Check out our rhododendrons, poppies, lavender, azaleas, dahlias, wallflowers, hostas, ferns, ornamental grasses, cosmos, Scottish and Italian heathers, irises, roses, lupines, all manner of herbs, and our vegetable garden which will soon be yielding its bounty, with different colours and shapes of luscious tomatoes and peppers.

These vegetables and herbs are used in the preparation of our famous breakfasts. Our excellent in house chef, David, does his magic every morning. In addition the Manor Guest House is filled with fresh flowers, culled from our gardens.

Come and relax in our gardens, and watch the world go by as you soak up the sun and the beauty of what you see around you. We truly aim to be an oasis in the heart of the city.

If you want to see formal gardens in Vancouver, the 3 best ones are all within easy access of the Manor Guest House.

Queen Elizabeth Park, a 20 minute walk from the Manor Guest House with its floral conservatory, fountains, and floral gardens, is the second most visited park in Vancouver.

The Van Dusen Botanical Garden, less than a 10 minute drive from the Manor Guest House, is home to local flora as well as many species from Asia.

The Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden is located in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown, about a half hour walk from the Manor Guest House or less than a 10 minute bus ride, is the only Ming Dynasty style garden outside of China.

All 3 gardens have guided tours, special events, and wonderful family oriented activities for children of all ages, as well as restaurants and gift shops.

Where else can you stroll on a beach, dine outside, and ski in the same day? Vancouver has it all.

Photos taken in Stanley Park, the jewel in Vancouver’s crown.

If you stay at the Manor for 2 nights or more during the weekend of the Marathon, and you enter the Marathon (you don’t have to finish) we’ll give you a bottle of  Tinhorn Creek Merlot, one of the very best wines from the Okanagan Valley. That way you have nothing to lose, and if you must, you can drown your sorrows.

February always seems to have a warm spell to it as well… I’m not saying anything but is winter over?

See you in the summer!

In a recent tourist survey carried out by ORC International, it was found that Americans know very little about Canada (only 29% knew what city is the capital of Canada.)

So in the spirit of education and enlightenment, here are the answers to questions our American guests ask us most frequently:      

1) Do we have to have Canadian money while in Vancouver?

Yes. We have Canadian currency, which at the moment is worth a little more than U.S. currency. So yes, it’s a good idea to have some Canadian walking around money. You can charge most things on your credit card.

2) If we use our U.S. credit card in Vancouver how will we get charged?

The U.S. bank that holds your credit card will charge you according to the rate of exchange on the date of the transaction. The bank will do the conversion and you will be charged in U.S. dollars.

3) When we arrive at the airport, how will we get to the Manor?

Vancouver is a big city of over 2 million people. There are lots of taxis at the airport. They are all bonded and they all have meters. It’s about a 20 minute drive from the Vancouver International Airport to the Manor Guest House.

4) Can we use our cell phones in Canada?

Yes, you can, but roaming charges may apply. Check with your service provider. At the Manor Guest House we do offer free local and long distance calls anywhere to the U.S. or Canada, so if your service provider will ding you, we won’t.

5) If we’re coming to Vancouver for a long weekend, will we have enough time to visit Banff?

It may look close on the map, but Banff is actually about 850 miles away.

6) We’re coming to Vancouver in July. Will it be cold?

Vancouver is in the Pacific Northwest, 150 miles north of Seattle, so we have pretty much the same weather as they do.  We have a temperate climate. Days in the summer are generally warm, not humid, (75 degrees) and it gets cooler in the evening, so it’s always advisable to bring a sweater or a jacket. It will not be cold. You’re also not likely to swelter.

7) Do we have to bring an electrical currency converter to Vancouver?

No. All your appliances will work here. We’re on the same wavelength.

We learned French in school. Will we get a chance to practice in Vancouver?

The short answer is, unlikely. Although both English and French are the official languages of Canada, French is not spoken much beyond the province of Quebec where you find the cities of Montreal and Quebec City. But you’ll be able to read French on anything you can find that has packaging. And if you really are dying to speak, ask for Brenda who’s the general manager of the Manor Guest House. She’s from Montreal and she’d love to speak French with you.

9) Will we get to see the Queen of England?

It’s true that Vancouver is in the province (not providence) of BRITISH Columbia. But that’s just the name of our province. The Queen lives in England. We have extended an invitation to Her Majesty to stay at the Manor. We’re waiting to hear.

And by the way, the capital city of Canada is Ottawa.

As we head into summer bookings at the Manor Guest House we’ve noticed this to be particularly true for families with children, 3 generations and extended families travelling together. Our one and 2 bedroom furnished suites are very much in demand because they are reasonably priced and come with great kitchens – all the comforts of home.

People are also telling us that Vancouver is a wonderful city for family holidays because there really is something for everyone, and it’s also a major point of departure for Alaska cruises, or travel to other parts of British Columbia.

We’re so pleased that the Manor Guest House can be part of this new trend.

Located right in the heart of the city of Vancouver under the Granville Street Bridge, Granville Island offers something for everyone. Perhaps it is best known for its large, enclosed Public Market (great activity for rainy days). Prepare to have your senses stimulated at the sights and smells of a huge variety of glorious food, from artistic presentations of fruits and vegetables, to cheeses, fish, meats, breads and pastries, and soups to international choices in the food court, which accurately reflect Vancouver’s proud multi-cultural makeup.

There are also many artisans in the market who sell homemade foods and unique handicrafts – no big box stores on Granville Island.
Outside the Public Market but still on Granville Island you can find a community of craft studios such as jewellers, art galleries, glassblowing studio, a sake maker, B.C. Potters’ Guild Gallery, and a woodworking studio, a boutique hotel,a water park for children,  and a university,  to name just a few.

Then there are 2 major theatres, a marina where you can rent a boat, anchor your own, or just watch the action, a brew pub, a wine store, and fine restaurants.

And almost any time you visit Granville Island, you’re likely to catch a free performances of some very high quality entertainment. Buskers (licensed) are a main attraction and include magicians, musicians, and jugglers. Perhaps best of all, there’s sitting outside on a sunny day and just watching the world go by.

Granville Island is really easy to get to. It’s a nice walk from downtown or from the Manor Guest House. There are also the False Creek Ferries and the Aquabus that provide ferry service from downtown Vancouver, the west end and Kitsilano.
Word of caution: when you go to Granville Island, be prepared to be wowed.

Truth to tell, we were concerned that it would turn people off. We needn’t have worried.

As it turned out, guests loved the variety of our buffet breakfasts and constantly ask us for recipes.  And the odd thing was that in 18 years only one person commented to us on the absence of meat, and it was not in the nature of a complaint. So we quietly continued with our meatless ways.

In the course of time it became very natural for us to cater to vegans, or to people with special dietary needs, such as grain free, gluten free, dairy free  or nut free food. We also discovered that once observant Jews and Moslems discovered we were vegetarian, they were more comfortable choosing us as a Vancouver bed and breakfast because they didn’t have to be concerned with meat that was unacceptable to them.

Another of our breakfast policies that I kept secret was that we offer low fat options. As a somewhat fanatic weight watcher myself, I felt that I couldn’t in good conscience offer people what I wouldn’t choose myself, namely dishes made with heavy cream sauces, such as Eggs Benedict, which are standard fare at many bed and breakfasts.  I was afraid that if I made this policy public, people would avoid us because they might think our breakfasts might be skimpy and unappetizing.

I am also a food vigilante and I read labels, so that I stay away from foods that have additives and preservatives. What happens is that I end up making just about everything from scratch – which is exactly what we do at the Manor. So to please everyone, (including me) we offer a buffet with richer food choices as well as low fat choices such as fresh fruit salad, low fat, probiotic yogurts, and breads and muffins made with whole grains. And David, our very own Red Seal chef, dazzles with his creative brilliance.

How times have changed! We no longer have to keep our food policies secret. We are proud to say that we are the only vegetarian bed and breakfast in Vancouver! Always keen gardeners, as time went on it became “natural” for us to grow our own vegetables and herbs. Our produce is organic: we don’t use pesticides or chemical fertilizers. We can honestly say that we offer healthy choices.