The Top 10 Design Hotels
September 28, 2009
Elemente, one of Canada’s design magazines, has fashioned a list of the top 10 design hotels around the world. Included are hotels in big cities, resorts, and in out of the way locations. The hotels include the following:
- Indigo Patagonia in Natales, Chile (think the bottom of the world here!)
- Hotel Unique in Sao Paolo, Brazil. The hotel looks like a little watermelon
- Alva Park Resort and Spa in Fenals, Spain, one hour south of Barcelona
- The Outpost in Kruger National Park, South Africa where you can watch elephants from your room
- Five Hotel, Paris, France
- Lefay Resort and Spa in Lago di Garda, Italy
- Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island in Australia
- Casa Dell’Arte in Bodrum, Turkey
- Commune by the Great Wall in Shuiguan, China, an hour northwest of Beijing
- Luna2Private Hotel in Bali, Indonesia
Given the chance I think most of us would be happy to stay in a design rich, ecelectic spot rather than a chain hotel providing that it was remotely affordable.
Many of the hotels noted above are reasonable if one considers the market they are in. Indigo Patagonia has high season rates of $US260 per night whereas the Bali hotel is out of reach for most of us at it’s lowest rate of $US3000/night - and that’s without meals. The Parisan hotel is suprisingly affordable, in light of what is regularly charged in that city whereas The Outpost in Kruger National Park is expensive but inclusive of meals and game watching and very much on par with hotels of a similar ilk in the park.
The websites of these hotels are very inspiring and a little dreaming never hurt any of us.
The Great Waterfront Trail Adventure
September 25, 2009
If you like to cycle and plan your summers well in advance then The Great Waterfront Trail Adventure may be just the thing for you. This is a fully supported 730 km ride that takes you from Niagara-on-the-Lake to the Quebec border just east of Cornwall over the course of 8 days. Last year’s ride had days that ranged in length from 48-125 kms.
The 2010 dates have been set and the ride is due to begin on July 3rd. The price for an adult before January 1, 2010 is $440 though that will go up by $50 after the 1st. Your registration fee covers daily luggage transfer, mechanical assistance, a sag wagon and campsites every night.
The ride will allow you to discover over 40 waterfront communities that border Lake Ontario. In the course of the ride you will travel through Niagara wine country, past the steel town of Hamilton, through coastal wetlands and white pine forests, past the sand dunes and wine country of Prince Edward County, through the university town of Kingston and along the Saint Lawrence River to the Quebec border.
If you’re a cyclist, recreational or otherwise, then consider the challenge and the experience of this adventure. You will enjoy the camraderie of fellow bikers and the hospitality of the locals in the towns that you visit.
The Green Route - Quebec’s Cycling Network
September 24, 2009
The Green Route or La Route Verte, as it is known in the province of Quebec is the largest cycling network in North America, though it remains largely unheard of outside of the province. It is considered to be one of the ten best bicycle routes in the world as selected by the National Geographic Society.
Eventually the green route will offer cyclists (and walkers) 4,300 kms of signed paths which will include a mixture of dedicated paths, paved shoulders and some roadway.
The green route is attempting to link all regions of Quebec. I have just finished cycling several hundred kilometres in the Eastern Townships, an area about an hour by car east of Montreal. Other notable regions of the route include Montreal, Quebec City and surrounding area, the lower Saint Lawrence region (Bas-Saint-Laurent) and the Abitibi-Temiskaming area.
The Green Route in the Eastern Townships can be comfortably done in three days. You don’t even have to retrace your steps because of a service known as the Velo Taxi. In this area it operates during the cycling season (May to October) on a 24/7 basis and provides a taxi service to anywhere you want to go along the Green Route - for a price of course. If you have a bike breakdown and you are mechanically challenged then all you need to do is call. They cover 225 kms of territory and approximate prices are $40 for 40 kilometres. It also provides some piece of mind when you are a lone cyclist.
You can get maps sent to you by the Eastern Townshops tourism bureau. Visit www.eastertownships.org to order your maps today. Also look for a detailed downloadable itinerary on this website in 3-4 weeks to make your planning even easier.
Quebec’s Most Beautiful Villages
September 19, 2009
In researching and biking the Eastern Townships I am fortunate to visit three of Quebec’s most beautiful villages. On this tour I have seen Knowlton (now Lac-Brome), Stanbridge East and Stanstead. There are only 37 villages in 10 different regions of Quebec.
Even if you’re not on bike, a visit to many of these villages will enhance your overall vacation experience. Quebec’s most beautiful villages have been chosen to represent it’s important architectural and historical record. Their population centers are generally small but that only adds to their charm.
In the Eastern Townships, an area lying less than an hour by car, south and east of Montreal, the local homes don’t want for colour. The beautiful villages I have seen have homes that are reminescent of the New England Style with great wrap around porches. Sitting within sight of each other might be a green house with white shutters, a pink house with white shutters and a bright blue house with black shutters. It is a feast for the eyes.
The villages in this area lie in country that was first settled by Irish immigrants around 1820 and by the Brtish and Scottish in 1840. That is the reason you will see so many English names. However, French Canadians showed up in 1850 and founded three villages which unfortunately didn’t make it onto the most beautiful list.
Come and visit these wonderful little villages and at the same time discover the personality and hospitality that make up the Quebecois people- even if you don’t speak a word of French.
Les Bons Matins Bed & Breakfast in Montreal
September 15, 2009
Do you have plans for any overnight stays in Montreal? Of course you can always book a chain hotel but if you would like something that’s just a little bit different, with considerable charm in the best sense of the word, then give serious thought to booking at Les Bons Matins.
Les Bons Matins is more like an upscale inn than a B&B. Five 19th century homes (all attached) offer 21 rooms and suites and one luxurious townhouse ranging in price from $119 to $399. For that you’ll get a wonderful room that feels more like home than a hotel ever does. It comes with a queen bed, original antique pine pieces, exposed bricks, beautiful rugs, old pine floors that smell a bit like beeswax and artwork that you might just want to take home with you.
Not all the bathrooms are large but they all come with nice toiletries. Also, they have thoughfully included enough counter space that the contents of your cosmetic bag won’t end up in the toilet. There are big hooks and the furniture makes a perfect surface for your travel bag.
Internet, phones, TV and alarm clocks are in every room. Fortunately there is air conditioning for the summer months!
Breakfast must be reserved and is served between 7am and 10am. It’s a gourmet one that should keep the hunger pangs at bay till lunch. Port, bottled water and soft drinks are provided free of charge.
Les Bons Matins occupies a prime location. You’ll most likely be able to see the hockey arena from your front bedroom window and Saint Catherines, the main shopping street is only 2 blocks away. You can hop on the Metro at the Lucien-L’Allier stop, only seconds away.
The one downside might be some noise but heh, it’s a big city and at least you can open your windows.
I might sound like I’m being paid to say all this but I’m not. I am however, in favour of supporting and helping out the little guy whenever possible, especially when the job is so well done.
Whistler,BC by Rail
September 12, 2009
The weather is holding, the trees are changing colour and there is a crispness in the air up at Whistler. Why don’t you try a trip this year by rail while there ’s still some time? Trips continue through to October 12th onboard the Whistler Mountaineer. You’ll be able sit back and focus on the awesome scenery including views of:
- Howe Sound as the tracks wind their way beside the inlet
- the Tantalus Mountain range with gorgeous snow covered peaks and glaciers
- Black Tusk, a prominent mountain peak
- Cheakamus Canyon
Rail prices from North Vancouver to Whistler on a roundtrip basis are $Cdn199 for adults and $Cdn149 for children under 12. The 3 hour train ride can be done in a day with a 3 hour layover in Whistler Village. It leaves at 8:30 am and returns by 6pm.
The Whistler Mountaineer also has 1, 2, 3 and 4 night packages with a variety of accommodation choices. You also have the option of returning to downtown Vancouver by floatplane.
If you have the time to night over in Whistler then a wide range of activities become available. Try the world class mountain bike park, a ride up the gondola, a Ziptrek tour or some superb hiking. Visit the Whistler website for the events calender and a very detailed list of things to do.
If you can’t make it this year then start planning for 2010 since service starts up again by the middle of May.
Don’t just visit a place, experience it!
Kettle Valley Railway Biking
September 9, 2009
The Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) is an old, abandoned railway bed that has a new lease on life as a non motorized biking and hiking trail. It is located in southern British Columia. Outside Magazine once named the trail as one of the top 10 to cycle. The trail is broken into subdivisions or sections with a total length of approximately 600 kilometres. In theory you can cycle from Castlegar in eastern British Columbia to Hope which lies about 2 hours east of Vancouver, though that would take the better part of two weeks.
The Kettle Valley Railway is truly a fantastic trail especially since it is possible to cycle it in sections depending on how much time you have. The trail covers a wide variety of terrain. It will take you through remote backcountry, past lakes, forests, over old railway trestles and then in the Penticton area you’ll find yourself cycling through vineyards and orchards.
Last week I spent a few days cycling a section from Chute Lake through Penticton and on into Okanagan Falls and Oliver. It was fabulous! This is what I would recommend.
- plan on a stay of a few days in the Penticton or Naramata area. There are lots of campsites, B&B’s and small inns to choose from. Some options include the Naramata Inn and Spa, Apple d’Or Guesthouse (a 5 star property), Burrowing Owl Winery and Guesthouse, D’Vine Dreams B&B and the Sandy Beach Lodge and Resort.
- Either bring your own bike or rent bikes from either Okanagan Bike Rentals or the Freedom Bike Shop in Penticton.
- Grab a map from a tourist information office and head off. It is an easy cycle from Penticton down along the canal, along the west side of Skaha Lake and into Okanagan Falls. (Try an old fashioned milkshake at Lollies in Okanagan Falls). For more energetic people I highly recommend riding up the road to Chute Lake from Naramata and then hooking up with the Kettle Valley Trail. The road up is steep but quiet and the views are pretty darn good. The reward is the ride down. The grade is a steady 2% for 18 kilometres if you stop in the Naramata area or 28 kilometres if you continue onto Penticton. Views from the Little Tunnel at Mile Marker 122 are fantastic.
- Did I mention the other reward? Wine tasting at wineries found all along the Naramata Road.
- The Oliver section can be done as a day on its own, especially if you’re into wine tasting. There is a nice loop starting at the tourist information center in Oliver that takes you on bike paths which are both paved and unpaved and then along the length of Black Sage Road. Consider a lunch stop at the Burrowing Owl Winery.
It’s not all fun and games on the KVR and I believe a word of caution is in order. Once you are past the village of Naramata it will immediately feel remote so head off prepared. Carry water, food, a map, rain gear and a cell phone. Cell coverage is excellent. Also, bring a few bike tools and a repair kit for a flat tire.
Lastly use some common sense with regards to the following:
- rattlesnakes - do not attempt to pick up
- bears - we saw a big black bear but it scurried off. Read my August blog on bear attacks.
- poison ivy - do not touch the three leafed plant with shiny leaves though in the fall the leaves become red and yellow. If you inadvertently touch it wash the area imediately with soap and water.
Happy trails. This one will put a smile on your face.
An unusual courtesy - seen only on the Kettle Valley Trail!
A Room with a View
September 8, 2009
There aren’t too many places in the world where you can get a room with a view even when it is pitch black outside. It is possible just outside and above the town of Osoyoos, British Columbia thanks to the efforts of Jack and Alice Newton. The couple run The Observatory Bed and Breakfast which boasts a stong astronomy theme.
You will be warmly welcomed, even if your stay is only for a night. The B&B has three large rooms, all with superb views of Osoyoos. The fun really begins once darkness has settled in. Jack will lead you upstairs to his observatory. Inside sits a 16 inch Meade computer-controlled telescope which itself sits on a 12 ton concrete pier extending 35 feet to the bedrock.
With a flip of a switch Jack can open the observatory and then with the help of his computer, zero in precisely on wherever he has commanded the telescope to go via the click of a mouse. We had a cloudier night but were still able to clearly see Jupiter and a number of it’s moons, Vegas (a star!) and the craters in some detail on a full moon.
Jack is no slouch. He is a an amateur astronomer with a huge list of credits to his name, especially with regards to astro photograpy. NASA is happy to use his pictures and one of the Time Life books incorporates his images too. He has written books, chaired community programs and still maintains a down to earth demeanour.
The room rates are very reasonable, ($129 and up) especially since they include an hour or two with Jack in the observatory. However, BOOK NOW for next year. The B&B is only open from May to October and rooms fill quickly. Not only will you get a room with a view but you’ll find that your mind has been engaged on a level that it probably doesn’t see very often.
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