“There’s a little Dildo in everyone” was the famous quote by the unofficial honoary mayor of Dildo Jimmy Kimmel in 2019. Upon hearing through social media about a little town on an island in the middle of the North Atlantic with an unusual and interesting name, Jimmy Kimmel was instantly intrigued. Then out of nowhere, boom Dildo was front and center on the Tonight Show and within days his sidekick Quillermo was on a plane to check out this ever so interesting town. He went there to campaign for Jimmy’s’ seat as mayor but he did fall in love with the locals. Jimmy was elected honorary mayor of Dildo in August 2019 , as long as he visited the town ……HE HASN’T BEEN THERE YET!
The quirky name is certainly the talk of the Province
Locals don’t really know where the towns name originated but there are a couple of theories. Many believe the town name Dildo comes from a Spanish term “ Dos Islas” meaning “two islands “ that later became Dildo Island! Eventually the town of Dildo originated. Others believe it came from the 18th century term dildo which means a cylindrical object or nautical pin for the oar of a boat. At any rate, the locals say that their town was around long before any sex toy was invented. Lol. The town even considered changing the its name over the years but it was always rejected for some reason. Good thing it was because its unique name has stimulated tourism in that area of the province and it’s now considered a hot spot for locals and tourists on our island.
Resident John Reid even wrote a song about the town, they host all kind of community events throughout the year including craft shows and markets, they have a mummers festival and the residents light their fishing boats during the holiday season! The town of Dildo also encourages and supports their small business community. They truly have evolved into the perfect place to Staycation in our province with plenty of Airbnbs and local gems to explore.
Local businesses and short term rentals started to see the boom too as tourists flocked to the area. Most people wanted that selfie with the popular road sign but most were curious about this little community called Dildo. It’s very trendy to go to Dildo these days and stay for the night. Explore and stroll around taking in the spectacular ocean views and a sampling some tasty craft beer is a totally thing to do in our province!
We stayed at the Dildo Boathouse Inn while on our adventure! The owners are super friendly and we would highly recommend staying at this inn. Once a boathouse owned by the hosts father, it’s now a lovely spot for a sleepover. The Inn has several rooms that all have amazing views. Modern nautical themed decor throughout the Inn make it cozy and beautiful. There is a restaurant located on the first floor called Music and Friends. It serves up some local favourites with a mix of seafood and pub grub. House entertainment is also a reason to visit this little gem as we are known for our musically talented individuals! The Inn also offers boat tours to Dildo Island with boil ups and picnics, whale watching and fishing adventures!! …. Check out Dildo Cove OutDoor adventures.
We have visited several of the craft breweries in the province and we love them all for different reasons. They all have their own vibe and The Dildo Brewing company stands out to me because of the view! It’s right on the ocean and I can sit there all day just to listen to the soothing sounds of the ocean waves. They have a good selection of beers on tap and even a cider called “Snuggle up be”cider” which is tasty. Their menu is also a mix of some local favs and pub grub style menu items. We had a small charcuterie board as a snack it was perfect but they do have plenty of options. They also have live entertainment quite frequently but make sure your reserve your table so you don’t miss out. Put this one on your list as a day trip from St Johns as it’s only about an hours drive! The craft beer scene is actually exploding here in the province, here is a blog I wrote about it you would like to check it out!
Don’t forget to stroll around the cove and stop for a few Dildo souvenirs! That just sounds wrong. Lol. Check out Nan and Pops Dildo Souvenir Shop for all your Dildo apparel, keychains, magnets and all things Dildo… now no actual dildos people! There are a couple other local shops in the areas too!
Jimmy Kimmel paid to ERECT the ginormous sign that is nestled in the hills of the town.
Dildo Days is an annual community event hosted in the summer. With fireworks, a scavenger hunt, a bike parade, bingo ,outdoor entertainment, quilt displays, auctions, a car show , a vendor market, fishing derby and so much more fun! It’s a great way to spend your day in Newfoundland and Labrador! Check out my other blog with lots of great ideas too with 100 ways to spends your days!!
There are a couple hiking trails in the area too if you want to work that into your adventure. We actually did the Chance Cove Hiking trail early in the morning and stopped to Dildo on our way back to St Johns. The drive to Chance Cove is a little over an hour and the hike itself is about an hour and a half. Pace yourself as you will want to take lots of photos and spend a bit of time at the beach at the end of the trail. Check out my blog on Chance Cove if you would like more details. Willies Walking Trail is located in New Harbour near Dildo as well. Estimated about 1 hour and 30 minutes you could easily do this one the same day. It’s a nice family walking trail with some little fairy gardens along the way and you might even see Willy! Lovely coastal views and even a spot for a mug up! Both these trails are not far and would be a great way to maximize the day if you want to spend the day in Dildo!
Do the touristy thing and meander around the town. There is plenty to take in. Scenic fishing boats and sunsets are the big attraction. Dildo for a day is a perfect little road trip and an excellent Staycation idea!!
Thanks so much for following StaycationNL! We do love doing what we do!
Much love,
Lori
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