North Of The Border

There are many reasons travelers fall in love with Vancouver, British Columbia.

It's a place where they can hike through a forest, go boating on the Pacific Ocean, ski in the mountains, shop high-end boutiques and dine on ethnic cuisine ranging from Japanese and Greek to Ethiopian and German. And the people are so friendly - Canadians are known for their hospitality, after all.

When it comes to finding a top hotel, there are many choices, too. Our favorite is the Fairmont Vancouver Waterfront, which has 489 spacious rooms sporting floor-to-ceiling windows that offer ocean, mountain or urban vistas. The higher the room, the better the view at this 23-story beauty across the street from Vancouver's cruise-ship terminal and convention center.

Besides watching ships come and go, guests can view seaplanes taking off on tours that provide aerial views of the city's main attractions, including Stanley Park and the 2010 Olympic buildings.

With significant renovations that began almost four years ago, the Fairmont's formerly dark, traditional guest rooms have become lighter and more contemporary. They feature shimmery wallpapered statement walls, leather headboards and floral throw pillows. Large flat-screen TVs are embedded in the walls, and multimedia connectivity hubs can be found in each room. Guests give beds - and the luxurious, high-thread-count sheets - top scores for comfort. Also popular are the rain-shower spas and locally sourced toiletries in bathrooms.

On the Fairmont's Gold floor, called "a hotel within a hotel," guests are treated to larger rooms with contemporary furnishings, an honor bar, complimentary breakfast, spectacular ocean views from a private lounge and gardened terrace, and their own personal concierge service.

Those who want to see what life in Vancouver is like outside the hotel can follow the waterfront bike trail in front of the hotel (the Fairmont has bikes for guests to use) to downtown and Stanley Park, recognized as one of the greatest urban parks in the world. It's known for lovely beaches; miles of well-maintained paved and dirt trails; Canada's largest aquarium; and an array of kid-friendly spots, including a pool, a water park and a miniature railway. The Gastown neighborhood, famous for its whistling steam clock, Victorian buildings, art galleries and trendy food and drink scene, is also just a short walk away.

But guests really need go no further than the Fairmont's ARC restaurant for local, urban artisanal food. With huge windows letting in natural light, the eatery is bright and airy by day and transforms into an elegant dining experience with live music after the sun sets.

If you're eco-conscious, the Fairmont is a smart choice. Some of the eco-initiatives at the hotel include electric vehicle charging stations, working toward a zero-waste goal and hosting honeybee houses on the roof. The beehives - part of a pollinator corridor, a lifeline for urban bees that continues through downtown - produce honey used to make signature cocktails, chocolate treats, pastries, ice cream and salad dressings. Whistler Brewing, a Vancouver beer maker, even incorporates the hotel's honey in its popular Fairmont Honey "Stinger" Lager.

Presiding over all things bees at the hotel is bee butler Nick Mackay-Finn, who is also chair of the sustainability team as well as the hotel's chief steward. He leads daily beehive tours, available May through September. Those on the tour learn about the bees who call the rooftop home, see the Bee Hotel and peek inside the observation hive.

But the beehives aren't the only rooftop attraction at the Fairmont. There's also a 2,100-square-foot garden that supplies the restaurants with herbs, vegetables and edible blossoms. First introduced in 1995, the garden has views of the harbor on one side and skyscrapers on the other. Ten species of songbirds like to hang out there as well.

With all the hotel has to offer, it comes as no surprise that the Fairmont routinely wins top marks from travel magazines. Last year, it was ranked as the No. 3 Top City Hotel in Canada by Travel + Leisure readers. O

Fairmont Vancouver Waterfront is located at 900 Canada Place Way, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. For more information, call 604-691-1991 or visit fairmont.com/ waterfrontvancouver.