What's New

Construction, construction, everywhere, both aboveground and beneath it. Why? Because in the summer of 2003, Vancouver was awarded hosting rights to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The excitement in and around the city (where the skating events and some skiing events will be held) and at Whistler Resort (where the skiing and most of the snow events will take place) is palpable. For more information, visit www.vancouver2010.com.

Prices are sure to rise for the Olympics, but for now, fabulous restaurants and accommodations in Vancouver and Victoria are still priced lower than those in Toronto, Montreal, or any major U.S. city. This is true even with the weakening value of the U.S. dollar.

Transportation

Delta Airlines now offers a direct flight to Victoria from Salt Lake City. Connecting flights from other destinations include Los Angeles, Phoenix, Miami, and others. The flights are operated by Delta Connection carriers Atlantic Southeast Airlines and SkyWest. For schedules and fares visit www.delta.com.

Accommodations

In the seaside town of Sidney, about 20 minutes north of downtown Victoria, Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa (tel. 866/659-9445) is a small, quiet, boutique-style luxury hotel perfect for a romantic getaway. It has the feel of a contemporary country inn or B&B.

Whistler

The final okay has been given for the construction of the world's longest gondola, which will connect Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. Work won't be completed until 2009.

Howe Sound Seaplanes (tel. 866/882-3252) now offers two daily flights from Victoria to the Whistler area. Passengers fly from Victoria's Inner Harbour via the Vancouver Airport to Squamish, located 30 minutes south of Whistler, where a courtesy shuttle transfers them to Whistler. The flight from Victoria to Vancouver is 35 minutes and from Vancouver to Squamish 30 minutes.

In preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympics, the Sea-to-Sky Highway (Hwy. 99) is being given a complete overhaul, and work will continue until 2009. To find out about potential delays due to construction, call tel. 877/474-3399 (toll-free in Canada) or 604/660-1008, or visit www.seatoskyimprovements.ca.

Whistler's newest hotel, Adara Whistler Hotel, 4122 Village Green (tel. 866/502-3272), opened in June 2007, smack-dab in the center of Whistler Village. The location couldn't be better, and this upscale boutique hotel offers an array of special packages, including a romantic "Honeymooners Package" that flies you over to a nearby glacier for an unforgettable picnic lunch.