|
Little Wing, The Muir Hotels’ 36-foot Morris yacht. Photo courtesy The Muir Hotel
CANADIAN HOTELS COME UP BIG IN TOP 15 RANKING
Two Canadian hotels made a recent listing of the top 15 new hotels in the world.
Afar magazine named Klahoose Wilderness Resort in British Columbia and the Muir hotel in Halifax to their list of best new properties. The Muir is a Marriott Autograph Collection property on the Halifax waterfront, and it’s quickly established itself as one of the best hotels in North America.
The world-famous Santa Monica Pier. JIM BYERS PHOTO
SANTA MONICA TOURISM IN TORONTO
I was sad to miss Monday’s Santa Monica tourism event in Toronto, as it’s one of my fave destinations. I spent a lot of time in the city when I was a student at UCLA, and lived in Santa Monica for my final year of college, so I’m pretty familiar with it.
It’s a tremendous place to visit, with everything from luxury hotels such as the Fairmont Miramar and The Huntley (where I stayed last fall), on down to family-friendly chain hotels that are easier on the wallet. The food scene is tremendous; everything from tacos to fine French cuisine, and also at a variety of price points
Here’s a link to a story I wrote about the city last year.
Santa Monica also is a great arts town, with hundreds of colourful street murals and a fabulous arts district called Bergamot Station.
The beach is one of the best in California, and there’s a great park (Annenberg Community Beach House) where you can grab a bite to eat right on the sand or arrange paddleboard lessons.
Of course, the Santa Monica Pier is famous around the world. It was built in 1909 and is the western terminus (or beginning) of fabled Route 66. There are fun shops, street musicians, a solar-powered Ferris Wheel, an arcade and much more, including a not-too-scary roller coaster that’s tame enough for most kids.
There are also good food options, including Maria Sol for Mexican, a Japadog cart and Seaside on the Pier, which has a second-floor patio with fine ocean views. I’ve somehow never been, but at the east end of the pier is Big Dean’s Ocean Front Cafe, which dates back to 1902 and is one of the oldest restaurants in southern California. There’s a great patio out front but I haven’t tried the food.
If you’re into coffee and a great breakfast, try La La Land Kind Cafe on trendy Montana Avenue. I was there last fall and my wife and I went back this past weekend for coffee lattes and avocado toast on their outdoor patio on a gorgeous California morning.
“Santa Monica has something very special,” Sana Keller of Pulse Travel Marketing told the crowd in her opening remarks Monday night. “It is L.A.’s beachside city, it’s a city where outdoor fun and family adventure abounds, it’s known as the second Silicon Valley, it’s a city where creativity abounds.”
One bonus is that there’s a Los Angeles Metro rail station a couple blocks from the beach. You can ride for just a couple bucks and get all the way downtown, or over to Hollywood, without needing to rent a car and fight the traffic. Another bonus: LAX is only about 10 miles south of Santa Monica, so it’s a breeze to get there from the airport.
The famous Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. JIM BYERS PHOTO
MORE CANADA FLIGHTS TO UAE ANNOUNCED TODAY
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra today announced the conclusion of an expanded air transport agreement between Canada and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is Canada’s largest air transport market in the Middle East. The expanded agreement allows 21 flights per week for each country.
That means 50% more flights than the maximum number previously possible, which will facilitate new routes, and give airlines greater flexibility to accommodate changes in market demand.
This significant move will better accommodate the growing Canada-UAE air transport market, improve Canada’s global connectivity, and support tourism and trade activity between the two countries, Alghabra said.
The new rights under the expanded agreement are available for use by airlines immediately.
LOS ANGELES ANNOUNCES DINE LA: DISCOUNTED DINING AT GREAT RESTAURANTS
| Today Los Angeles Tourism announces the website launch for the 15th Anniversary year of Dine LA, which kicks off with Spring Dine LA from April 28-May 12, 2023. This year’s event features an exciting lineup of new restaurants alongside classic favourites that have participated and served Angelenos and visitors over the last decade and a half.
Produced by Los Angeles Tourism, Dine LA offers a unique way for Angelenos and visitors to experience the best of the city’s dining at flexible price points ranging from $15-$65+ for lunch or dinner. Los Angeles is currently home to over 200 MICHELIN Guide recognized eateries, underscoring the city’s status as one of the world’s leading dining capitals and elevating LA neighbourhoods like the Arts District, Culver City and Little Tokyo. To date, Spring Dine LA participants canvas 55 neighbourhoods, 34 global cuisines and 33 MICHELIN recognized restaurants. The 15th anniversary year will also include a second 15-day event, taking place in Fall 2023.  SARAH PRESCOTT PHOTO Spring Dine LA will feature a myriad of new entrants offering a diverse range of cuisines, including the Michelin starred kodō in the burgeoning Arts District; Angler LA at The Beverly Center; asterid by Ray Garcia in Downtown Los Angeles; Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine in West Adams; Mo’s House of Axe in Koreatown; Superfine Playa in Playa Vista; Slab BBQ in Beverly Grove; Heavy Handed in Santa Monica; Wine House Kitchen in West LA; 19 Town in City of Industry and Northridge Eats, the San Fernando Valley’s first and only food hall exclusively selling Asian cuisine. Five landmark Los Angeles institutions that have been with the program since its inaugural year will return for Spring: Lawry’s Beverly Hills, Tam O’Shanter, Dal Rae, Michael’s on Naples Ristorante, and Chinois on Main in Santa Monica. Also taking part is Girl and the Goat in the Arts District, where I had a fine meal last March. Two wonderful Santa Monica restaurants also are participating; Citrin (fine dining in an elegant setting from a Michelin-star chef) and Socalo, a tremendous California-Mexican place that’s casual and fun. Los Angeles area hotels such as Short Stories Restaurant at Short Stories Hotel in West Hollywood; Marco Polo Trattoria & Bar at Silver Lake Pool & Inn; Sparrow Italia at Hotel Figueroa; The Hideout at W Los Angeles in Westwood; Aqua Viva at Conrad Los Angeles and Per L’ora at Hotel Per La in DTLA offer up new and fresh takes on the concept of “dine and stay” curated itineraries. |
Kauai’s famous Kalalau Trail. JIM BYERS PHOTO
HERE AND THERE AND THAT AND THIS
Open Jaw Network has a good item today about how you can enjoy London and take in King Charles II coronation next month … Hawaii’s governor is mulling over the idea of charging tourists to visit state parks and trails. The money would help preserve Hawaii’s natural environment, and I say cheers to that … ABC News reports that London City Airport this week became the first major U.K. airport to drop its 100 milliliter liquid rule, meaning passengers departing from the airport may now carry liquids of up to 2 liters in their hand luggage. Thanks to new equipment, passengers will also no longer have to remove items such as laptops, electronics, make-up and other items from their luggage for security screening at the airport. That is truly fantastic … Canadian Press reports that Canada Jetlines has suspended its domestic routes as it refocuses on sun destinations and leasing its planes. The carrier quietly halted its twice-weekly return trips between Toronto and Vancouver and Toronto and Calgary in January after launching commercial operations in September. Officials say they plan to resume domestic flights in the fall … The CBC reports Flair Airlines still has plans to ramp up service in the Waterloo region of Ontario, just not as soon as they wanted. The airline had hoped to increase service by 30% this summer. Now, officials say expansion is expected to be closer to 15%.
