For romantics with a penchant for the wild, Canada’s Fogo Island delivers an experience no other destination can replicate.
By: Becca Hensley-AS SEEN IN BRIDAL GUIDE MAGAZINE-
Photo Credit: Sophie Hall
With seven self-proclaimed seasons that range from "hopeful spring" and "berry picking" to "emotional autumn," this remote island, part of Newfoundland, lets nature lead. From harbors to glittery lakes, craggy cliffs and rugged beaches, berry patches and bogs, colorful villages and a centuries-old fishing culture, Fogo is the perfect escape.
Where to Stay
It looks a bit like the bones of a shipwrecked craft, poised amid megalithic rocks above the sea. On stilts, stylishly stark Fogo Island Inn pairs with Fogo’s expansive horizon line for dramatic effect. Designed by locally born architect Todd Saunders, the all-inclusive hotel manages to feel part of the terrain. Envisioned to exude the spirit of Fogo’s forested quietude, the contemporary lodge with 29 unique rooms has wall-to-wall windows to showcase the views, a cinema, library, and an epicurean’s bucket-list restaurant. Included activities range from stargazing and hiking to fishing and berry picking (room rates start at about $1,485 a night and are all inclusive).
Photo Credit: Alex Fradkin
Where to Eat
Few gourmands miss a chance to savor the epic views and cuisine at the Dining Room at the Fogo Island Inn, where executive chef Jonathan Gushue creates a menu according to Fogo’s seven seasons. Meals may feature the region’s famous cold-water, hand-line caught cod, or apples gathered from an island orchard. But when casual mealtime calls, cuddle up in Bangbelly, a cozy nook meant for community. Equally Fogo-centric, the locavore cafe turns out stellar salads, sandwiches and pastries — all with a local twist.
Photo courtesy of Fogo Island Inn Dining Room
What to Do
Art lovers will find plenty of shopping inspiration on Fogo, where creators come to spur their muse. With a hearty artist-in-residence program and a colony of established craftspeople at work, Fogo offers a slew of galleries to peruse. Purchase quilts at Herring Cove Art Gallery and Studio and hand-carved furniture (plus utensils and woven goods) at Wood Shop of Fogo Island.
For nature lovers, a seemingly endless warren of well-worn trails spiral around Fogo, which equals Manhattan in size. To immerse in the island’s gravitas, hike as many as possible. Try Brimstone Head, an uphill trek, which leads to a pinnacle that sports bird’s-eye views. Look for saltbox houses, caribou, icebergs and ships at sea in the panorama.
Photo Credit: Sophie Hall
Travel Tip: It’s the destination, not the journey, in the case of Fogo Island, which requires several flights, a drive and a boat ride, no matter from where you hail. As Newfoundland’s largest offshore island, it lies north of both Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.
