Delta Sky Magazine

Sky Extras Slideshows Vancouver: Little Black Book

Vancouver: Little Black Book

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Luxury Camping on the Sunshine Coast
If there’s such a thing as camping elegance, Rockwater Secret Cove has it. Roughing it here means staying in a “tenthouse” suite made of sturdy canvas along a treetop boardwalk. Each Zen-inspired tent is outfitted with luxuries such as a hydrotherapy soaker tub.

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Storm Watching on Vancouver Island
Every winter, Mother Nature puts on a spectacular show on Vancouver Island’s rugged west coast, when ferocious waves rolling in from Japan pound the rocky headlands. The Wickaninnish Inn, located in the quaint town of Tofino, offers a Storm Watchers package that includes a luxurious room with a view plus the rain gear necessary to venture outside on a guided nature walk.

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Shangri-La: The latest addition to the Vancouver luxury hotel scene is Shangri-La, which occupies the first 15 floors of a 61-story landmark—the tallest building in town and one that is built to LEED Silver certifications. Natural materials, warm lighting and Italia furniture fuse perfectly with Asian flourishes. The spacious 119 rooms are furnished with iPod docking stations, flat-screen TVs and floor-to-ceiling windows—perfect for appreciating the jaw-dropping view and fleeting Northwestern sunlight. Three-star Michelin chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten presides at MARKET, where the menu focuses on regionally inspired cuisine. The spa, CHI, offers treatments based on the ancient healing traditions and rituals of China and the Himalayas. 1128 W. Georgia St.

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The Loden Vancouver: Located just steps from Stanley Park and a marina in the tony district of Coal Harbour, 77 modern but serene rooms are mostly decorated with blonde wood cabinets, boldly patterned rugs, velvet chaises and chocolate brown marble bathrooms. Dishes served in the ’40s-style dining room at Voya restaurant pair fresh West Coast ingredients plucked from chilly waters and organic farms. 1177 Melville St.

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Nouvelle Nouvelle: Find threads by local indie designers such as Amy Sky and hip leather handbags from Ora. 209 Abbott St.

Smoking Lily: Stock up on T-shirts, coin purses and silk scarves with whimsical prints of bugs, sea horses and other creatures. 3634 Main St.

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Obakki: Locally made collections for men and women are clean, modern and pricey. 44 Water St.

John Fluevog: His fashion-forward soles and accessories are coveted by the likes of Madonna and Marilyn Manson. 65 Water St.

The Regional Assembly of Text: This delightful store features all sorts of stationery, notecards and funky handmade rubber stamps. 3934 Main St.

Eat and Drink

Ping’s Café: Designed by Omer Arbel and friends, this pretty little restaurant is all creamy whites, slate grays and inky blacks. The Japanese comfort food—try the kabocha pumpkin croquettes—is served on kitschy mismatched dishes. 2702 Main St.

YEW: The mixologist pours Olympic-inspired cocktails at this elegant Four Seasons Hotel bar. Bronze-Montreal 1976 features Canadian rye infused with Québec maple sugar; Gold-Vancouver 2010 is Infused BC gin from Victoria with dill and cucumber. 791 W. Georgia St.

Eat and Drink

Vij’s: Vikram Vij’s eponymous restaurant doesn’t take reservations, so be prepared to wait. Of course, waiting here means being greeted by the chef himself as he passes out complimentary appetizers to whet the palate. 1480 11th Ave. W.

Salt Tasting Room: A popular place to get a late-night bite or a glass of wine. 45 Blood Alley

February 01, 2010

With a diverse cultural mix, urban sophistication, a seriously laid-back attitude (this is the Pacific Northwest, after all) and the Winter Olympics around the corner, Canada’s third-largest city is now being discovered—or rediscovered, as the case may be.—Celeste Moure

Photos by Chris M. Rogers