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Vancouver's Olympic Cauldron is located next to Canada Place and was built for the 2010 Winter Games. The cauldron is occasionally lit for special events. ©SueFrausePhoto |
Closet Canuck
Sue Frause is an American writer and photographer. She's had a major crush on Canada ever since she visited British Columbia as a young girl. Even if your heart doesn't pitter patter over all things Canadian, read on. You'll find photos, travel tips, road notes and the latest news and thoughts about our friends north of the 49th parallel. Cool idea, eh?
Monday, August 08, 2022
'World's Best Donut Tour' launches in Vancouver BC, its first location in Canada
Monday, May 30, 2022
FLEURS DE VILLES' FLORAL TRIBUTE TO WOMEN DEBUTS IN VANCOUVER
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Frida Kahlo - Chicago |
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Queen Elizabeth I - London |
Along the Fleurs de Villes floral trail, Vancouver restaurants will feature special menus and pop-up patios for trail-walkers:
- 1931 Gallery Bistro at Vancouver Art Gallery: Floral Cocktails
- Holts Cafe Vancouver at Holt Renfrew: Afternoon Tea
- P2B Bistro & Bar at Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront: Floral Lunch Spot
- Nightingale: Floral Cocktails and Blossom Pizza
- Showcase Restaurant & Bar at Vancouver Marriott: Six Femmes Cocktails
- Fairmont Hotel Vancouver: Veuve Clicquot Champagne (celebrating 250th anniversary)
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Michelle Obama - Chicago |
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Jane Austen - Miami |
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
FLIX BUS: NEW SERVICE DEBUTS THIS SPRING BETWEEN SEATTLE & VANCOUVER BC
There's a new bus service between Vancouver BC and Seattle that makes its debut this month. With Amtrak Cascades announcing it will not resume train service between the two cities until the end of 2022, this is welcome news for travelers who would rather take the bus and leave the driving to them. Count me in!
FlixBus is scheduled to provide cross border service between Seattle and Vancouver beginning Thursday, May 26. One-way tickets are $17.99. The trip also includes stops in Everett and Bellingham.
That's good news for me, since Everett is my closest departure point, and the fare from Everett to Vancouver is $15.99. There's also a $2.25 service fee. For add-ons, is you can select your seat for an additional $1.49 and travel neighbor free for an added $4. Complimentary onboard amenities include extra leg room, free Wi-Fi and power outlets.
The cross-border bus service runs five days a week in both directions, Thursday thru Monday. The Seattle bus departs for Vancouver at 7:30 AM from the International District, arriving in Vancouver at the Richards Street-Waterfront Station at 11:40AM . The bright green bus departs Everett at 8:20 AM and 9:30AM from Bellingham. Return trips to Seattle depart Vancouver twice daily at 12:45PM and 3PM.
ENTERING CANADA
You must use ArriveCAN to provide mandatory travel information before and after your entry into Canada. The mobile app is free to use. Details and download apps available online. And of course bring proof of identity (US passport, passport card or NEXUS card).
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
VANCOUVER ISLAND'S MUSIC BY THE SEA FESTIVAL RETURNS THIS SUMMER TO VICTORIA AND BAMFIELD
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Music by the Sea Festival in Bamfield Vancouver Island's annual Music by the Sea Festival returns for the first time since 2019, and will be held in two locations on BC's West Coast: July 23-30 ~ Bamfield Rix Centre for Ocean Discoveries August 1-5 ~ Victoria Victoria International Marina The festival features 14 concerts spanning musical genres from classical and chamber to contemporary and jazz. Music by the Sea made its debut in 2006 in Bamfield, and has hosted professional musicians from around the world. The remote location has welcomed adventurous music lovers for 16 years, but festival organizers envisioned adding Victoria to the mix in order to attract a wider audience. This year will be the debut of a series of five indoor concerts at Victoria International Marina on the Inner Harbour -- featuring the same company of artists performing in Bamfield. Sixteen artists will work together to create this year's unique program, remaining in residence during the duration of the festival. They hail from British Columbia (Victoria, Vancouver, Bowen Island, Nelson); Banff; Toronto; New York; The Netherlands and Barcelona. Individual tickets and festival passes are available for purchase online or by phone at 250.728.3887. |
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Victoria International Marina in Victoria's Inner Harbour |
Friday, May 13, 2022
AMTRAK CASCADES: NO TRAIN SERVICE TO VANCOUVER BC UNTIL LATE 2022
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Amtrak Cascades arrives in Bellingham en route to Vancouver BC. ©SueFrausePhoto |
Like many fans of the city of Vancouver, BC I've been anxiously awaiting the resumption of Amtrak Cascades service to Vancouver. Sad to report that Amtrak has announced there will be no train service to Canada until late 2022. Boo hoo!
Amtrak informed the states of Washington and Oregon that their popular Amtrak Cascades service north of Seattle will not resume until late 2022 due to Amtrak staffing shortages.
WSDOT and ODOT express extreme dissatisfaction with the plan and urged Amtrak to at least begin offering service a few days a week on an interim basis until full service can resume in December 2022. Amtrak responded it is committed to an earlier started day if employee resources allow.
Several staff positions need to be filled; They include conductors, on-board service staff and mechanics. Progress is being made in recruiting new staff; but once hired, they must undergo extensive training programs prior to starting their positions.
The route serves Seattle, Edmonds, Everett, Stanwood, Mount Vernon, Bellingham and Vancouver BC. It has been suspended since May 2020 when the Canadian border closed to non-essential travel. Daily bus service between Seattle and Vancouver BC and Seattle and Bellingham will continue to be offered through the Amtrak ticketing system.
Email updates for Amtrak Cascades service are available by free subscription.
Monday, May 02, 2022
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 |
The Oswego Hotel ©SueFrausePhoto |
Inn at Laurel Point ©SueFrausePhoto |
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The Butchart Gardens |
- 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 |
Monday, April 11, 2022
CANADA REOPENS CRUISING AFTER TWO-YEAR ABSENCE: HOLLAND AMERICA"S KONINGSDAM ARRIVES IN VICTORIA AND VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
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Holland America's Koningsdam plies the waters of Vancouver's Burrard Inlet en route to the Port of Vancouver, its homeport for the summer Alaska season. |
On Saturday, April 9, 2022 the Koningsdam was the first ship to return to Victoria in 905 days. And on the following Sunday, April 10, the Koningsdam arrived in Vancouver, the first ship back in port in more than two years. The day was filled with events that included a pier side celebratory ceremony and an onboard plaque exchange to commemorate Koningsdam's first-ever call at Vancouver.
In 2022, six Holland America Line ships will call at Victoria and Vancouver for the Alaska cruise season. In total, the six ships will make 45 calls at Victoria and bring nearly 75,000 guests to the port. In Vancouver, 76 cruises will begin or end in the city, welcoming approximately 140,000 guests.
For Canada and New England cruising on the East Coast, two ships return in May, cruising between Boston, Massachusetts and Quebec City or Montreal. The Nieuw Statendam and Zaandam offer itineraries ranging from 7-24 days to more than a dozen Canadian ports.
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Koningsdam's Grand Dutch Cafe |
'World's Best Donut Tour' launches in Vancouver BC, its first location in Canada
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