With North Vancouver’s rich history, skyline views and opportune locale the Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier is the place to be when visiting Van City.
However, I didn’t see it that way initially. Before hopping on a plane to the “City of Glass,” I peeked at a map and openly admit I was a bit disappointed I was not staying in the heart of downtown. In other words, I expected to be out of the loop and disconnected from all that I imagined was Vancouver.
I’m happy to report that I was dead wrong.
North Vancouver, just minutes from downtown, captures the pulse of the city, but in a different way than the core area does. With its quaint shops, hip neighborhoods and eateries and stunning views, North Vancouver provided everything we were looking for and did not expect. In the heart of it all was the perfectly placed Pinnacle.
Upon our arrival my girlfriend and I were warmly welcomed by the staff. The Pinnacle takes service seriously and was always one step ahead of our expectations. With as many questions as I like to ask they never waivered and answered them all.
As for accommodations, everything about the hotel is contemporary and convenient. Rooms have either a harbor or mountain view, marble and granite finishes, king-size beds, stylish furniture and generous windows that open to the fresh mountain and sea air. Instead of a fridge stocked with overpriced useless items it was available for all the wonderful food we purchased at the local grocery just a block away. I also enjoyed the complimentary newspaper and internet as it still seems surprisingly difficult to find these days.
Better yet, amenities were a plenty including a 25-meter indoor pool (also hard to come by) and gym with daily classes and an award-winning lobby restaurant with excellent food and attentive staff. I highly recommend the steak and/or the duck as they both are mouth-melting morsels of meaty goodness.
When you’re ready to explore outside of the hotel, Pinnacle offers a unique way to see the city in the form of two serious mountain bikes. They were parked outside the lobby for guests to borrow; so we did. A ferry ride, downtown streets, glass skyscrapers, aquarium, waterfront promenade, and Stanley Park were just some of the many sites viewed during our two-wheeled escapade. Being from Orlando I truly appreciated a city that was so biker friendly.
Another memorable venture was a quick trip to Lynn Creek Rainforest. We took a 2-minute walk from the hotel and boarded a bus. This gave us the chance to blend in with the locals, and in less than 15 minutes we were traipsing through the trees, climbing boulders, crossing suspension bridges and enjoying the brilliant shades of green that can only be found in a rain forest. All this, just a few quick minutes from our hotel. It doesn’t get much more satisfying than that!
Facebook: facebook.com/PinnaclePierHotel Twitter: @PinnaclePier
Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier 138 Victory ShipWay North Vancouver, B.C. V7L0B1 604-986-7437
Thanks to the Pinnacle Hotel for sponsoring our stay.