Tea Trails II

Vancouver, Canada was another spot on our list this summer. It was beautifully cool there and a welcome respite from hot, humid summer days. We visited many points of interest but of course taking tea was at the top of the list. I was hoping to have tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria. However, I didn't realize that it was a 4 hour trip by bus and ferry from Vancouver. Not having planned enough time for it , made the trip there impossible. Having learned that Victoria is actually more accessible from Seattle, made us realize that it would be more enjoyable at some other time.
On the advice of the hotel desk clerk, we went to tea at the Secret Garden which is in a suburb of Vancouver. The Secret Garden takes pride in the "beautiful eats" they offer. The food and tea were wonderfully delicious. Tea at the Empress will have to wait for another day...

Have you taken tea at any vacation spots this summer?

Tea Trails

After a busy end of summer travel time, I am back to blog again. In August we were fortunate to visit Mackinac Island in Michigan and stay at the Grand Hotel. Mackinac Island (MACK-in-awe) became one of the nation's popular summer resorts during the Victorian era.

The Victorians arrived in excursion boats from Buffalo, Cleveland, and Detroit. To accommodate overnight guests, boat and railroad companies financed the building of the Grand Hotel. It is as special now as it was in 1887, a beautiful large wooden structure with a veranda 3 football fields long. Great attention to detail is seen everywhere in the hotel as well as the on the grounds. The flowers are amazing. The horses have a little to do with this I'm told! Restricting travel to horse drawn carriages and bicycles definitely gives a "step back in time" feel to the island.

The highlights of our stay were taking afternoon tea in the lobby and going for a ride in the Grand Hotel's VIP carriage.

It is a very special place and a tealightful summer memory...


Hotel photo courtesy of the Grand Hotel