Vancouver's Coast a hot dining spot

I enjoyed a wonderful dinner and evening last night at Coast in Vancouver, BC. Coast has been around for a few years, but the new Coast is smashing in both its decor and its fish. And yes, with a name like Coast, it's all about fish. OK, in addition to the surf items, there is also a selection of turf for meat loves. As part of Vancouver's Glowbal Collection, which includes Italian Kitchen, Sanafir, Glowbal, Trattoria and Society (not yet open), it's already scoring high marks with both resto reviewers and diners.

The restaurant moved from Yaletown to Alberni Street, just a few blocks off Robson and easy walking distance from The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and the new Shangri-La Vancouver. The space was formerly a duty-free shop but now, instead of shopping for perfume and handbags, you'll find two levels of dining in a giant jewel box. I sat upstairs with the perfect view down to the colorful activity below, but did enjoy a cocktail at the bar prior to our 7 o'clock reservation. There's also O Lounge, a little bit of LA bumps into Vancouver.

Oh, and make reservations. I was there on a Monday night and it was jammed.

A view from the second floor dining area
Photo by Sue Frause

Quebec's Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival

Quebec's Festival de montgolfieres de Gatineau (Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival) presents its 22nd edition Labor Day weekend, Sept. 4-7, 2009. The annual festival features 59 hot air balloons from Quebec and other Canadian provinces, the US and Europe. There are also balloon rides ($190 CDN per person), the Agropur Night Glow (where pilots light up their balloons), entertainment (including Kenny Rogers), extreme sports demos, an amusement park, classic cars exhibition and more than 30 food concessions.

New this year are the Bistro SAQ, where you can enjoy a drink on the terrace and the Tim Hortons pit stop and picnic area, a fun place for kids with its shaded sand boxes, picnic tables and umbrellas. The family festival is offering free admission to kids 20 and under and new family activities have been added. The popular insect collection of Gatineau's Roch Defayette, one of the finest in Canada, is making a return visit. It includes around 5,000 specimens from 75 countries.

For more information on the region, go to Outaouais Tourism.

Hot air balloon over Woodinville, Washington
Photo by Sue Frause

Vancouver's Lululemon meets New York

Although I only own one piece of Lululemon apparel, and that's from a Vancouver Turkey Trot that I signed up for, but didn't participate in (OK, it was pouring down rain, and I took photos instead), I've always been intrigued by this line of apparel. Lululemon Athletic was founded in Vancouver in 1998. It shared its first retail space with a yoga studio. Today, the little company that could has more than 100 stores across Canada, the US, Australia and Hong Kong.

Their technical yoga clothes and apparel are a big hit in New York City, too. It was fun reading about the BC based company in New York magazine. The article, cleverly titled Lust for Lulu, garnered plenty of comments in the online edition. Click here to read it.

Hockey Canada unveils Team Canada jerseys

I don't know what the most popular logo wear will be for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, but these cool hockey shirts will be flying off the shelves --- and being added to online shopping carts.

The Nike made shirt was designed by First Nations artist Debra Sparrow, who lives outside of Vancouver in the community of Musqueam.

You can read more about the cool shirts here.

Celine Dion expecting second child

OK! magazine reports that Celine Dion is pregnant with her second child:
"The Montreal Gazette reports that Celine, 41, and Rene, 67, became pregnant with the help of a team of fertility doctors in NYC. The couple have yet to officially confirm the news on Celine’s official web site."

Celine Dione and her son Rene-Charles in 2007

Think you know Canada, eh?

Are you an eh? student? Take the Locals Know Quiz to prove how well you know Canada. Then enter for your chance to win one of six prizes of 250,000 Aeroplan Miles.

I got 7 out of 10 correct. Only problem is, you have to live in Canada to be eligible for the contest. C'est la vie! It was still fun taking the quiz.

Know where this lighthouse is located?
Photo by Sue Frause

Canada faces off against Facebook

"Time is up for Facebook to find a way to live up to Canada's privacy law after this country's privacy watchdog gave the social-networking website one month to close its "serious privacy gaps"." National Post

Read the rest of the Canwest story here: Facebook must satisfy Canada's privacy commissioner by Monday.

Banff Lake Louise known for bighorn sheep, black bear, elk, mountain goats ... and now squirrels!

Who woulda thunk that an innocent little squirrel would put Alberta on the map? Well, a Colombian ground squirrel has done just that.

A Minnesota couple was taking a self portrait in Banff National Park's Lake Minnewanka when Crasher Squirrel arrived. The photo of the couple + squirrel went viral after appearing on National Geographic's online gallery on August 7, 2009.

Read more about this squirrely story from cbcnews.ca.

Bighorn sheep
Courtesy Banff Lake Louise Tourism

Canada Line opens ahead of schedule

If you've been in Vancouver's Yaletown the last couple years, it's been a real mess -- as have other areas in the city. Of course, it's all for a good cause, better known as Canada Line. The good news is that the automated rail-based rapid transit service makes its debut this month, and will connect Vancouver with central Richmond and Vancouver International Airport.

At a length of nearly 19 km, it will link residential, business, health care, educational and other centres in the region. The additional transit capacity is the equivalent to 10 major road lanes. Canada Line will connect with existing rapid transit lines at Vancouver's Waterfront Station and major east-west transit services.

Canada Line officially goes on line Monday, Aug. 17 at 1 PM. From 1-9 PM, riders will be able to explore the new transportation line at no charge. Among the revelers welcoming Canada Line's completion (three months ahead of schedule) are the staff at Yaletown's Opus Hotel. Vancouver's first boutique hotel faces on Davie Street and it's officially re-opened!

A room at the Opus Hotel
Photo by Sue Frause

Oh, dear! BC woman wants to keep pet deer

There are plenty of deer here in the Pacific Northwest, including where I live on Whidbey Island.

In fact, they're not only a nuisance for gardeners, but for drivers. Our local newspaper on the island recently published a story about the high rate of vehicle-deer crashes here on Whidbey.

But a woman in Ucluelet on Vancouver Island is bucking the negative attitude and is a big deer fan. So much so that she's had a pet deer for five years. But the BC government doesn't think it's so cool to have a deer roommate. Read more about this endearing story at cbcnews.ca.

Deer on Willis Island in BC's Broken Group Islands
Photo by Sue Frause

Window on Canada: BC Ferries

BC Ferries en route from Tsawwassen to Vancouver Island
Photo by Sue Frause

Villa Marco Polo: Pedal and paddle packages

Victoria's Villa Marco Polo Inn has some cool pedal and paddle packages that combine luxury and adventure.

Butchart and Biking in Victoria Package

Two-night stay
Bike and helmet rental
Transport and admission to The Butchart Gardens
$50 CDN ($46 USD) credit for afternoon tea at The Butchart Gardens
Dual massage in the inn's Penthouse Spa Hammam
Full gourmet breakfast

Rates start at $425 CDN ($394 USD) based on double occupancy. Through Sept. 14, 2009.

Paddling Pleasure Package

Two-night stay
Guided kayak tour including rental equipment
Dual massage in the inn's Penthouse Spa Hammam
Full gourmet breakfast

Rates start at $450 CDN ($418 US) based on double occupancy. Through Sept. 14, 2009.

I've stayed at Villa Marco Polo Inn several times, and it's lovely -- and the massage upstairs in the Penthouse Spa Hammam was sublime. The home was built as a wedding gift for a young bride and today the Italian Renaissance mansion is a romantic destination for celebrations that include proposals, weddings, honeymoons and even babymoons.

Suites feature double soakers, fireplaces, fine linens, luxurious beds, down pillows, hardwood floors and Persian carpets. I love the quiet neighborhood and waking up to the yummy breakfasts, made with local ingredients and served either in the dining room or the smaller sun room. Innkeepers Eliza and Liam have created a wonderful getaway on Vancouver Island. If you go before Sept. 30, 2009 make sure to see Treasures: The World's Cultures from the British Museum, on display at the Royal BC Museum.

A view from inside Villa Marco Polo Inn
Photo by Sue Frause

Cruise North Arctic Odyssey, Cabin 310

A view from Cabin 310
Originally uploaded by Sue Frause

It was nearly midnight on the eight-night Cruise North
expedition from northern Quebec to Churchill, Manitoba when I took this photo from my cabin. No shortage of daylight here in Canada's Arctic.

Photo by Sue Frause

Saskatchewan Driving Etiquette

Not many tourism boards send out driving tips, but Tourism Saskatchewan has done just that with this recent video titled, Saskatchewan Driving Etiquette.

Les the designated driver / advisor is a hoot, and if you wanna know which way to wave in Saskatchewan, he's got some great tips. It's all a part of SaskSecret Summer Tour 2009.

Speaking of driving etiquette, I took this photo while in Saskatchewan several years ago with a group of fellow travel journalists. I think we're somewhere between Regina and Moose Jaw. And I'm pretty sure what we're doing is not a part of the Saskatchewan Driving Etiquette program. But hey, there was no traffic and we had a great time!

Photo by Sue Frause

Window on Canada: Churchill, Manitoba

Our Cruise North ship arrives in Churchill, Manitoba
Photo by Sue Frause