THE JOURNAL
Clayoquot Wilderness Resort. Vancouver Island. Photograph courtesy of Wildretreat
Celebrate Canada Day with a long weekend far from the madding crowds.
The most common question non-Canadians ask around Canada Day is “What is Canada Day?”. In short, it’s a day to celebrate Canada’s independence, which involved not a hard-fought and bloody war, but a parliamentary procedure called the Constitution Act. Wildly exciting, we know. The important thing to know is that 1 July is Canada’s birthday and it is celebrated with a long weekend, which gives you the perfect excuse to explore some of the country’s lesser-known destinations.
Canada’s tourist spots – Niagara Falls, Toronto, Montreal – can be wondrous, cosmopolitan and rich in culture, but there’s much to be said for the country’s more remote locales, too. For many of us, a holiday is as much about getting away as it is about discovering new places, foods or people. And it’s with that idea in mind that we scanned Canada’s 3.8 million square miles to find you the five best getaways.
A chalet in...
Photograph by Mr Sven Boecker for Form and Forest
Golden, British Columbia
There are few natural landforms more spectacular than the Canadian Rockies, and here you can take them in from your doorstep. This modern masterwork undercuts every traditional notion the word “chalet” conveys with its sharp angles, floor-to-ceiling windows and feature furniture, such as Barcelona chairs and minimalist bed frames. Whether you fancy a summer stint of hiking and river rafting or a winter break climbing and skiing, the five national parks surrounding this Bauhausian treasure are at your disposal.
A cabin in...
Photograph courtesy of ’Ome Sweet ’Ome
Burlington, Newfoundland
Those relaxation recordings of the ocean gently lapping at the smooth rocks of a bay could have been made here. The Zen atmosphere in ’Ome Pod, which sleeps four, at the foot of Green Bay will have you saying “om” in no time. This is a getaway for the thoughtful type, with a wood-burning stove for comfort, a propane range to grill, solar-powered electricity and environmentally sound water sourcing. Take in what the Vikings did a millennia ago: the edge of the world where the heaving Atlantic comes to rest.
A treehouse in...
Photograph by Ms Lauren Miller
Durham, Ontario
Reclaim the joy of childhood by climbing into your very own treehouse. Slide out of your bedroom in the morning and right into a hammock where you can dream the day away, or just lounge by the pool and gaze out over a hundred acres of grassy Ontario countryside. In the summer, hit the nearby green markets for the province’s legendary produce, ideal for rustling up low-key meals in your outdoor dining nook (in the winter there’s skiing at nearby Blue Mountain). And if the kid in you starts to get restless, don’t worry. There’s an inflatable swan in the pool.
Fogo Island Inn
Photograph by Mr Alex Fradkin, courtesy of Fogo Island
Joe Batt’s Arm, Newfoundland
Have you ever seen a whale? It’s breathtaking. At Fogo you can enjoy that experience and then walk upstairs, grab a glass of wine and sit in a hot tub with a vast view of the Atlantic. Fogo Island Inn offers luxury and comfort at the end of the world. Perched on the craggy coast of northeast Newfoundland, Mr Todd Saunders’ radical building, which imitates the irregular, rugged shore, makes the most of the unmarred ocean scenery with floor-to-ceiling windows in each of the 29 suites. The inn is as much a place of mind as a hotel. It is the manifestation of an ethos that looks to incorporate, not exploit, the inn’s location in terms of food, hospitality, architecture and activities. Its mission includes social outreach, arts education and ocean preservation. Plus, there’s a hot tub, Wi-Fi, fine dining and a screening room.
Clayoquot Wilderness Resort
Photograph courtesy of Wildretreat
Tofino, British Columbia
Tofino has become famous as an alternative surf town, but that’s not what you’ll find at Clayoquot. This is more about the nature – salmon, horses and bears – and the forests of Vancouver Island, where visitors can venture from their tents (fit for a royal couple) to a chopper for mountain-top yoga or cloud camping, wade out for a spot of fresh-water fishing, saddle up a horse or simply waddle over to another tent for a massage. In the heart of the UNESCO-designated Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve, the resort combines the luxury of glamping with the adventure of a safari. A glamafari? Not our finest portmanteau, to be sure, but you get the idea.
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