Newfoundland-based tour operator Maxxim Vacations is offering tips on where people might consider chowing down when in the Atlantic Provinces.

In a recent poll of its staff members, five food experiences topped the list of culinary must-dos.

!!! Located an hour’s drive outside St. John’s, Ferryland is one of the oldest communities in North America and home to a scenic lighthouse. Local entrepreneur Jill Curran operates Ferryland Lighthouse Picnics, with ingredients ranging from fresh crabcakes to strawberry shortcake. She tucks into each picnic basket books on the area and birdwatching tips – though those timing visits for summer whalewatching season may find themselves reaching for the binoculars between bites. Like all the culinary experiences on the list, it is part of a Maxxim Vacations package, in this case “A Taste of Newfoundland.”

!!! New Glasgow Lobster Suppers is a family owned business, located about an hour outside Prince Edward Island’s capital Charlottetown. They’ve been dishing up hearty lobster suppers for more than 50 years. Nowadays, visitors can tuck into a generous meal featuring fish chowder, mussels and a one-pound lobster while enjoying the view of the scenic River Clyde. It’s a great tradition for families too.

!!! While New Brunswick may also be famous for its lobster, the team at Maxxim is partial to the sticky sweet buns found at Kelly’s Bake Shop in the fishing village of Alma at the gates of Fundy National Park. “These buns are so popular that the whole village smells like a bakery in the morning,” says Christina Shortall of Maxxim Vacations. On a busy day, Kelly’s produces up to 3,000 of the gooey confections – the perfect takeaway for those visiting the park.

!!! The iconic lighthouse and seascape of the hamlet of Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia is famous around the world – and no wonder. Why not take in the seascape and then feast on the best the local fishermen can provide at the Sou’Wester Restaurant overlooking the ocean? A deliciously prepared cedar-planked Atlantic salmon, followed by home-made gingerbread, is sure to be a highlight of a holiday.

!!! Back in Newfoundland, Gros Morne National Park is hard to beat for its raw, untouched beauty. Located on the west side of the Island, Gros Morne features massive mountain ranges, landlocked fjords and vast ocean vistas. Visit it and its sister UNESCO World Heritage Site L’Anse aux Meadows on Maxxim’s “Voyage of the Vikings,” which includes a visit to a Viking wedding re-enactment with authentic food. Another great way to sate a Viking-sized appetite is at Java Jack’s in the oceanfront village of Rocky Harbour. Enjoy vistas of the blue ocean as well as the restaurant’s own organic garden while tucking into hearty I-yam-what-I-yam soup, followed by seafood bubbly bake. Maxxim Vacations offers vacations from $999, including airfares from across North America.

Check out www.maxximvacations.com for additional information.