Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Within the sanctuary are many easy walking trails, an observation tower, free birdseed,
and a couple of picnic areas.
Point Roberts
In 1846, when it was agreed that the U.S.-Canada boundary would run along the 49th par-
allel, an exception was made for Vancouver Island, which was retained as a Canadian pos-
session, even though its southern extremity dips well below this latitude. No such excep-
tionwasmadeforPointRoberts,southofTsawwassenandaccessiblebyroadonlythrough
Canada (take 56th Street south from Highway 17and bring yourpassport). Although most
basic services are provided by British Columbia, the small chunk of land is officially part
ofWashingtonState,anda24-hourbordercrossingcontrolsentry.Thepoint'smainattrac-
tions are the beaches, which face the Strait of Georgia to the west and the warm, shallow
waters of Boundary Bay to the east. At the end of the road is a park with picnic tables and
acampgroundoverlookingthewater.MostvisitorsareVancouverlocals,whotakeadvant-
age of not only the point's natural attractions but also cheap liquor at the two huge taverns
(until provincial liquor laws in British Columbia were relaxed, these bars were
especially
popular on Sunday).
Accommodations
Delta is an ideal place to stay if you're planning to get an early-morning jump on the
crowds for the ferry trip over to Vancouver Island or if you're arriving from the United
States and don't feel like tackling city traffic after a long day's drive.
The
Delta Town & Country Inn
(6005 Hwy. 17, 604/946-4404 or 888/777-1266,
www.deltainn.com
,
$109 s or d) is ideally situated and an excellent value. It's at the junc-
tion of Highway 99 and Highway 17, halfway between the airport and the ferry terminal,
but the setting is parklike and quiet, with most of the 49 rooms enjoying views over ex-
tensive gardens and a landscaped pool area. In addition to the large pool, facilities include
tennis courts, a restaurant, and a sports bar. Each of the spacious rooms features comfort-
able beds, a work desk, a high-quality TV, and a coffeemaker.
The closest accommodation to the southern departure point for ferries to Vancouver
Island is the
Coast Tsawwassen Inn
(1665 56th St., 604/943-8221 or 800/716-6199,
www.tsawwasseninn.com
,
$139-169sord),4kilometers (2.5miles) northeast oftheferry
terminal back toward the city along Highway 17 and within walking distance of down-
town Tsawwassen cafés and restaurants. The hotel comprises two separate sections, one
containing 50newlydecorated guestrooms,anindoorandoutdoorpool,afitness center,a
