AMTRAK RESUMES SERVICE TO VANCOUVER; CANADA WAIVES COVID-19 BORDER REQUIREMENTS

Beautiful views of British Columbia aboard Amtrak Cascades from Everett, WA to Vancouver, BC. 

The last time I visited Canada was in the summer of 2018. Which means it has been four years since I've visited our neighbor to the north. Oh, Canada, how I've missed you! 

But with Amtrak Cascades service resuming daily service September 26, it's full speed ahead for me to take the train from Everett to Vancouver, BC (I've already booked my ticket for a couple nights in November). Here's updated information about the resumption of train service between the two countries

Fun letters in Robson Square during my last visit to Vancouver BC.

In other upbeat news, Canada has removed all COVID-19 border requirements beginning October 1, 2022. That means you no longer need to show proof of vaccination or don a mask when boarding a train or plane.

View from the Wedgewood Hotel of the Vancouver Art Galley at the corner of Hornby and Robson. 

Planning Your Trip

Amtrak Cascades

Wedgewood Hotel & Spa 

Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

Vancouver Art Gallery

Destination Vancouver 

©SueFrausePhotos

SAIL FROM PORT ANGELES, WA TO VICTORIA, BC WITH OVERNIGHT PACKAGES VIA BLACK BALL FERRY LINE

M/V Coho arrives in Victoria's Inner Habour 
©SueFrausePhoto

With Washington State Ferries canceling its Anacortes to SidneyBC route this spring and summer due to crew shortages, it will be more challenging to get to Vancouver Island from my home state of Washington. Oh sure, you can drive north of the US/Canada border to Tsawwassen and take BC Ferries to Swartz Bay, north of Victoria. The Victoria Clipper V ferry makes the nearly three-hour trip between Seattle and downtown Victoria, and Kenmore Air has daily 45-minute float plane service between Seattle's Lake Union and Victoria. But for folks like me living on Whidbey Island, a better and less expensive option is taking the Black Ball Ferry Line from Port Angeles on Washington's Olympic Peninsula to Victoria, BC.

I've taken the Black Ball's MV Coho several times in the past few years; once with my vehicle and another time as a walk-on. I prefer the latter. The Coho was built in Seattle for $3 million in 1959, and at the time it was the most expensive and largest privately funded passenger and vehicle ferry built in North America. 

The 90-minute sailing across the Strait of Juan de Fuca provides wide-open views of the Olympics, with plenty of wildlife sightings, including eagles and whales. While onboard, enjoy the comfy interior lounges, solarium, pet-friendly zones, cafeteria, gift shop and duty free store. The ship docks in Victoria's Inner Harbour and if you walked on instead of taking your vehicle, many of the hotels, restaurants and attractions are within walking distance. For more information, visit Tourism Victoria's website. 

BC Parliament Buildings in Victoria's Inner Harbour 
©SueFrausePhoto

Black Ball Ferry Line has a variety of hotel partners within walking distance from its Victoria terminal in the Inner Harbour. And when two adults travel with a hotel package, up to two children ages 11 and older may stay and sail for free. In addition to hotel packages, Black ball also offer various attractions such as Butchart Gardens, the Royal BC Museum, IMAX and a traditional afternoon tea. Here are two of the hotels that are offered, both of which I've enjoyed over the years. 

The Oswego Hotel
©SueFrausePhoto

The Oswego Hotel is a boutique hotel located steps away from the Inner Harbour and downtown Victoria. The hotel features a modern design and luxury amenities. All suites have gourmet kitchens, while the elegant bathrooms include soaker tubs and separate showers. The onsite Bar500 serves authentic West Coast Italian cuisine. Room rate per person including ferry: From $126 USD.

Inn at Laurel Point
©SueFrausePhoto

The Inn at Laurel Point is located in downtown Victoria on the edge of the Inner Harbour, within easy walking distance of the Parliament Buildings, Royal BC Museum, Beacon Hill Park and downtown shopping. The inn prides itself in being a haven for travelers wanting an authentic West Coast experience, offering opportunities to reconnect with nature. Their newly landscaped award winning gardens are now open. Room rate per person including ferry: From $142 US. 

The Butchart Gardens 

Black Ball Ferry Line also offers Day Trip Packages, for those not spending the night. One of the more popular ones is The Butchart Gardens, 55 acres of floral displays spanning a century. The package, from $108 USD per person, includes: 

• Black Ball Ferry fare
• Admission to The Butchart Gardens
• Round-trip shuttle from downtown Victoria to The Butchart Gardens 

The MV Coho arrives in Port Angeles, Washington
©SueFrausePhoto

BLACK BALL FERRY LINE

Click on for schedule/reservations/packages

Port Angeles Terminal

101 E. Railroad Avenue

888-99-FERRY

Victoria Terminal 

430 Belleville Street

800-COHO-475

COVID-19 REQUIREMENTS

Effective April 1, 2022, pre-arrival COVID testing is no longer required for fully vaccinated travelers entering Canada. 

Please Note: Filling out information on ArriveCAN is still required, and must be filled out within 72 hours of entering Canada and prior to arriving at the Port Angeles, WA terminal. Visit Black Ball's COVID-19 requirements for more information. 

SEATTLE'S MAYFLOWER PARK HOTEL WELCOMES BACK CANADIANS WITH A SPECIAL PACKAGE

Lobby of the Mayflower Park Hotel
©SueFrausePhoto

Now that the border between the US and Canada has reopened, Seattle's Mayflower Park Hotel is welcoming back its neighbors to the north with a special package.

LOVE THY CANADIAN NEIGHBOUR PACKAGE

• 12% off the hotel's Flexible rate on all guest rooms/suites
• $30 valet parking (normally $45 per night)
• 2 glasses of Washington wine in Oliver's Lounge

The package may be booked online. To receive this exclusive offer, please show your Canadian ID during check-in. 

Suite at the Mayflower Park Hotel
©SueFrausePhoto

MAYFLOWER PARK HOTEL

"Celebrating 94 Years"

405 Olive Way, Seattle, WA 98101

800.426.5100 or 206.623.8700 

VICTORIA'S OAK BAY BEACH HOTEL VOTED TOP HOTEL IN CANADA

Victoria's Oak Bay Beach Hotel has been recognized with Conde Nast Traveler's 2021 Reader's Choice Award: 

#1 Hotel in Canada

#19 Hotel in the World 

 “It is a great honor to receive this recognition from Condé Nast Traveler’s esteemed readership. Personalized service and meaningful connections are at the core of everything we do. This award recognizes the best in the industry and is a great testament to the dedication, passion, and resilience our employees have embodied every day during this challenging year. From intimate getaways to wellness-inspired weekends, conferences, weddings, or events, the Oak Bay Beach Hotel is a beloved home-away-from-home for local and international guests alike. We look forward to celebrating this recognition with our team members and valued guests from near far over the coming months. Thank you!” 

Madone Pelan ~ General Manager

©SueFrausePhoto

I was a guest at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel several years after its opening in 2012. The 100-room luxury boutique property overlooks the Strait of Juan de Fuca and features the full-service Boathouse Spa and three heated outdoor mineral pools. Dining options include The Snug Pub for indoor/outdoor dining and the new FARO Handcrafted Pizza and Tasting Room. 

©SueFrausePhoto

OAK BAY BEACH HOTEL

1175 Beach Drive, Victoria BC

250.598.4556

Oak Bay Tourism

Conde Nast Travelers 2021 Readers' Awards 

Top 15 Hotels in Canada as selected by Conde Nast Traveler's 2021 Readers' Choice Awards

1. Oak Bay Beach Hotel - Victoria, BC
2. Fairmont Waterfront Hotel - Vancouver, BC
3. Hotel 71 - Quebec City
4. Hotel Gault - Montreal,
5. Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile - Montreal
6. Fogo Island Inn - Newfoundland & Labrador
7. Rosewood Hotel Georgia - Vancouver, BC
8. Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac - Quebec City
9. Manoir Hovey - North Hatley, Quebec
10. Le Germain Hotel Quebec - Quebec City
11. Fairmont Pacific Rim - Vancouver, BC
12. The Magnolia Hotel & Spa - Victoria, BC
13. Loden Hotel - Vancouver, BC
14. Auberge Saint-Antoine - Quebec City
15. Pan Pacific - Vancouver, BC

LE GERMAIN HOTEL MONTREAL UNVEILS COLORFUL MURAL

Le Germain Hotel Montreal recently unveiled a major project collaboration with the MURAL Festival of Montreal, North America's largest urban art festival. The boutique hotel now displays a permanent mural on its front facade, designed by Canadian artist Michelle Hoogvelt. 

Following its reopening after extensive renovations, Le Germain Hotel Montreal pursued its innovative relaunch by bringing an elegant touch to downtown Montreal. The initiative is part of the 2021 Mural Arts Program by the City of Montreal to revitalize its neighborhoods. It also contributes to the revival of the downtown area, at a time when art provides solace and gives hope for a desired return to normal. 

Contemporary painter and mural artist Michelle Hoogveld, a Calgary native turned Montrealer, stayed at Le Germain Hotel Montreal for one week prior to beginning the project and throughout the completion of the piece. "It allowed me to soak up the energy of the hotel and add these new feelings to my mural," said Hoogveld. "It's even more emotionally charged," added the artist, who utilizes color to convey her emotions. 

Towering at more than 171 feet, the artist had to work on a platform suspended from the roof of the hotel to apply the 80 different colors. The mural dramatically transforms the hotel's exterior.

Hoogveld's colorful works may be seen around the globe, in both the private and public realm. She creates her work on canvas and walls, and in Canada they may be seen in Montreal, Quebec, Charlevoix, Ottawa, Toronto and Calgary. Her work is also on display in the United States, Mexico, Peru, England, Portugal and Germany. 

Germain Hotels, pioneer of the boutique hotel concept in Canada, is a family-run business founded in Quebec in 1988. Its portfolio includes 18 properties across the country under the Le Germain, Alt and Escad banners.  

MUIR, A NEW LUXURY HOTEL ON THE HALIFAX WATERFRONT, OPENING FALL 2021

So many places I want to visit in Canada, especially since the US/Canada border has been closed since March of 2020 -- and with no end in sight. The latest word from the Canadian government is it will remain closed at least through July 21, 2021. I'm hoping it reopens by autumn, as that's when the new Muir hotel opens on the waterfront in downtown Halifax.  

I last visited Halifax in 2009 while on my Great Big Canadian Train Adventure from Halifax west to Vancouver, so I'm long overdue in seeing what's new in the past dozen years.  Among the hotel openings in the fall of 2021 is Muir, located on the waterfront in the center of downtown Halifax. Featuring 109 rooms and suites, their website has launched and the hotel is accepting reservations. I'm so there, even if only virtually! 

Guest rooms and suites feature a collection of custom, made-in-Canada furniture including a floating worktable, custom full-size bar, walnut-framed beds and white oak walls. The warmth of traditional Nova Scotia is reflected in a modern Muir tartan blanket and braided rug. Expansive windows look out to ocean views and the spa-like bathrooms feature rain showers and marble-lined tubs. Each of the rooms and suites showcases an original Nova Scotia landscape painting and there's also an in-house art gallery.

Windward Wellness is Muir's fitness center and for relaxation there is a spa pool, cold plunge pool, salt room, steam room and infrared sauna. Kayaks, paddle boards and bicycles are complimentary, along with access to the Muir yacht and motorboat.

Muir's waterfront restaurant Drift serves modern takes on classic Atlantic Canadian dishes. The seasonal patio looks out onto harbor views, and inside is a spacious bar. A 'secret' speakeasy, BKS, features libations inspired by Nova Scotia's rum-running past. Ballast Bar is Muir's seasonal raw bar, featuring fresh seafood. 

Muir 

1709 Lower Water Street

Halifax, NS

info@muirhotel.com 

Muir is an Autograph Collection Hotel and a Marriott Bonvoy Member

Interior renderings by Studio Munge 

Postcard from BC: Listel Hotel Vancouver welcomes autumn with trio of packages

Sunset at English Bay - July 2014. ©SueFrausePhoto

It has been a beautiful summer in Vancouver. I took Amtrak Cascades northbound to Vancouver in July, spending three days that featured both sunshine and rain. But fall is one of my favorite seasons to spend time in the City of Glass -- the tourists are gone, the pace has slowed down and many hotels are offering reduced rates and packages for guests. With autumn looming on the calendar (September 23), now is a good time to plan a fall getaway.

Among those offering special packages is the Listel Hotel Vancouver, located on Robson Street near the West End (think Stanley Park and English Bay). I've been staying there since the '80s, and with the addition of Forage restaurant in 2012, it just keeps getting better. Heading up the kitchen is Chef Chris Whittaker, who earned the title of Vancouver Aquarium Oceanwise Chowder Chowdown Champion in both 2012 and 2013. You'll find Chef Whittaker's award-winning chowder on both Forage's weekend brunch and dinner menus (they also serve breakfast seven days a week), along with other locally focused food and beverages. Here's a trio of Listel Hotel Vancouver packages for fall, with rates starting at $159. And for what to do when you're not dining and sleeping, go to Tourism Vancouver's website for a list of events.

Chef Chris Whittaker of Forage was named top Vancouver chowder maker two years in a row. ©SueFrausePhoto

Fall Into Savings with Breakfast

(or)

Non-refundable Fall Into Savings with Breakfast & $50 Gas Card

Full breakfast for two in Forage ($40 value). Select from a Standard, Museum or Gallery floor room (rates vary).

Fall Into Savings with Parking

(or)

Non-refundable Fall into Savings with Parking & $50 Gas Card

Underground, secured parking and valet service ($37 value)

Select from a Standard, Museum or Gallery floor room (rates vary)

Fall Into Savings (Room Only)

(or)

Non-refundable Fall Into Savings (Room Only) & $50 Gas Card

Select from a Standard, Museum or Gallery floor room (rates vary)

The Fine Print

Rates must be booked by October 12, 2014 and are available for stays through November 30, 2014.

Non-refundable packages are available for stays through October 31, 2014.

A Gallery floor room's separate bedroom. ©SueFrausePhoto

Vancouver nabs city and hotel awards from Travel + Leisure

Vancouver as seen from Helijet en route to Victoria. ©SueFrausePhoto

Let's hope it doesn't go to Vancouver's shiny little head, as the BC city has picked up yet another accolade. According to the readers of the travel magazine Travel + Leisure, Vancouver is Canada's top travel destination. The magazine's annual World's Best Awards survey asks readers to evaluate cities on five characteristics:

• Sights and Landmarks
• Culture and Arts
• Restaurants and Food
• People
• Value

Vancouver's score for the 2014 survey was 86.71, making it the top city in Canada and #6 in North America -- Quebec City came in #8. Here is the top ten list for North American cities. 

RANK 2014	RANK 2013	NAME	SCORE
1	1	Charleston, South Carolina	90.18
2	6	New Orleans	88.74
3	7	Savannah, Georgia	88.30
4	2	San Francisco	87.53
5	4	Chicago	87.21
6	9	Vancouver	86.71
7	5	Santa Fe, New Mexico	86.68
8	8	Quebec City	86.51
9	3	New York City	86.26
10	-	Boston	85.69

Vancouver also scored in the World's Best Hotel category, with five of the top 10 Canadian hotels located in Vancouver. Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver was anointed Canada's Top City Hotel, with four other Vancouver Hotels placing in the top ten: Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Wedgewood Hotel and Spa, The Fairmont Waterfront, and Fairmont Pacific Rim. Here is T+L's complete list: 

TOP CITY HOTELS IN CANADA

RANK 2014	RANK 2013	NAME	SCORE
1	4	Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver	93.00
2	-	Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver	92.27
3	2	Ritz-Carlton, Toronto	92.00
4	-	Ritz-Carlton, Montreal	91.50
5	3	Auberge Saint-Antoine, Quebec City	90.94
6	5	Wedgewood Hotel & Spa, Vancouver	89.60
7	6	Fairmont Waterfront, Vancouver	89.08
8	-	Four Seasons Hotel, Toronto	88.50
9	1	Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver	87.49
10	-	Hotel Grand Pacific, Victoria, British Columbia	87.41

---

2013 Canadian Tourism Awards: A Dozen Organizations and Individuals Honored at Gala in Ottawa

The Fogo Island Inn won the National Cultural Tourism Award. The Newfoundland inn is at the top of my Canadian bucket list.

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) honored 12 organizations and individuals as recipients of the 2013 Canadian Tourism Awards. Sponsored by the Toronto Star and Visa Canada, the awards were presented on December 3, 2013 in a gala ceremony at The Fairmont Cheateau Laurier in Ottawa. 

The Canadian Tourism Awards are presented annually by TIAC to recognize success, leadership and innovation in Canada's tourism industry. They also acknowledge the people, places organizations and events that have gone "above and beyond" to offer travelers superior tourism experiences in Canada. 

2013 CANADIAN TOURISM AWARD WINNERS

Business of the Year Award (tie)

Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts, Calgary, AB

Kingfisher Oceanside Resort & Spa, Courtenay, BC

Community Service Award

Delta Hotels in Halifax, Halifax, NS

Group Employee of the Year Award

The Fairmont Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB

Employer of the Year Award

Rocky Mountaineer, Vancouver, BC

Convention Centre Event of the Year Award

Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, Montreal, QC

Innovator of the Year Award

Le Massif de Charlevoix, Baie-Saint-Paul, QC

Marketing Campaign of the Year Award

"Calgary, Our Doors Are Open," Tourism Calgary, Calgary, AB

National Cultural Tourism Award

The Fogo Island Inn, Fogo Island, NL

Small or Medium-Sized Business of the Year Award

Anderson Vacations, Calgary, AB

Social Media Initiative of the Year Award

"365 Days of Dining," Tourism Richmond, Richmond, BC

Sustainable Tourism Award

Bluewater Adventures, North Vancouver, BC

Experience of the Year Award

Great Wolf Lodge, Niagara Falls, ON

Calgary's Doors Are Open! New Marketing Campaign Launched by Tourism Calgary

Summertime on historic Stephen Avenue in downtown Calgary. Photo by Sue Frause.

The day before the Calgary Stampede opened on July 5, Tourism Calgary launched a three-week regional and national marketing campaign to let travelers know that the city's attractions, restaurants, hotels and festivals are "ready to host the world" this summer. The Calgary's Doors Are Open campaign includes radio, newspapers, online advertising, social media and public relations. The campaign, including a video, features Mayor Naheed Nenshi, nationally recognized for his leadership throughout the crisis. You can see samples of the campaign on the Tourism Calgary website.

The creative campaign is in response to the flood waters that overwhelmed Calgary's Bow and Elbow rivers on June 20, running unabated through neighborhoods adjacent to the rivers, and including the downtown core and Stampede Park. Many hotels were closed for days due to power outages, and more than 100 tourism businesses were closed for various lengths of time. By July 4, the City of Calgary lifted the State of Emergency, with all but one of the city's hotels open. The Calgary Zoo is still closed, and will re-open in stages starting July 31. 

Lobby of Hotel Le Germain Calgary. Photo by Sue Frause.

Summer is prime time for Calgary's tourism industry, which employs one in 10 working Calgarians and contributes $1.4 billion in spending to local businesses. Many of the city's tourism partners were hard hit by the Alberta floods. Although most are now up and running, there are still those that need to get back up to speed. Tourism Calgary is also supporting other communities affected by the flood. 

According to Tourism Calgary, the goal of the marketing campaign is to increase visitation to Calgary in the short term; encourage travelers NOT to cancel their trips to the city; and change the misconception that Calgary's hospitality industry is in jeopardy and closed for business. Calgary's Doors Are Open!

CHARCUT Roast House is located in Hotel Le Germain Calgary. Photo by Sue Frause.

First Slow Food, now Slow Shopping! Vancouver's Gastown alive with shopping, dining

O.K. Boot Corral in Gastown. Photo by Sue Frause.

The International Slow Food movement was founded by Carol Petrini in Italy in 1986. And for the past decade, Slow Food has also been making its mark in Canada, with high interest in British Columbia, Ontario and Montreal. Slow Food Canada is the umbrella group, and there are also local chapters such as Slow Food Vancouver and Slow Food Vancouver Island & Gulf Islands in British Columbia.

But Slow Shopping? The Executive Hotel Le Soleil thinks it's a cool idea and is showcasing the art of slow shopping in Gastown to its guests with a special package. It's a play off the Slow Food movement. But instead of being strictly about food, it's focused on local and regional designers, artisan, food and culture. It's about shopping at a more leisurely pace, soaking up the neighborhood scene and experiencing the city like a local. 

Big Lou's Butcher Shop Photo by Sue Frause 

With Executive Hotel Le Soleil in walking distance of Gastown, the 119-suite boutique hotel thinks it's a perfect fit. And while Gastown still has the reputation of being rundown with boarded up storefronts, it's undergone a renaissance in the past few years. Vancouver's oldest neighborhood is now home to local designers, artisans, food producers and restaurants. Today, with more than 180 shops, restos, bars, cafes and clubs, the neighborhood is buzzing with new energy. One of the many entrepreneurs making changes in the neighborhood is Mark Brand and his Save on Meats, which I highlighted in a previous blog post.

Gastown's narrower streets and distinct architecture encourage both window shopping and grazing. Some of my favorite food stops are Big Lou's Butcher Shop, Boneta, Chambar, Cork & Fin, L'Abattoir, Salt Tasting Room, Save on Meats and Two Chefs and a Table. Many of them are part of this year's Dine Out Vancouver Festival (running through Feb. 3, 2013).

For shopping, there's John Fluevog for unique footwear; Angel Vancouver for hand painted clothing; Bruce Eyewear for cool spectacles; C&K World for handbags and wallets; Orling & Wu and Old Faithful for home decor, accessories and gifts; and Vole for menswear.

Executive Hotel Le Soleil's Discover Gastown Package ($169)

• Accommodation in an Executive Suite
• Complimentary valet parking
• Complimentary WiFi
• Gastown walking map with hotel staff's favorite spots to shop
• Bottle of wine to enjoy post-shopping in the room

The $169 rate is for two people. Taxes not included.

Vancouver's St. Regis Hotel celebrates 100 years with special room rate of $100

The St. Regis Hotel features comfy beds and other amenities. Photo by Sue Frause.

The St. Regis Hotel turns 100 years old on March 15, 2013 and the celebration has already begun. To mark the centennial, the downtown Vancouver hotel is offering 1,000 room nights at the rate of $100 per night. 

Prepaid vouchers for the special offer will be available online at www.stregishotel.com beginning Dec. 1, 2012 and may be redeemed for rooms through April 30, 2013. The vouchers may also be redeemed for St. Regis suites at the rate of $200 (two vouchers) per night. The vouchers are non-refundable and will not be honored Dec. 31, Jan. 30-Feb.9 or April 3-5. If the vouchers are not redeemed by April 30, they may be used as $100 credits for future stays.

The St. Regis Hotel is also donating $5 from each voucher to charitable organizations in downtown Vancouver. The hotel decided instead of throwing a big party for themselves, they would donate the money to local groups working with the homeless and underprivileged in Vancouver.

The special $100 room rate still includes The St. Regis Hotel's generous perks: Full American breakfast for two, free WiFi and worldwide long distance calls, FIJI bottled water and access to the nearby Steve Nash Sports Club.

The St. Regis looking up toward Hudson Bay Company, circa 1940.