1997 Jan's Journeys West Coast Roadtrip!

Mon. afternoon 9/8/97 thru Thur. morning 9/11/97
The Palms Guest House
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Tue. Sept. 9
Greetings from Canada! We’re checking in from Vancouver, where the weather and the scenery and the B&B and the dining...and everything else....are all fabulous!! During our trip to Victoria (on Vancouver Island) this past July we flew into and out of Vancouver, and we could see that it was a spectacularly beautiful city. Now that we’re on the ground and journeying about, it’s even more gorgeous than we expected!

We’re staying at The Palms Guest House in West Vancouver...which is a lovely, forested area with impressive homes located on the other side of graceful Lions Gate Bridge which connects Vancouver with North and West Van. The Palms was built 3 years ago as an upscale private residence. Unfortunately, the owners may have overextended a bit with all of the luxurious amenities and ended up selling the property. That’s where Heidi Schmidt came in. Having lived in West Van for many years, she was looking for a site in the area in which to open a B&B. She found this perfect location for sale and has operated her exceptional Guest House for over one year now...and it’s one of those somewhat rare B&Bs that is even better in reality than it appears in marketing photos! Upon entering the striking foyer of this contemporary home, stairs lead down to the 4 guest rooms and up to the common areas which include a living room, dining room, deck and guest coffee/refreshment area...bordered by expansive windows overlooking wonderful views of English Bay on the Strait of Georgia (which lies between the British Columbia mainland and Vancouver Island). I do need to mention one thing, just so there aren’t any "surprises" for readers who stay at The Palms in the future: there’s a train track which runs through West Van, and several trains travel through each day behind the house. It’s definitely not as disruptive as that old "I Love Lucy" train rerun that pops up now and then on TV...and the deluxe features of The Palms make up for any clamor! In fact, train aficionados will most likely enjoy the show.

We’re in the Ambassador Suite, which is a true delight! It was the master bedroom of this very well-appointed house, and it’s obvious that no expense was spared by those original owners...and Heidi’s decorating talents have further enhanced the ambience. The entry to this spacious suite contains an alcove with a spotlighted niche holding graceful silk arrangements; the king-sized bed is draped in green canopies and covered with soft comforter and duvet. The love seat and billowing draperies pick up the same dark green scheme, which contrasts with the whitewashed furniture; there’s a double-sided fireplace (shared with the bath) surrounded by smoked mirrors; a private deck overlooks the garden, that serene waterscape with ships and boats rambling by, plus views of the city; the walk-in closet has more than enough room for all of our bags (which is truly rare!). Then there’s the bath....it’s almost as large as the entire bedroom in some B&Bs!! Hunter green is again the design color (accentuated with gold), and the fixtures include double sinks with roomy countertops, shelves and drawers; a generous glassed-in shower with dual heads; and a deluxe two-person Jacuzzi beneath a window looking out on that same scenic vista; plus the previously-mentioned fireplace. The separate water closet (larger than the entire bathroom in some B&Bs!) contains a commode and bidet which continue the green color plan. Now....this is a suite that is quite comfortably ample for making ourselves at home!!!

Our breakfast this morning was a total pleasure...served in the elegant dining room at a exquisitely-set table. It was a great opportunity to meet and chat with the other guests while enjoying Heidi’s gourmet meal: juice, very special coffee, fresh fruit, pastries, croissants and other breads, cheese, an unusual and tasty egg dish, sausage, fried plantains -- and more!

We spent much of today touring on the Vancouver Trolley (16 scheduled stops with on-and-off privileges at each), which is an excellent way to learn about the city, absorb some of its history, travel to several areas without hassling with traffic or parking, stop and roam through sites which are of particular interest, and discover destinations to be revisited later. Some of our very favorite sections were magnificent Stanley Park (a definite must-return); Granville Island (a renewed industrial area which now contains art galleries, artisans, a public market, a microbrewery, shops and restaurants); and Gastown (the locale of the original city of Vancouver, rebuilt after a disastrous fire in the late 19^th century, and home to the very unique steam-clock with its endearingly off-key Westminster chimes). There are many other downtown districts that we also enjoyed in this vigorous city with its breathtaking natural setting.

Heidi not only serves delicious food, she provides excellent recommendations on which restaurants offer it, as well. Last night we followed her suggestion and had dinner at the Salmon House. From its marvelous location atop a hill a few minutes away from the Palms, we admired the remarkable view as much as the native Canadian decor and superb food (salmon, of course, was the specialty). This evening we dined at another Heidi-idea, the Beach House at Dundarave Pier (also nearby in West Van). Again, the food was matched by the view (and a glorious sunset). Heidi is two-for-two on restaurants so far!!

Wed. Sept. 10
After beginning with another of Heidi’s delectable breakfasts, we stopped at Lighthouse Park and took the short hike down to the still-working house. Then we drove on to Whistler...the famous ski area that’s about 90 minutes away. The drive up was sensational; a couple of the highlights in this array of glorious Canadian scenery were Horseshoe Bay and the mountain panorama outside of Squamish. Whistler itself was equally fetching, with an atmosphere similar in many ways to Vail.

Later in the day, we visited the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park in North Vancouver. In 1889 a 450-foot hemp and cedar swinging bridge was constructed 230 feet above the Capilano River. More and more people began visiting, and the original bridge was replaced twice by more secure wire structures. The current steel-cable bridge was constructed in 1956. It still swings; in fact, it sways and bounces as its brave visitors walk across the narrow span! In the 1930s the owner invited local Indians to place their totem poles on the property. Today that display is the largest private collection of totem art in the world, with the original poles maintained to remain in the same condition as they when they were initially received over 60 years ago.

After getting our "land legs" back following our wobbly trips across the bridge, we continued up the road to Grouse Mountain – a ski area just 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver. We took a gondola Skyride to the top where we enjoyed a high-definition digital video featuring the mountain and the Vancouver area in the "Theatre in the Sky".

This evening we had yet another delicious dinner in West Van...this time at the Beach Side Cafe, again just a few minutes away from The Palms.

Heidi has information and brochures on all of the activities in the area. As a side note: for those who haven’t visited Victoria, at least a day-trip across the Strait to Vancouver Island is a must! Past readers of "Jan’s Journeys" already know how we fell in love with the enchanting capital of British Columbia when we visited in July of this year (that journey is documented in the "J’sJs" article entitled "Always Vibrant Victoria").

So tomorrow we leave Canada (after making several stops to capture those last special spots) and head back to the States to continue our Roadtrip. After July’s visit to Victoria and this trip to Vancouver, we’ve begun a love affair with British Columbia....we’ll definitely return in the future and will join Heidi at The Palms again as well!! You may indulge yourself by phoning her at 800-691-4455, sending an e-mail to info@palmsguesthouse.com, or visiting her website at http://www.palmsguesthouse.com/!

>>Next Stop -- Domaine Madeleine, Port Angeles, WA
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Copyright © 1997 - 2008: Jan Hight
All photos are the property of Jan & John Hight and may not be copied or used in any way without our written permission.

Published -- September 11, 1997
Last Revision -- Sunday, 13-Aug-2006 03:35:12 GMT