl began to develop into something of a summer resort for St. John’s residents. Increased population during summer months led to increased population year round and eventual residential and industrial development.

Get in

By car

Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) travels through Mount Pearl. The highway connects the west end of Newfoundland at St. John's with the east end of Newfoundland in Port aux Basques, where travelers can take a ferry to Nova Scotia.

By public transit

• Metrobus, ☏ +1 709 570-2020. Mount Pearl shares a bus service with neighbouring St. John's and is served by routes 21 and 22, which leave from the Village Mall in St. John's. Route 21 runs every day approximately hourly. Route 22 is a weekday rush hour-only service. Metrobus serves nearly all of St. John's, the neighbourhoods of Shea Heights, Kilbride and the Goulds, and Mount Pearl. Most bus drivers are kind and courteous and are willing to give directions. Check routes and current bus positions online. $2.50. (updated May 2019)

By foot

Mount Pearl is a 9-km walk southwest of St. John's (about 2 hr).

Get around

Metrobus routes 21 and 22 serve Mount Pearl (see "Get in").

See taxi listings for St. John's.

See

If you're in town for City Days or the Frosty Festival, check out these annual events.

• 1 The Admiralty House Museum, 365 Old Placentia Rd, ☏ +1 709 748-1124, admiraltyhouse@mountpearl.ca. Tu-F 10AM-4PM. Built by the Marconi Telegraph Company, the station is now a museum and amateur radio station. Guided tours available. Adult $4, child 5-18 $3, child under 5 free. (updated May 2019)
• 2 Power's Pond. (updated Jul 2018)

Do

There are over sixty kilometers of trails that make for great walks and hikes. Enjoy the plentiful parks and playgrounds, too.

• 1 Glacier Arena, 45 Olympic Dr, ☏ +1 709 748-1100. An arena complex with huge ice floor. (updated Jul 2018)

Eat

• Lucky's, 949 Topsail Rd, ☏ +1 709 368-5169. Chinese restaurant, with a few non-Chinese dinners. Chinese dishes $15-24. (updated May 2019)
• Ches's Fish and Chips, 33 Commonwealth Ave, # 29, ☏ +1 709 364-6837. M-Sa 9AM-midnight, Su 4PM-midnight. A branch of one of the classic St. John's fish-and-chiperies, serving Newfoundland specialties like fish and brewis, chips-dressing-and-gravy, and for tongues (in season). Also, some burgers and chicken. (updated May 2019)
• Coffee Matters Cafe, 39 Commonwealth Ave, ☏ +1 709-221-6700. M-F 7:30AM-9PM, Sa Su 8:30AM-5PM. Fully-licenced dining room. Pizza, salads, wraps, sandwiches. $7-10. (updated May 2019)

Drink

• The Bigs Ultimate Sports Grill, 2 Olympic Dr, ☏ +1 709-364-4470. Su-Th 11AM-10:30PM, F Sa 11AM-midnight. Pub and grill with TVs, big plates of food, beer. Wheelchair accessible. (updated May 2019)

Sleep

• Hotel Mount Pearl, 7 Park Avenue, ☏ +1 709 364-7725, toll-free: +1-800-563-9300. Rooms include a refrigerator, air conditioning ,and free Wi-Fi. A restaurant and pub are on site. From $109. (updated May 2019)
• Park Avenue Suites (formerly Treehouse), 12 Park Ave, ☏ +1 709 771-6862. A two-bedroom or a studio apartment, with full bath, kitchen and living room. The two-bedroom apartments have their own outdoor deck with gas BBQ grill. The studio apartments share a picnic area with gas BBQ grill. Each suite has free WiFi, FibreOp TV, and a Super Nintendo Entertainment System. 2-bedroom suite $148, studio $125, plus tax. (updated May 2019)

Go next

• Visit St. John's, Mount Pearl's larger twin city

Routes through Mount Pearl

Gander ← Clarenville ← Jct S ←	W  E	→ St. John's → END
END ← Conception Bay South ←	W  E	→ St. John's → END