We have hit the hottest time of the year in Texas (expecting temps up to 107 this weekend), and DH and I are desperate to get away to a more temperate location. We mulled over northern California, Oregon, and Washington, and then thought about Vancouver and its environs. We know next to nothing about it other than it seems to have beauty (mountains, water) and also a vibrant city.
We were thinking about doing a couple of days in the city, and then finding a wonderful resort to go and stare at the water and mountains, sleep, get spa treatments, etc.
There are very many hotels to choose from in the city, but can someone recommend some fabulous resorts? For me, it’s all about views, exercising in the morning, then totally vegging. DH wants to alternate between working out, relaxing with a massage or two, and enjoying good meals and wine, maybe an outdoor excursion or two.
DH has worked incredibly hard this past 18 months and has had the best year of his career. He does nothing but give to others, and it’s about time he grabbed some well deserved R and R. We would like to splurge on a romantic trip, the first in many years, so we are willing to shell out the cash for a premier resort.
Anyone have any recommendations? Is getting from the city to a resort going to be a major undertaking?
Im assuming you mean B.C., rather than Vancouver Wa?
Ive never been to a spa, but I like to stay at the Sylvia, which is walking distance to English Bay and Stanley Park.
Nrdsb4 - we are heading out there in less than two weeks! Three nights in Vancouver, five nights in Tofino (which is on Vancouver Island) and three nights in the Olympic National Forest in Washington.
I think I started a thread about this last spring, which is when we made this decision. We were trying to decide between Vancouver, et al, and an Alaskan cruise, and Banff/Glacier National Park. Vancouver is what we came up with. I’m so much looking forward to it!
Should have added, check out Tofino - it should have everything you’re asking about, but it will be a drive from Vancouver… we’re counting on about a 3-4 hour drive. We will be taking the ferry across to Nanaimo and driving to Tofino from there. We are actually flying in/out of Seattle.
We were really not looking for a ‘city’ vacation, but a ‘get me into nature’ vacation, and Tofino has all that, and has some really luxurious places to stay.
@teriwtt, wow! I will try to find that thread. This is an impromptu idea and I don’t know if we will be able to make it work on short notice, but we are going to try.
We also considered Banff, but finally decided for our first trip to Canada, we’d start with a big city and try to combine it with some nature. Well, some luxury and nature, lol.
Maybe you’d like to look into the Fairmont Princess on Victoria Island, Vancouver. It’s supposed to be luxurious and has a spa right at the hotel. We stopped there for tea on the way back from an Alaskan Cruise that stopped at Victoria Island.
Uhh, I don’t often disagree with ek4, but, for a memorable trip, forget Snoqualmie Falls.
On the luxurious end, Vancouver has the Pan Pacific, Fairmont Pacific Rim, 4 Seasons, and L’Hermitage. Friends were just in the Fairmont last week and loved it. Get to one of the suspension bridges, either Capilano (pricey) or Lynn Canyon (free). The UBC anthropology museum is super.
The train trip from Vancouver to Banff on the Rocky Mountaineer is definite bucket list quality, and it’s hard to beat the natural beauty of the area once you get there.
Unless you fly, getting to Tofino would take most of a day. Another choice is Whistler, about 2 1/2 hours of gorgeous view driving, great hotels and restaurants, lots of available nature.
Yes to the recommendation for the ferry to Victoria and a night at the Fairmont there, definitely include tea. The BC museum is there and a side trip to Butchart Gardens is always worthwhile.
I was just thinking of how much a pain crossing the border is, I havent actually stayed there.
Harrison Hot Springs looks nice too, but keep in mnd it is fire season. http://www.harrisonresort.com
On one of our days in Vancouver, we are going to go up to Whistler. Not sure at this point if we will combine it with a whitewater rafting day (well, the trips we are looking at are three hours or less) because we’ve heard many of the rivers are not running due to low levels. But Whistler is definitely on our list.
@Nrdsb4 - now that you’ve been bike riding, etc., getting into such good shape, I think you should try this for your morning exercise:
We’ve stayed several times at the Loden and enjoyed it.
There are plenty of wonderful places in downtown - Fairmont, Four Seasons, Hotel Georgia. And the food - you can find some terrific food and drink.
Richmond has some of the best Chinese food around.
Friends do hiking and biking every summer up at Whistler and rave about it.
I have to give 30 days notice before I leave the country, so we haven’t done any spur of the moment trips up there in over a year. I miss it!
