Try Something Other Than a Hotel in Atlantic Canada in 2014
From converted train stations and lighthouses to traditional tipis and a rotating B&B, visitors to Atlantic Canada will be delighted by the variety of accommodation found in all four provinces. Make 2014 the year of the unusual stay.
“We have excellent hotels, heritage inns, B&Bs and self-catering facilities in Atlantic Canada which offer something for everyone, however for those looking for a truly original stay, we’ve pulled together a list of some of the rarer property types,” says Kelley Keefe, Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership.
New Brunswick
Treehouse adventure in Miramichi
Enjoy a one-of-a-kind camping experience sleeping in the trees at Camping Miramichi Treehouse Resort. These eco-friendly treehouses are set 12 feet off the ground and feature an impressive staircase, solar lighting and camp mattresses. Some houses have a deck to relax on – with a tree growing right through the centre of it. Take advantage of the barbecue and picnic table, as well as the campground’s outdoor pool, playgrounds and hiking trails for the complete wilderness getaway.
A standard treehouse starts from around £39 for the first night and £30 each additional night. Prices based on two adults and two children sharing. www.campingmiramichi.com
Take to the waters with a houseboat holiday
Explore the waterway of the St. John River on one of Lakeway’s fully appointed houseboats. Bask in the sun on the top deck whilst the children splash into the cool waters of the river from the waterslide and spend evenings relaxing by the fire or underneath the stars in the hot tub of the roof deck. Visitors can sail confidently without worry of channels, currents, or tides and explore the surrounding communities, towns and villages along the riverbanks. Prices start from around £713 for a four-day mid-week stay sleeping up to ten people. www.lakewayhouseboats.com
Newfoundland and Labrador
Stay with the Inuit of Torngat Mountains National Park
Stay in the heart of Inuit homeland in Inuit-style tents at Torngat Mountains National Park Base Camp in Northern Labrador. Replicas of traditional Inuit homes, the non-insulated canvas tents feature electricity and a wood stove for heat. Visitors can hike in the highest range east of the Rockies, spot polar bears and explore spectacular fjords. At the breakfast table, guests may find themselves sitting with an international scientist or an Inuit bear guard. Evenings are filled with bonfires and story-telling circles and “lectures” by visiting scientists. The 2014 season will run from July 12 until August 30. Three-night packages, including accommodation, all meals, transportation (excluding international flights), and Inuit bear guide start from around £2,346 per person. www.torngatbasecamp.com
Play lighthouse keeper at Quirpon Inn Lighthouse
Stay in the lightkeeper’s house of this restored 1920s lighthouse, a registered heritage structure, or next door at the 1960s house of the assistant. Located on a small island off Quirpon, on the northern tip of Newfoundland, getting here is half the fun. Take Linkum Tours’ regular boat service, kayak over or be dropped at the near end of the island and walk the three miles to the inn (your luggage will meet you there). Quirpon is the province’s best location, and longest season, for iceberg viewing. The lighthouse has its own whale and iceberg viewing platform and all stays include a 45-minute boat tour through iceberg alley.
A double room starts from around £206 per night and includes all meals. www.linkumtours.com
Nova Scotia
All aboard the Train Station Inn
Restored in the 1980s, the Train Station Inn and its spacious cabooses (the term given for the last car on a freight train, having kitchen and sleeping facilities for staff) offer a unique bed and breakfast experience.
The seven cabooses date back to 1911 to 1978 and have been renovated into deluxe accommodations reflecting the age of the railway car and feature Queen size beds, fireplaces and WiFi.
The dining car was built in 1928 and was used by Canadian National Railway before finding its new home in 2001 when it was refurbished into a dining car.
A private railway car starts from around £78 per night based on two people sharing. www.trainstation.ca
Tipis at Mersey River Chalets and Nature Reserve
Within the woods of Nova Scotia, in the heart of the UNESCO Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve, sits the tipi village of Mersey River Chalets and Nature Retreat. The three Sioux-style tipis are nestled among old growth hemlock trees. A fully equipped kitchen area and a large fire pit provide places to gather. Kayaking, lake and river swimming, hiking, bird watching and fishing are just some of the activities on offer.
Tipis start from around £45 per night based on two people sharing. www.merseyriverchalets.ns.ca
Prince Edward Island
Get into a spin at Around the Sea
Canada’s first rotating bed and breakfast, located on Prince Edward Island, allows guests in every room to have a turn enjoying the ocean view, without moving from their bed. Built on a rotating platform, the owners of Around the Sea can place a sea view outside any room with a click of a button – enabling the property to swivel with the touch of a smartphone.
Guests can explore the nearby Prince Edward Island National Park or visit neighbouring Cavendish – the setting for Lucy Maud Montgomery’s world renowned novel Anne of Green Gables.
Double rooms start from around £106 per night. A minimum two night stay is required. www.aroundthesea.ca
Enjoy a heavenly stay at the Steeple Cottage
Overnight in luxury at the Bell Tower of the Steeple Cottage where the still functioning original timbers of The Steeple are left exposed and frame the king size bed. The rooftop deck is ideal for star gazing or enjoying a morning coffee with panoramic views over Point Prim peninsula. This self-catering option includes fully-equipped kitchen, WiFi, as well as complimentary use of kayaks, snorkelling equipment and bikes to explore the surrounding area. Use of The Steeple Cottage starts from around £99 per night + tax. A minimum four night stay is required. www.thesteeplecottage.com
Getting there:
Flights with Canadian Affair start from £498 return in June 2014 from London Heathrow to Halifax, Nova Scotia. For information and reservations, call Air Canada on 0871 220 1111 or visit www.canadianaffair.com
Media contact:
For further information please contact Karl Webster, Tryphena Greenwood or Steele Paulich at atlanticcanada@brightergroup.com / 020 7326 9880.
Editors Notes:
The Atlantic Canada region is coastal Canada on our doorstep. Just over five hours away from the UK, the provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island have all the perfect elements for an interesting and inspiring escape. Each province has its own character but all are renowned for their outstanding natural beauty, stunning coastline, friendly people, incredible seafood, UNESCO World Heritage sites and National Parks. This region really is Canada’s best-kept secret.
This project has been made possible through funding provided by the Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership (ACTP). ACTP is a nine member pan-Atlantic partnership comprised of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the four Atlantic Canada Tourism industry Associations and the four Provincial Departments responsible for tourism.
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