Canada Day in Ottawa

[trip style = urban] The Canadian patriotism I experienced at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics gave a whole new meaning to Canada Day this year. The Olympics reminded me of my deep love and appreciation for the true north strong and free as well as the freedoms we often take for granted.

I had the honour of spending July 1st in Ottawa--the official epicentre of Canada. Watching the Canada Day celebrations in front of Parliament, something changed, I felt Canadian things more deeply. Every sight turned into an exciting and heartfelt experience.   The speeches given by Harper and the Queen weren't just rhetoric, they were meaningful, and the whole celebration beginning with the Musical Ride (sadly I didn't get any pics) brought me to tears.  But I suppose I should feel emotion for a country where my roots grow deep and the maple leaf is more than just something that falls from trees.

Pictures of Ottawa's Canada Day 2010 Celebrations [by a BC gal]

The Queen's prelude into the Canada Day celebrations.  She followed in a horse-drawn carriage sporting a red suit with a maple leaf broach for the event.

The stage where the festivities took place.

Parliament's East Block.

Canadian Snowbirds doing a fly-by.

Me in front of a Snowbird; not the kind that goes South for the whole winter.

Parliament's library, refurbished in 2002.

Ottawa river overlooking Gatineau, Quebec.

Beside Parliament. The Rideau Canal looking up towards the Fairmont Chateau Laurier.  Above the lochs you see in this pic, in winter you can skate along this canal for 8km.  Puts a whole new spin on commuting.

Me in front of 24 Sussex (PM's residence).  Since I came unannounced, Stevo wasn't able to have lemonade with me on his balcony.

Having a break at Planet Coffee.

Grabbing a croissant at the bakery where Obama stopped to pick up some 'Canada cookies' for his girls during his initial visit to Ottawa in February 2010. PS - I Highly recommend the aforementioned Moulin de Provence bakery in Ottawa's Byward Market.

Ending the day with a literal bang. We were so close that our hair and clothes were speckled with ash.

Tourist Attractions - Worth It?

Whether it's the London Eye, Eiffel Tower or Empire State Building* some tourist attractions live up to their expectations and some fall short. The more I travel, the less I go near tourist attractions.  Yes, they have a time and place, but also have the potential of being traps, and even savvy travelers can sometimes fall prey.  Whether or not a tourist attraction is worth it, is largely a personal decision, therefore, I've put together a list for evaluating tourist attractions before you go to [hopefully] help save you time and money, the next time you're galavanting the globe and become tempted by attractions. Good and Bad Tourist Attraction Examples ITALY - [trip style = sightseeing] In the fall of 2009 I stopped over in Lucca, Italy with my husband and two friends. One of the best days we spent there was an amazing afternoon biking around the fortified city's walls and randomly stopping for lunch at a restaurant that "looked good"--and it was. Rather than getting stuck in a tower or dungeon tour, we were outside, admiring the city from every angle, lunching at a local haunt and riding bikes like many of the locals do.

KENYA - [trip style = adventure + safari] Also in the fall of 2009, before going to the Masai Mara, my husband and I spent 3 days in Nairobi.  We were there for a wedding. On day 2, we researched local attractions and found an elephant orphanage that was highly rated on Trip Advisor. We decided to go. Seeing the baby elephants paraded around, drinking out of giant bottles and cooling themselves in the mud was cute, and I was happy the entrance donation went to rehabilitating the little (big) "Babars", but I left thinking: "what did I just do, I'm leaving for the Masai Mara in two days to see elephants in their natural habitat."

PERU - [trip style = urban] Spring 2008 took my husband and I to Peru. While in Lima I was more impacted exploring and experiencing different neighborhoods on foot, than touring the city's nether regions (catacombs) gazing at age-old bone piles. In Lima, I preferred to stay above-ground, especially given the earthquake that happened a few months before we arrived.

Evaluating Tourist Attractions Before you Go

• Will it enhance or deepen my destination experience?
• Am I just doing it to pass time?
• Am I going because I think I should do touristy things?
• Is it totally different from what I'd experience at home?
• Am I interested in the topic?
• Is it on my bucket list or a wonder of the world?
• Do locals do it too?  (This consideration is major because if locals do something, you know it must be an authentic draw.  Case in point, when I hiked a portion of the Great Wall of China, there were more nationals than tourists climbing the ancient, uneven stones used to construct the wall.)

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*The London Eye: ...is a cool way to see the city for first-timers, but not a must. There are so many other ways to see London. Only go to the "eye" on a clear day.  I even got a little motion sick, even though the gargantuan wheel only moves at 1km/h.

*The Eiffel Tower: ...the first time I went, it was sundown.  Seeing the sun set and the City of Lights illuminate in the evening was nothing short of spectacular.  The tower wasn't too busy and I spent over an hour at the top taking it all in.   A few years later, my second time was a bust.  It was so crowded, the line-ups were long and nor could you move or walk around freely. The best experience is during off-hours, or off-season. Get the full experience, before or after you ascend, bring a baguette, cheese and wine to enjoy on a blanket at its base.

*The Empire State Building: ...this NY mainstay is worth it.  Again, try to go in off-hours for full enjoyment.  Ogling at the NY skyline on a clear day or night is advisable.  Buy your tickets online to avoid waiting in line.

Spotlight :: LA Shop & Stay

[trip style = urban + sun]

LA’s most famous example of shop & stay has got to be Pretty Woman. Shopping on Rodeo Drive and staying at the “Reg Bev Wil” has got to be every woman’s dream, except for, of course, the premise of the film… No but seriously, whether you’re budget conscious or prefer the finer things, LA’s got you covered. Continuing our LA Food & Fun coverage, here are just a few shop & stay suggestions.

Shop

Venice Abbot Kinney Blvd is one of my favourite streets in all of LA. This strip is all about the local boutiques. Grab a latte from Intelligentsia and don’t miss Firefly for books, stationary, knickknacks, accessories, clothing, etc.; Milkmade and Steven Alan Annex for men’s and women’s clothing; Madley for baubles and vintage frocks; and Surfing Cowboys for mid-century modern furniture and surf memorabilia.

Santa Monica Third Street Promenade This pedestrian-only street is like the top 40 to Abbot Kinney’s indie rock. Home to major chain stores, street performers, movie theatres and large crowds, the Promenade is basically an open-air mall. Shops include: Anthropologie, Banana Republic, Barnes & Noble, Forever 21, Gap, H&M, J.Crew, Quiksilver, Urban Outfitters and Zara. I find this street a little overwhelming, so be sure to head down to the pier and stroll along Ocean Avenue.

Near LAX I hate rushing to the airport. You have to worry about traffic, returning the rental car, finding food since they don’t feed you on flights anymore … these just add to the inherent stress of travel. If you have some room left in your suitcase – and on your credit card – and want to head out towards the airport a little early, pop into the Promenade at Howard Hughes Center for Nordstrom Rack or Westfield at Culver City for Target. And it doesn’t hurt that there’s a Trader Joe’s on Sepulveda, a couple blocks from LAX – peanut butter-filled pretzels anyone?!

West LA – Malls Two big malls dominate these areas – the Beverly Center and the Grove. I’m partial to the latter, which has a certain manufactured je-ne-sais-quoi in the form of a dancing fountain, a train, celebrity sightings and valet parking. This is LA after all. But if you choose to self park with the common folk, don’t forget to get your parking validated and pay close attention to where you parked to avoid a Seinfeld moment. Top shops include: Nordstrom, Anthropologie, Barnes & Noble, Forever 21, Crate & Barrel, Barneys Co-op and the adjacent Farmers Market.

West LA – Boutiques If your budget and tastes stretch a little beyond the Gap, check out TenOverSix for a well thought-out collection of accessories for women, men and home. Another great shop is Opening Ceremony, where by just walking through the doors you feel like you’ve enrolled in “how to be cool without trying – or at least look the part 101”. Look for labels like Band of Outsiders, Alexander Wang and OC’s eponymous brand. Other faves include: Tarina Tarantino and Marc by Marc Jacobs.

Bonus #1: try your luck at the Rose Bowl Flea Market or the Long Beach Flea Market. #2: the best LA-area Urban Outfitters is in Studio City. Don’t pretend you don’t shop there…

Stay

I usually book LA through Priceline or Hotwire and choose 3.5-4-star hotels. Since there are an overwhelming number of hotels in LA, there’s no point giving an exhaustive list, but…

A few of the more affordable options: Farmer’s Daughter Hotel, Hollywood Heights Hotel, Best Western Sunset Plaza, Inn at Venice Beach, The Standard Downtown

A few fancier options: Hyatt Century Plaza Beverly Hills, Hotel Viceroy Santa Monica, Chateau Marmont, Oceana Santa Monica

The best bet is to choose your area first. Besides, you can always stop by the iconic hotels for a $20 cocktail and a George Hamilton sighting – if you’re lucky. The most affordable hotels tend to be around LAX and downtown, and the most popular areas are Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Santa Monica. Besides the area, how much time are you going to spend in the hotel? Some are great for lounging at the pool and dining, while others are just a place to catch some sleep. Keep this in mind especially in LA and you’ll be set. I’m jealous already!

Post by heather (@heatherlovesit), pop-culture-ista and writer of heatherlovesit.blogspot.com

Spotlight :: Springtime in the Emerald City

[trip style = urban + weekend getaway + sightseeing]

Good weather; check. Great hotel; check. Weekend with no plans; check. Seeing old friends; check. Meeting new friends; check.

Although I've been to Seattle many times, this time was different. This time I wanted to be a tourist, yet avoid tourist traps. So I did my own kind of sightseeing. The kind that allows you to see a city for what it really is (with hands-on experiences), and who it really is (sharing it with locals).

Stay Stay at The Fairmont Olympic, the Pacific Northwest's only AAA, 5-Diamond Hotel. Although the Seattle area has other great hotels like The W or Ace, staying at the Olympic immerses you in Seattle's past. Open since 1924, the hotel icon's old-world charm is a stark contrast to the city's West Coast architecture and laid-back vibe. Don't miss having a drink in the hotel's lobby bar Friday or Saturday night. The pianist's sweet sounds make you wish you were crooning in a karaoke bar. [see my fairmont olympic + other hotel reviews here]

Do/Eat Coffee/Neighborhood Walk/Breakfast Not sure if it was the coffee culture or the crisp, spring morning, but I was raring to go at 7am. Talk about making the most of the day. First up, I grabbed a coffee at Verite and walked around Madrona, an adorable, yet sophisticated neighborhood 10 mins outside of the city. Enjoying the peace of the morning, the sunrise sparkling over the water, the scent of blooming flowers and the mix of modern and tudor-style homes made my morning picture-perfect, no joke, see pics below. Apres my jolt of caffeinedecaff, I made my way to my fave brunch spot, Hi-Spot Cafe. *Make sure you order something that can be paired with their amazing raspberry jam. It's so good that once I'd eaten my jam-infested english muffin, I hid myself from other restaurant patrons and savored the rest of the jam avec spoon.

Pier/Pike/Starbucks We all know Seattle is the birthplace of Starbucks, the little coffee shop turned worldwide, caffeinated sensation. But, did you know that the first-ever Starbucks is located near Pike Place Market? But first, the pier. Walking along the pier is not only a quintessential Seattle experience, but doing so, you'll also pass shops, restaurants, the Seattle Aquarium and the SAM Olympic Statue park.  Once you've had your fill of wind-in-your-hair, ocean-front walking, head up the hill to Pike Place Market.  The eclectic and thriving mix of vendors may wow you as much as the famed fish-tossing. Once you've watched the 'fish throwers' launch dead fish like Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks, head to the original Starbucks [1912 Pike Pl, Seattle, WA 98101] to grab a java. [fish tossing starts 17 secs in]

Lunching and Shopping One great way to see the downtown core is to lunch and shop. There are multiple restaurants in the shopping district, so stop into any of them to fuel-up. To get your shopping fill, visit the flagship Nordstrom or gaze at the Chihuli [instigator of Pacific Northwest glass movement] installation in Barney's.

Evening Dinner and Drinks Don't miss Black Bottle, a corner eatery and watering hole where the industrial design and downtown vibe makes the flatbread taste better than it already is. After dinner a dear friend of mine made a reservation for a few people (tourists and locals) at Zig Zag Cafe. When I told the Fairmont driver where I was going, he said "oh, Zig Zag has the best bartender in the city." Perfect! This out-of-the-way resto-lounge has grown by word of mouth and loyal clientele. At 8.30pm it's dead, by 11pm it's so busy I can't hear myself speak. Given my late lunch and early dinner, I didn't order much, but the appetizers and pastas are well known. Either way, I'm more than satisfied with our server's drink suggestion: the French 76---now in my cocktail hall of fame book---which I should really start.

Spotlight :: LA Food & Fun

[trip style = urban + sun ]

LA gets a bad rap. Sure, the traffic and pollution aren’t great, but the sunshine and beaches are pretty fantastic. Plus, LA is more than Hollywood; there are fabulous restaurants, rich culture and shopping galore. This week we’ll focus on food and fun. Next week, shop & stay.

Food

Coffee
Intelligentsia Silver Lake location: 3922 W Sunset Blvd,Los Angeles, CA 90029 Venice location: 1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
*The best coffee in LA – and the best looking coffee shops (in both design and customers). Don’t be discouraged by the line!

Sushi
Sushi Katsu-ya Original location: 11680 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604 *Incredible sushi in a strip mall in Studio City? YES! Order off the specials board. You MUST order the crispy sesame tuna and spicy tuna on crispy rice. Worth. The. Wait.

Casual Chic
Gjelina Location: 1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
*This might be my favourite street in all of LA, and this might be my favourite restaurant on that street. Great thin-crust pizza, people watching (sit at the communal table), brunch and bloody beer.

Frozen Yogurt
Pinkberry Various locations
*It’s an LA institution, only a few years in the making. I like the original flavour with fruit topping, but you can choose your own – that’s the beauty of it!

Café
Joan’s on Third Location: 8350 West Third Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048
*Eat in or take out, this adorable café has baked goods, deli items, sandwiches and specials, plus a gourmet market. Don’t miss out on the caramel-covered marshmallows – they’re to die for!

Bakery
Mani's Bakery 519 South Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
*Healthy, chocolate-stuffed heart cookies. Enough said. The cafe only uses natural and alternative sweetners.

Cupcakes
Sprinkles Various locations
*Great selection with flavours like banana, red velvet (vegan or gltuten free options), peanut butter chocolate, chai latte or good ol’ vanilla. Check the cupcake calendar online to see if your favourite flavour’s in that day.

Indian
Bollywood Cafe Original location: 11101 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604 Second location: 737 Cahuenga Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604
*The vegetarian samosas, complimentary papadums and courteous service keep us coming back.

Italian
Il Pastaio Location: 400 N.Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
*Not only is the location fabulous, but so is the people watching. Start with the appetizer platter.

Fun

Griffith Park 2800 East Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
*Stunning city views. Stroll around the observatory and hike the trails. It will feel like you’ve left the city!

The Getty Center 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049
*Another spot for city views, but this one comes with world-class art, architecture and a groovy tram. Admission is free, but parking is $15, except on Saturdays when it’s free. Beautiful way to spend a beautiful day.

Hollywood Bowl 2301 North Highland Avenue, Hollywood, CA 9006
*Home of the LA Philharmonic and seasonal concerts. Box seating down low and bleacher seating up high. Come early and bring a picnic – it’s BYOW(ine)! Oh and don’t park in the overpriced parking at the Bowl – it’s stacked and takes forever to get out.

Venice Canals Between Ocean Ave & Pacific Ave / S Venice Blvd & 28th Ave
*Stroll along the lemon tree-lined canals and peek into people’s modern homes or kitschy bungalows you just WISH were yours.

Scenic Drives
1/ Drive up the PCH to Malibu, take off your shoes and dig your toes in the sand.
2/ Drive along the Sunset Strip at night for a whole different kind of scenery.

Post by Heather, pop-culture-ista and writer of heatherlovesit.blogspot.com