An Azores Reset

São Miguel leaves a first impression that is hard to shake - Travel Sommelier’s Rae recently explored the Portuguese Azores archipelago with her family and found an extraordinary sense of unspoiled beauty. No billboards, no litter, just rolling green landscapes, abundant wildlife, vibrant flora, and the occasional road sign. 

A visit to a small family-run farm brought this into focus. The owners shared they had not taken a day off in seven years. When Rae's young daughters asked, “No weekends?”, it reframed everything…an unexpected lesson in stewardship, purpose, and the quiet devotion behind places that feel this alive. 

For those looking within Portugal for something less traveled, the Azores offer a different tempo - far out in the Atlantic, more remote, more elemental, and defined by nature at full volume rather than coastline crowds or city rhythm. 

Rae's newfound obsession: “BOLOS LEVEDOS! Cloud-like, doughy drops of heaven that my girls and I just could not get enough of. The best we found were at Boso Lêvedos Rosa Quental in Furnas."

TS tip: The Azores is not one island, but nine - São Miguel, Terceira, Pico, Faial, São Jorge, Graciosa, Flores, Corvo, and Santa Maria. Each with its own pulse. Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September–October) are the sweet spot for visiting. Surfers should aim for September–November, when the warmth of summer lingers and Atlantic swells arrive with strength and consistency.