A unique opportunity for readers of Dental Economics - a visit to Vancouver
It's not often that a country defines itself by the quality of its dental care, but here it is—a new guidebook titled Molvania: A Land Untouched by Modern Dentistry. The authors delve deeply into the history and attractions of Eastern Europe's least known destination—a place where "panoramic scenery, magnificent neoclassical architecture and centuries of devotion to fine culture, are, admittedly, all in short supply."
This highly imaginative travel guide by Australia's best-known satirists details other attractions that play to the current obsession with off-the-beaten track (read "uncomfortable," "slightly crazy" and now, "totally fictional") travel.
The guidebook explains that visitors to Bardjov's Old Palace will find that "the Palace's carvings, chandeliers, antiques and artwork have all been removed for safe-keeping." The frontier town of Lublova will "take your breath away" although, unfortunately, that's due to pollution. And when staying at Lutenblag's newly-renovated Trybekka boutique, you'll find the hotel is so "modern, stylish and minimalist that they've even done away with fire escapes."
Yes, when all's said and done, your visit to the fictional Republic of Molvania, with it's non-existent dental chairs and non-existent citizens, will have to take place in your armchair. But the guidebook for your non-existent vacation is an on-target holiday present for all of your dental colleagues.
[Note: This guide to Eastern Europe's most overlooked destination is, fittingly enough, published by The Overlook Press. It should be available in all bookstores for $13.95]
Now, back to glorious reality....Sports and Shopping in British Columbia
We're all set to go south for our winter vacation. Sand. Sun. Sounds good. Then a friend suggests we head north instead, specifically to British Columbia. "White Christmas, green Christmas," he says. "Ski in the morning, golf in the afternoon.
We do some research. He's right. The climate of British Columbia makes for a multi-sport getaway, while the Canadian exchange rate allows for frivolous fun.Victoria for Winter Golf
Victoria's daytime temperatures are a far-from-frosty 50°, and the snow usually stays up in the mountains. The charms of the English-style village are legendary; what isn't as well-known is that the temperate clime makes golf a year-round activity.
Just 25-minutes from downtown, Bear Mountain Golf and Country Club, opened in August 2003, was designed by Jack Nicklaus and his son Steve with winter weather in mind. The drainage is good and the views of snow-capped mountains and soaring eagles are exceptional. [Rating: 75.1]
Another favorite, Cordova Bay Golf Club, correctly claims to be "a resort-style course with public-course pricing." The eighteen-hole course is also designed damp-weather play and has views of both the San Juan Islands and Mt. Baker. [Rating: 71.9]
Olympic View Golf Club gets kudos for great golf as well as well as great beauty. Surrounded by the Olympic Mountains and tall evergreens, the real challenge is keeping your eye off the scenery and on the ball! The only downside: mountains and trees make shade, so the course can be cool when the winter sun is low. [Rating: 71.9]
Victoria has several top-notch new properties. The Victoria Marriott Hotel in the heart of downtown is convenient and, while not fancy, exudes a sort of refined stability. The mattresses are nicely comfortable, the elevators so quiet they seem to glide, the service unobtrusive but exceptionally good.
Brentwood Bay Lodge and Spa, Victoria's only five-star oceanfront resort, is twenty-minutes north of Victoria, near the Victoria International Airport and Butchart Gardens All rooms in the small luxury hotel have ocean views as well as fireplaces.
[Note: Butchart is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and its Twelve Days of Christmas display should be even more spectacular than usual.]
Finally, the folks at Bear Mountain Golf and Country Club say their new top-quality hotel will open in December.
But for a special treat head eighty kilometers north to Chemainus, where a small town with huge dreams made itself into a tourist oasis. To revitalize the town residents brought in renowned artists to depict the region's history in giant outdoor murals. Then they built a handsome theater where first class productions play year round. [Note: This winter, November 12 to January 8, you can see the musical comedy "I Do! I Do!"]
Of course a host of art galleries and B&Bs sprouted to further entice visitors. Castlebury Cottage, the fantasy world of owners Larry and Virginia Blatchford, lets people live like royalty in a faux French castle. The Camelot Suite on the upper floor of the two-suite cottage provides 900-square feet with all conceivable amenities, including a canopied bed, balcony, armored suit, jester's and several jeweled crowns.Whistler for Olympic Skiing
While Victoria offers a bit of green, Whistler is winter white. Two mountains, each with more than 100 marked trails, a variety of alpine bowls and glaciers, high-speed lifts and runs of seven miles make it a true winter wonderland and a perfect site for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Along with Vancouver, 76 miles south and the location of the ice events, Whistler will host the Alpine, Nordic, Sliding and Paralympic events. In anticipation, the village is being spruced up and, as of now, there are three new or just-renovated properties:
Vancouver for Serious Shopping
End your visit in British Columbia's big city by taking advantage of the favorable exchange rate. [See www.x-rates.com to see current rate.] Most Vancouver shops accept US dollars. Keep your purchase receipts in order to get a refund on the 7% goods and services tax when you leave the country.
Vancouver's population is slightly over half million within the city limits; the greater metropolitan area is closer to 2 million. More than a third of its population between 25 and 45 years old, and many of its shopping areas are definitely and defiantly young and trendy.
Downtown major malls provide climate-controlled shopping through stores filled with upscale fashion and high-end accessories.
But it's nearby Robson Street that's known as Vancouver's leading shopping area. Truth to tell, it's filled with window-shoppers as much as store-shoppers and strolling is a favorite pastime. Most major chains have stores in the Robson area along with an inordinate number of places to get a caffeine fix.
[Note: if you spend all your money and want to dine at an admittedly cheap but extremely filling place, go to Hon's Wun-Tun House at 1339 Robson where huge portions of Chinese food are served without pretense. For a slightly more upscale but equally filling meal, meat-lovers can go to nearby Samba's at 112 Alberni Street, an all-you-can eat Brazilian BBQ.
Walking distance from the cruise ship docks, Gastown has an intriguing mix of tacky tourist traps and high-end galleries. [Note: take a shopping break at Storyeum, a just-opened attraction that presents centuries of British Columbia history in just 72 minutes by leading visitors through a series of theatrical performances. ]
Yaletown, an industrial area that's newly chic, is worth a stop for shops featuring what's sure to be on next-year's list of must-have accessories.
Granville Island is the place to go for local crafts and local food. No fancy eateries, but a market filled with fresh seafood, fresh fruit, fresh veggies, fresh flowers and fresh fudge. While locals go on the weekends to fill the fridge, visitors go to fashion a lunch from the various stalls and wander the streets for affordable and memorable mugs and souvenirs.
Kitsilano, the area of West Broadway and West Fourth from Burrard to Alma, has eclectic and ethnic goodies plus a good selection of gear for travelers from back-packers to cruise passengers.First Nation Art
Of course, the First Nation culture gives British Columbia an exotic appeal, and the stylized lines of its art fit with any d
But to train your eye to see the small differences that make one piece of art a collector's item and one simply a nice memento, spend time at the galleries which, in many cases, rival mini-museums. Among the best: Spirit Wrestler and Inuit in Gastown, Coastal People's Fine Arts Gallery in Yaletown, the Douglas Reynolds Gallery on Granville Street and Eagle Spirit in Granville Island.
[Note: Victoria has another not-to-be-missed gallery, Alcheringa owned by Elaine Monds. In addition to First Nation art, Monds specializes in tribal art from Papua New Guinea and Aboriginal Australia. Seeing three surfacely different but historically similar styles displayed in close proximity somehow makes it easier to see the attractions of each more clearly. ]
Obviously, there are websites devoted to all mentioned attractions. But a good place to begin is with Tourism British Columbia at www.hellobc.comBest Books
VANCOUVER by Pat Kramer (Altitude). Kramer lives in British Columbia and is an expert on Native cultures, having also written a book on Native Sites in Western Canada and on Totem Poles. Her book on Vancouver isn't as detailed as the one put out by Moon Handbooks, but it has a cheery insider's point-of-view and terrific photos. (Altitude, a Canadian publisher, $14.95)
Andrew Hempstead is the author of Moon Handbooks WESTERN CANADA (580 pages for $19.95) as well as VANCOUVER, which includes information on Victoria (199 pages for $14.95). Both are top notch and while the information in the smaller book isn't exactly the same as in the regional guide, it's close enough. Obviously, if you're going to be traveling to Whistler or to other spots outside the two cities, opt for Western Canada.
The Fourth edition of HIDDEN BRITISH COLUMBIA by Eric Lucas (Ulysses Press, $18.95) is due out in December, but assuming it's like past editions and other books in the Hidden series, it'll be filled with detailed, reliable info. The book will cover Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler as well as spots further afield.
LOOKING AT THE INDIAN ART OF THE NORTHWEST COAST by Hilary Stewart (University of Washington Press, $15.95) is a fine introduction to the sophistication and complexity of Northwest Coast art.
Tourism British Columbia