British Columbia

Lamborghini Opens Third Boutique in Vancouver

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Cars & Autos, Men's Style

Lamborghini has been chasing after Ferrari for decades. If it's not on the street, it's on the race track, or in this case in the shopping mall. The Italian automaker has just opened its third boutique, the new Vancouver location following those opened last year in Los Angeles and Beijing.

Though a few were on display for the store's opening, the boutiques don't sell the company's exotic sportscars. Instead they serve as retail locations for the company's fashion line, called the Collezione Automobili Lamborghini. The Raging Bull brand's raking president Stephan Winkelmann was on hand for the opening. Given the Canadian climes, we hope the line includes parkas and ear muffs. But if your travel plans don't include the West Coast city in the near future, you can check out the collection at http://store.lamborghini.com.

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Fly Fishing's Finest Destinations, Courtesy of Orvis

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Sports, Books

When it comes to fly fishing, legendary Vermont-based sporting outfitters Orvis is the recognized authority. The company celebrates nearly 50 Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing lodges across the U.S. and Canada in a nifty new book for the armchair angler, Great Fishing Lodges of North America. The perfect tool for planning your next outing as well as a rich visual feast for anyone interested in sport fishing or the lodge lifestyle, the book highlights the best destinations from Alaska to Florida, Montana to Maine, and across Canada.

Each lodge is profiled and portrayed along with detailed information on the local waters and its game fish, the lodge, amenities and activities, landscape, and game species and wildlife in the area. Featured lodges in include the Alaska Sportsman's Lodge (Lake Iliamna, AK); The Essex, Vermont's Culinary Resort & Spa (Burlington, VT); Lake Placid Lodge (Lake Placid, NY); Chetola Resort at Blowing Rock (Blowing Rock, NC; The Blue Damsel Lodge (Clinton, MT); North Fork Ranch (Shawnee, CO); Cow Creek Ranch (Pecos, New Mexico); Moose Lake Lodge (Anahim Lake, British Columbia); and more.

Gallery: Great Fishing Lodges

Alaska Sportsman's Lodge, Lake Iliamna, AK

Morrison's Rogue River Lodge, Merlin, OR

Tags: Alaska, books, British Columbia, Canada, coffee table books, fishing, fly fishing, fly-fishing, Lake Placid, Montana, Orvis, outdoors, sporting, sporting goods, Vermont

Jasmine's Cove, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

I'm not usually a fan of nautical. I grew up in a resort town, ship's wheels and rope decor generally make me itch. Today's estate in Lake Country, British Columbia could change my mind. This home combines a nautical theme with modern architecture and the overall effect is worlds away from the local fish shack. This six-bedroom home has a great room with a huge round window, a canoe seems poised to smash through the center. A curved bar continues the nautical theme and a shower enclosure is designed to mimic the ocean floor, complete with fish. The property also has a beachside cabana, water features, bridges of stepping stones and an outdoor kitchen. It is listed at $10 million Canadian.

Gallery: Jasmine's Cove

Tags: british columbia, BritishColumbia, canada, estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay

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Top Fine Restaurants in Vancouver

by celticmage (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Watching the Olympics can be hungry work. These restaurants in Vancouver offer a wide sample of the best this city has to offer. Many of the restaurants listed below offer special reservations and menus for visitors in town for the Games.

West Restaurant + Bar
Recognized as the "jewel in Vancouver's culinary crown," West's outstanding contemporary regional cuisine and seamless service has garnered much critical acclaim. Pristine local ingredients are sourced by Executive Chef Warren Geraghty to deliver superbly conceived dishes offering modern interpretations of classics. 2881 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3J4, Canada‎ -(604) 738-8938‎

Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar
An anchor in Vancouver's culinary landscape, Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar is lauded as the City's definitive destination for seafood. Executive Chef Frank Pabst brilliantly executes innovative West Coast plates, insisting on using seafood from wild and sustainable harvest. At the raw bar, cut master Yoshi Tabo has his own dedicated following for his expert sushi and sashimi. 1095 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5T4, Canada‎ -(604) 688-8078

The Pointe Restaurant at the Wickaninnish Inn
Chefs John Waller and Nicholas Nutting and their kitchen brigade serve outstanding Pacific Northwest cuisine in this charming restaurant. A focus on farm-fresh, organic Vancouver Island ingredients defines the experience at The Pointe Restaurant. Sublime dessert & extensive wine list. Spectacular view with over 240 degrees of Pacific Ocean. 500 Osprey Lane, Tofino, BC V0R 2Z0, Canada‎ -(250) 725-3100

Tags: british columbia, BritishColumbia, restaurants vancouver, RestaurantsVancouver, vancouver, winter olympics, winter olympics 2010, WinterOlympics, WinterOlympics2010

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Luxurious Places To Stay in Vancouver

by Yevonne Hale (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

This month the world's eyes turn to Vancouver, British Columbia as the Winter Olympic games begin. Vancouver, being such a cosmopolitan city, offers the finest in the boutique hotel experience. We'll be looking at two very special boutique hotels that certainly set the pace.

The Wedgewood Hotel and Spa is the perfect combination of that luxury "get away from it all feeling" combining with all the convenience necessary for the business traveler. The lobby is beautifully appointed with overstuffed furniture, several antique pieces, original works of art, and an abundance of floral arrangements. The staff pays attention to every detail. They are well acquainted with the city, and will offer every assistance possible to make your stay an enjoyable one.

The hotel is small, and intimate in size with only 83 rooms, but huge on the amenities they offer. Each room has its own walk-out balcony, a large limestone shower, and a separate soaking tub. The rooms are also provided with plush bathrobes, towels, and slippers. If your aim is pleasure, begin to de-stress with the complimentary steam room, arrange a massage, or other spa service.

The Wedgewood is located in the heart of fashionable Robson Square providing Vancouver's best in restaurants and shopping, but the Wedgewood itself provides an excellent choice for dining in the Bacchus. The Bacchus cuisine is modern french, and offers a wide variety menu. For the best in luxury comfort, this is definitely one of the finest Vancouver has to offer.

Tags: british columbia, hotels, vancouver, winter olympics

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Prior House For Sale

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Luxury Travel & Hotels

A luxury bed and breakfast in Victoria, British Columbia is now up for sale. The Prior House was originally built in 1911 for a former lieutenant governor in British Columbia but has spent the last 20 years or so as an inn. It is a five-star, four-diamond rated inn which offers luxury suites and two garden studios and serves both breakfast and afternoon tea. The inn has received rave reviews on Trip Advisor but the listing says it can also be converted back to a private residence if you want it all to yourself. The 11-bedroom home has luxury spa bathrooms, a library, tea room and gorgeous woodwork and stained glass windows. The property includes an award-winning English garden. It is listed at $2.995 Canadian.

Gallery: Prior House

Tags: british columbia, BritishColumbia, inn for sale, InnForSale, prior house, PriorHouse, victoria

Top Ten Hotel Openings of 2009

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Hotels shutting their glass and filigree doors or going into some form of financial distress could have made more of this year's new than new openings; still, the quantity and quality of newly available suites to call your own felt just as stellar as in better years past. Sure, we didn't get the J line of hotels (yet), but we did get the Bardessono -- and 82 geothermal wells and hand-loomed Coyuchi linens are probably as good as anything Jay Z had to offer. Whittled to just ten, with the help of our friends over at TabletHotels.com, in no particular order here are Luxist's top openings of 2009...

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Eagle's Perch, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

This home is named Eagle's Perch, a reference to its woodsy perch on a hilltop in Victoria, British Columbia. The home is on 3.2 acres and has 6320 square feet of custom furnished living space with heated decks, a custom spa/hot tub for 16 and a professional gym. Many rooms boast ocean views. The home's warm look comes from a variety of woods including bird's eye maple and fir. Natural stone, granite, marble and etched glass throughout add a luxurious touch. The home includes koi ponds, a security system, fire pit and barbecue terrace and a three-car garage with a separate bedroom suite. A master suite includes a spa tub and sitting area. Other rooms include a library loft area with a fireplace and a recreation room with a custom glass bar. This home is listed at $8.9 million Canadian.

Gallery: Eagle's Perch

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Tags: british columbia, BritishColumbia, eagles perch, EaglesPerch, estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, victoria

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Opus Vancouver Gears Up for Winter Olympics

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Events, Sports

Planning a trip to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. this February? If you're quick you might still be able to snag one of the 96 rooms at the Opus Vancouver, the city's top luxury boutique hotel. Located in historic and fashionable Yaletown steps away from the inner harbor, the Opus has played host to a long list of A-listers including Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, Zac Efron, Janet Jackson, R.E.M., and The Pussycat Dolls, to name a few. The lavish rooms boast five different décor schemes to suit every taste, ranging from modern and minimalist to artful and eclectic, with comfort and style as the unifying elements. In addition to standard amenities, luxuries for guests include Frette bathrobes, L'Occitane bath products, an in-room oxygen dispenser and complimentary transportation within the downtown area via the hotel's luxe 7-Series BMWs. The penthouse suites feature wrap-around balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows, and double-sided fireplaces; all suites have a wet bar, while the hotel also features a fine French bistro, Elixir, as well as the Opus Bar, voted "Vancouver's Most Popular Nightspot" by the Zagat Survey.

Tags: British Columbia, BritishColumbia, Canada, Demi Moore, DemiMoore, Frette, hotel, hotel deals, hoteldeals, Olympics, Opus hotel, OpusHotel, Vancouver

Saturna Island Vineyards, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

There are some properties that just stick with me. This is one of them. I first wrote about the Saturna Island Winery back in 2006. The property is a vineyard on one of Vancouver's scenic Gulf Islands. The 78-acre estate has a mature 62 acre vineyard, 10,000 sq.ft winery, wine shop, tasting room, and a licensed bistro. This unique winery can only be reached by boat or float plane. The winery grows Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and more on four separate vineyards. Although it is a young winery, they have already received many Canadian wine awards. Back in 2006, the property was listed at $6.5 million Canadian.

Fast forward to now and Saturna Island is back on the market. The name and brand, "Saturna Island Family Estate Winery," the equipment, furnishings and fixtures used in the operation of the vineyard and winery as well as the vineyard machinery and equipment with bottled and bulk wine inventory are included with in the sale. The winery can process up to 20,000 cases of wine per year. The property is also zoned to build a Vineyard Inn for overnight stays. The main home is on two acres and has four bedrooms. There is also a guest cottage and an infinity edge pool and hot tub which look out over the ocean. It is now listed at $15 million.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Gallery: Saturna Island

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Tags: british columbia, BritishColumbia, estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, saturna island, SaturnaIsland, winery for sale, WineryForSale

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Pym Island, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today's home is the chance to get your own private island in British Columbia. The five-acre island is 35 miles across the water from Vancouver and includes a four-bedroom main house, four guest cottages, a caretaker's home, dock and tennis court. The main home has a large living room, library, dining room, games, room, his and hers master suites, a nanny suite and even an indoor pool. The island can be reached by floatplane or by private boat and is connected to power, via cable from Canoe Cove, near Sidney, and also has a back up generator system. This home is listed at $9.8 million Canadian.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Gallery: Pym Island

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Tags: british columbia, BritishColumbia, estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, private island, PrivateIsland, pym island, PymIsland

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The World's Most Expensive Ski Pass for $80,000

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Great Canadian Heli-Skiing in British Columbia is now offering a Platinum Heli-Skiing Season Pass for CDN $100,000, or about $80,000 US, making it quite literally the world's most expensive lift ticket. The Platinum Pass from GCH offers unlimited "vertical access" to the world's best deep powder skiing in the heart of British Columbia's Purcell and Selkirk mountain ranges.

The pass absolutely guarantees the holder a seat on one of GCH's A-Star B2 helicopters - forget about ski lifts or gondolas in this extreme terrain - every single day of the heli-skiing season, from December 26 to March 28, overriding all other bookings. The $80,000 also gets you a personal "powder concierge" to keep you up to date on conditions and forecasts and advise you on getting the ultimate heli-skiing experience.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: British Columbia, BritishColumbia, Canada, Heli-skiing, Helicopter, Heliskiing, Skiing

Whistler's New Gondola Goes Peak To Peak

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports

Those skiing in Whistler this winter will have a new to ski both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. The Peak 2 Peak gondola will offer an eleven-minute trip that spans the two mountains. The gondola will link 8,171 acres of terrain into one continuous lift system so that skiers and riders can move across the valley to the best snow and weather in each area.Each gondola cabin can hold 28 people and can transport 4,100 people per hour. Two of the 28 gondolas will have glass bottoms allowing a birds eye view of the Fitzsimmons Valley below. The gondola will also be open during the summer months. Whistler Blackcomb's Unlimited Adult Seasons Pass is available for $1879. The Peak 2 Peak gondola opens on December 12.

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Tags: british columbia, BritishColumbia, canada, gondola, skiing, whistler

Mega-Yacht Marina Planned For British Columbia

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Real Estate Developments

British Columbia's waterfront condo market is booming but I hadn't considered that the ample waterfront space might also be a spot for luxury yachts. The Vancouver Sun reports on the proposed mega-yacht marina which is scheduled for Victoria in 2009. The planned $20-million, 48-berth marina at Songhees would attract larger yachts ranging from 65 to 140 feet long and is designed to offer a permanent place for these larger yachts. The marina will be located at the entrance to the Victoria Harbour and will consist of two symmetrical one-story buildings that will sit at either side of a 46-slip marina. The architecture of the buildings will mimic the look of a yacht setting out to sea, with sweeping bows, squared off sterns, and solid stainless steel rigging. From above, the view of the rooflines will look like a stylized yacht propeller. In addition to the Yacht Club facilities, the marina buildings will also include a public restaurant and lounge, the Harbour Heritage Coffee House, as well as a supplier of marine provisions and a yachting concierge marine management center.

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Tags: british columbia, harbor, marina, victoria

Kelowna, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

You may never have heard of Kelowna, British Columbia but it's one of the fastest growing cities in North America. The city on a Okanagan Lake offers beautiful scenery and a relatively mild climate. Today's three-bedroom home is situated on a hill for panoramic views of the lake and the surrounding hills. The home was designed by Isabel Chen and sits on 1.19 acres. The modern home has an open floor plan and plenty of windows and sky lights. There is a separate guest suite over the garage that has a private deck. There is geothermal heating and air conditioning. I like the look of the saltwater concrete pool and the wide wood decks. It's not a wildly charming house but the view and the simple and clean space warm my heart. It is listed at $2.2 million Canadian.

Gallery: Kelowna