It started on Sunday night…

It was the day after my 50th birthday and I felt a little wrung out, that sort of post-party lethargy with maybe a hint of oh-de-wine headache.  Luckily, I knew the next treat was just across Howe Sound when I took the ferry to North Vancouver and checked in to the Pinnacle At The Pier.

What is it about brand-spanking new hotels? There is not a hint of wear (that even the best properties start to show) and maybe I’m just a little to cognizant of wear and tear..what with the recent 50th birthday and all.

And here’s the other thing about a great hotel, besides a spectacular view south to Vancouver’s skyline…it’s the smell of those towels. Brand new towels that have just the right clean smell. I do a pretty good load of laundry, and yes, the ones off my clothesline are pretty spectacular, but that hotel smell is one of those aromas that makes me know I could just check in and live there forever.

I have stayed in about a zillion hotels now, and it never gets old…the little bottles of shampoo, the crisply-wrapped soap, the perfect bedding, that hotel robe…and the Pinnacle did it up right. They even had the requisite hook in the bathroom.

If I have to dig for the imperfection, it wasn’t in the zen-grooving decor with the cool B&W photos, or the wavy-lined uber-cool carpet and wallpaper, no, it would have to be the fake powder creamo for the coffee..which was weird because there’s a little fridge that could easily hold a couple of fresh cream packets.

And yes, this is my ‘thing’. I’m trying to get over it. I’m not there yet. Hell, I’m only 50…this could take a while.

And then my day really started when I boarded the Rocky Mountaineer train for the 3-hour trip to Whistler.

Why are trains so cool?

 Is it the champagne and O.J. that accompanies the hot breakfast? Or the drop dead scenery? Or because it’s a whole new perspective on the Sea to Sky route? Or is it because it’s totally carless and therefore stress-free travel?

There’s simply nothing to do but sit and chat to my wonderful seatmate Lori Henry, take in the view and know we’re going to the spa

I’ll write about the spa experience in my next post. Meanwhile, here’s a little youtube of that train ride.