Why a Road Trip to Vancouver is in Order, Stat

Visit this brand-new boutique hotel in Vancouver's historic Chinatown neighborhood

By Lauren Mang August 20, 2014

0914skwachays_0

This article originally appeared in the September 2014 issue of Seattle Magazine.

Where: Skwachàys Lodge in Vancouver, B.C. Why: This new boutique hotel (rooms start at $225, 31 W Pender St.; 604.687.3589; skwachays.com) near the historic Chinatown neighborhood is awash in art and culture from the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Each floor is assigned an animal spirit, and each of the 18 rooms features a different design—reflected in paintings, carvings and blankets—created by an aboriginal artist in collaboration with a local interior design firm. Browse the Urban Aboriginal Fair Trade Gallery in the lobby, or experience ceremonial cleansing processes in the Smudge Room (which uses smoke from burning herbs) and the self-explanatory Sweat Lodge. The lodge’s lower floors contain residential units and a workshop where artists featured in the gallery live and work, providing guests a chance to meet them. Share the Wealth: Proceeds from the hotel and gallery support the Vancouver Native Housing Society’s mission to provide safe, secure and affordable housing for the urban aboriginal community. While You’re There: Soak up some of Vancouver’s oldest and quirkiest architecture, such as the 6-feet-wide Sam Kee Building (8 W Pender St.); the Wing Sang Building (51 E Pender St.), built in 1889 and currently home to Canadian real estate maven Bob Rennie’s private contemporary art collection (schedule a free tour at renniecollection.org); or the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, the first of its kind built outside of China (vancouverchinesegarden.com).

Rooms take cues from nature at the Skwachàys Lodge in Vancouver, B.C.

 

Follow Us

Ruby Beach Recognized as One of the World's Best  

Ruby Beach Recognized as One of the World’s Best  

Sparkling red and strewn with sea stacks, Washington's rugged shoreline stands out

Situated on the Olympic Peninsula, a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Seattle, Ruby Beach is known for its towering sea stacks sculpted by centuries of wind and waves, and its thriving tide pools.

Whale Watching is Extremely Popular

Whale Watching is Extremely Popular

New study pinpoints visitors, dollars in Washington state

A study for the Pacific Whale Watch Association by Martin Associates finds that whale watching expeditions in Washington state create $119.1 million in economic value and support 1,125 jobs...

You Better Belize It

You Better Belize It

Fly nonstop from Seattle and enjoy the jungle, the sea, and everything else the country has to offer

With its colonial past as British Honduras, Belize is the only English-speaking country in the region. But the blend of European, Central American, Mexican, Spanish, and Caribbean influences doesn’t even begin to describe Belize’s unique potpourri of cultures. The landscape is dotted with numerous Mayan temples, both ready to visit and still under excavation. The

Direct, Connect, Reflect

Direct, Connect, Reflect

It’s easier than ever to reach these sun-splashed sensations from Seattle

Need to escape Seattle this winter? Need some inspiration to pack a carry-on and cash in those miles? Here are four nonstop flights for nonstop escape. In June, Alaska Airlines announced new nonstop service to Nassau, Bahamas, beginning Dec. 15. Board one of these flights at 9 a.m. and land just six hours later. Even…