BRITISH
COLUMBIA’S MOST ROMANTIC SPOTS
by Rick Cropp and Barbara Braidwood
If romance is what you are looking for, then look
no further than British Columbia, Canada. The province has
everything from the sophisticated charms of elegant restaurants to
outdoor adventures, set against some of the most varied scenery on
the planet. From arid desert and rainforests to serene snow covered
peaks, BC provides the perfect backdrop for love.
Strong silent types will love the idyllic, woodsy
setting at Thistledown House Bed and Breakfast Inn in North
Vancouver. Ask for the "Under the Apple Tree" room, which
is comfy, warm and insulated from the rest of the world. A short
stroll across the street takes you to the lush dappled green of the
coastal rain forest in the Capilano Canyon.
Or take a walk over to the Capilano Suspension
Bridge. Being suspended 230 feet above the Capilano River will
surely have your loved one holding on tight. And if you are fishing
for a way to tell that special someone what you have in mind for the
evening, peer over and let the spawning salmon splash a hint.
For a touch of old-world elegance visit
Vancouver’s Teahouse Restaurant in Stanley Park. The location
oozes romance, rain or shine. Sip your tea in the glass-roofed
conservatory; with its large windows and greenery, you can watch the
sea mist crawl ashore from the comfort of a cozy chair.
For an expansive view of Vancouver, take the
Skyride cable car up Grouse Mountain to The Observatory restaurant.
The best seat in the house is in the front corner peak of the room.
Jutting out over the city with your back to the rest of the diners,
you’ll feel secluded on a cloud. After dinner, strap on a pair of
skates at the nearby outdoor rink for a graceful glide on the ice.
Whistler Blackcomb has garnered accolades as one
of the best ski destinations in the hemisphere. But non-skiers have
just as much to look forward to in this romantic village bursting
with luxurious spas, inventive cuisine and cosmopolitan nightlife.
After a day of exploring Whistler Village, sink
into the hot tub at the all-suite Westin Resort and Spa and watch
the sun go down. Then slip down to the spa and try their most
intimate treatment-the couple’s massage. But be warned, it has cut
short many evening plans as guests disappear on jelly legs to order
room service and fall asleep. A horse drawn sleigh ride through the
chill of the forest cuddled in blankets may be enough to rejuvenate
you for a sumptuous dinner at one of many local restaurants.
Wine worshippers will love the Cedars Inn Bed and
Breakfast nestled in Kelowna-the semi-arid wine country of the
Okanagan Valley. The heritage Inn is close to some of the best
wineries in the country. Indulge your taste buds at the many
boutique vineyards, which offer wine tasting of the region’s
unique grape varietals. Be sure to try some famous ice wine as a
sweet finish to your tour. In the morning, stay curled up in bed and
have breakfast delivered to your room.
Get in touch with your wild side at the
Wickaninnish Inn on the west coast of Vancouver Island. With Mother
Nature concocting dramatic storms on the beachfront property,
couples can share a passionate movie-like moment huddled by the sea
and crashing surf. When you return to the inn, watch the storm from
the hot tub in front of a picture window while sipping on mulled
wine. When you retire, keep the balcony door ajar and let the waves
rock you to sleep. Since its construction at the turn of the last
century, Victoria’s Fairmont Empress hotel has been an oasis of
civility. Afternoon high tea in the Tea Lobby is a must but be sure
to save room for an elegant dinner in the Empress Room. Snuggling
with your sweetie on a cruise of the Inner Harbour or on the top of
a red double- decker tour bus will give you something to muse about
over your candlelit feast at one of Victoria’s quaint dining
spots.
If the two of you live to golf, haul your clubs to
the Kingfisher Oceanside Resort and Spa midway up the east coast of
Vancouver Island. You’ll be a short distance away from six golf
courses and year round mild weather means they are always open.
Non-golfers will be happy to stay at the ocean’s edge and indulge
in the delights of the spa. After a day on the course, what could be
more welcoming than a soak in an ocean view tub bathed in firelight?
The Flying U Ranch in the Chilcotin-Cariboo is a
horse-lover and adventurer’s dream. Definitely rustic, the century
old log cabins will bring history to life as you cuddle to stay warm
in front of the fire. Take a picnic lunch and set off on your steed
to explore the 16,000 hectares (40,000 acres) of forest and meadows.
For best results, try to get the horse lost. They always know the
best and loveliest way home through valleys you will never find
again. Kids and cowboys are the perfect mix, so if your idea of a
romantic sojourn includes the whole family, this is the place. BC
Rail’s Cariboo Prospector train will transport you in style to the
Flying U’s very own wilderness train station.
