3 Must-See Places for the Winter Lover in You
No skis required.
It’s the dead of winter and getting away is top of mind. Of course most people tend to visit places that boast a warm, tropical climate, but for those of you fed up with this faux-cold-no-snow weather, consider jetting to a winter destination with Narnia-worthy conditions.
From a Gwyneth Paltrow-approved architectural wonder in Newfoundland to tree hotels in Sweden, here are three vacation destinations that will kick the winter blues away.
Fogo Island Inn
By: Joy Pecknold
The Flat Earth Society deemed this part of the world one of the four corners, and if it feels far out, that’s the point.
Where: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
What: A kind of modern reimagining of a medieval fortress, Fogo Island Inn (fogoislandinn.ca) rises off the rocks in Joe Batt’s Arm, N.L., to face the frigid Atlantic waters defiantly and warmly—not unlike the hearty Islanders themselves.
Digits: Temps hover just below 0°C and over two and a half metres of snow falls in a year, making winter its quieter season, which is precisely the charm. The weather becomes theatre, which guests watch from a suite through floor-to-ceiling windows—tallest on the fourth floor—wrapped in locally made quilts sitting in front of a wood-burning stove.
Taste: The inn’s interpretation of figgy duff, a traditional Newfoundland dessert, inspires its own ditties.
Getting there: The quickest way to puddle jump from the big island to the inn is a helicopter ride from Gander, which, one would guess, was Gwyneth Paltrow’s chosen method of transport when she visited last summer, or the ferry, which was our mode of transport.
Space heater: Hopping in one of two roof-deck hot tubs makes it an immersive experience. Come March, so, too, is a snowmobile or snowshoe excursion to see pack ice from the Arctic put on its travelling show, like an unrehearsed symphony of breaking, grinding and groaning.
The Treehotel
By: Mia Litström
Do like Karlie Kloss, Solange Knowles and Kate Moss and become one with Scandinavian nature.
Where: Luleå, Sweden
What: Seven treehouses in the woods of northern Sweden, not far from the Arctic Circle. Each “room” is unique, from the Mirrorcube (literally a mirrored cube) to the UFO to the Bird’s Nest. The latter looks so much like a real nest that if it wasn’t for its ladder, you might not find it at all.
Taste: Treehotel’s reception is housed at Britta’s Guesthouse. This charming 1950s-style inn, with nine rooms of its own, is where Treehotel guests can sample local delicacies like reindeer, Arctic char, Kalix whitefish roe and cloudberries.
Digits: All treehouse floors are heated, but the outside temperature can drop well below -15ºC and snow depths can rise to nearly a metre.
Space heater: Showers and a sauna are located in two separate buildings nearby.
See: The treehouse is an excellent vantage point from which to view wildlife, such as reindeer, moose and even bears. Other activities include ziplining, snowmobiling and, if you’re very lucky, admiring and photographing the northern lights.
The Canadian, VIA Rail
By: Caroline Gault
This Toronto-Vancouver train crosses 4,466 kilometres of wintry lakes, prairies and mountains.
Where: Somewhere between Toronto and Vancouver.
What: On a train that takes three days and 14 hours (with a stop in Jasper, Alberta, in case you want to hit the slopes) to move from Toronto to Vancouver, the journey becomes the destination.
Digits: While outdoor temps vary for the duration of your rail adventure, you’ll be lulled to sleep in a private, heated Prestige cabin, which was launched in 2015, at a cost of $7,000 for two.
Taste: An all-inclusive à la carte menu is freshly prepared by the in-house chef (try the Canadian roast beef with a rosemary balsamic demi glaze) while you enjoy complimentary bar service, a personal concierge, a cozy double bed and your own ensuite bathroom and shower.
Play: Items on your social calendar might include a live set performed by a musician as part of Artists on Board, a special VIA program that offers reduced fares to professional musicians in return for performances on board the Toronto-Vancouver trains; guided wine tastings featuring grapes from Canadian vineyards; and classic beers and board games, at your leisure.
Space heater: Zone out in the contemporary Panorama cars with glass ceilings—a futuristic take on old-world travel—for an all-encompassing view of Canada’s snowy landscape.
 rises off the rocks in Joe Batt’s Arm, N.L., to face the frigid Atlantic waters defiantly and warmly—not unlike the hearty Islanders themselves.
Digits: Temps hover just below 0°C and over two and a half metres of snow falls in a year, making winter its quieter season, which is precisely the charm. The weather becomes theatre, which guests watch from a suite through floor-to-ceiling windows—tallest on the fourth floor—wrapped in locally made quilts sitting in front of a wood-burning stove.
Taste: The inn’s interpretation of figgy duff, a traditional Newfoundland dessert, inspires its own ditties.
Getting there: The quickest way to puddle jump from the big island to the inn is a helicopter ride from Gander, which, one would guess, was Gwyneth Paltrow’s chosen method of transport when she visited last summer, or the ferry, which was our mode of transport.
Space heater: Hopping in one of two roof-deck hot tubs makes it an immersive experience. Come March, so, too, is a snowmobile or snowshoe excursion to see pack ice from the Arctic put on its travelling show, like an unrehearsed symphony of breaking, grinding and groaning.
The Treehotel
By: Mia Litström
Do like Karlie Kloss, Solange Knowles and Kate Moss and become one with Scandinavian nature.
Where: Luleå, Sweden
What: Seven treehouses in the woods of northern Sweden, not far from the Arctic Circle. Each “room” is unique, from the Mirrorcube (literally a mirrored cube) to the UFO to the Bird’s Nest. The latter looks so much like a real nest that if it wasn’t for its ladder, you might not find it at all.
Taste: Treehotel’s reception is housed at Britta’s Guesthouse. This charming 1950s-style inn, with nine rooms of its own, is where Treehotel guests can sample local delicacies like reindeer, Arctic char, Kalix whitefish roe and cloudberries.
Digits: All treehouse floors are heated, but the outside temperature can drop well below -15ºC and snow depths can rise to nearly a metre.
Space heater: Showers and a sauna are located in two separate buildings nearby.
See: The treehouse is an excellent vantage point from which to view wildlife, such as reindeer, moose and even bears. Other activities include ziplining, snowmobiling and, if you’re very lucky, admiring and photographing the northern lights.
The Canadian, VIA Rail
By: Caroline Gault
This Toronto-Vancouver train crosses 4,466 kilometres of wintry lakes, prairies and mountains.
Where: Somewhere between Toronto and Vancouver.
What: On a train that takes three days and 14 hours (with a stop in Jasper, Alberta, in case you want to hit the slopes) to move from Toronto to Vancouver, the journey becomes the destination.
Digits: While outdoor temps vary for the duration of your rail adventure, you’ll be lulled to sleep in a private, heated Prestige cabin, which was launched in 2015, at a cost of $7,000 for two.
Taste: An all-inclusive à la carte menu is freshly prepared by the in-house chef (try the Canadian roast beef with a rosemary balsamic demi glaze) while you enjoy complimentary bar service, a personal concierge, a cozy double bed and your own ensuite bathroom and shower.
Play: Items on your social calendar might include a live set performed by a musician as part of Artists on Board, a special VIA program that offers reduced fares to professional musicians in return for performances on board the Toronto-Vancouver trains; guided wine tastings featuring grapes from Canadian vineyards; and classic beers and board games, at your leisure.
Space heater: Zone out in the contemporary Panorama cars with glass ceilings—a futuristic take on old-world travel—for an all-encompassing view of Canada’s snowy landscape.){kind=link}