Home USA Globetrotting North America

Visiting New Brunswick, Canada's Algonquin Hotel
Rate it! Votes (1) | Comments (1) By Cheri Sicard Photos: Cheri Sicard Posted August 6th, 2007 FabulousFoods.com Recommends: Lonely Planet Canada's Maritime Provinces, by David Stanley, (2002, Lonely Planet Publications)	Lonely Planet Canada's Maritime Provinces

Editor's Note: Since this article was written, the Algonquin has been taken over by Fairmont Hotels.  Chef Willie White is no longer with the Algonquin either.  If anyone has more recent experiences, please post them to the comment blogs below.

ST. ANDREWS BY-THE-SEA, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA - Staying in a grand old hotel is a special experience. Perhaps it's the tangible aura of history that lingers in the air. Or maybe it's realizing that this is as close as you'll be able to come to experiencing the grandeur of a by-gone era. Perhaps it's nothing more than luxuriating in superb service and first class accommodations. Regardless of the reason, I love staying in historic old properties and do so whenever possible.

New Brunswick's Algonquin Hotel, in the quaint little town of St. Andrews by-the-sea, is a must stop destination for anyone who, like me, loves these "Grand Old Dames" of hotels. The Algonquin is reminiscent of some of my other favorite old hotels such as San Diego, California's Hotel Del Coronado or Estes Park, Colorado's Stanley.

Honored as Canada's 1991 Resort Of The year, everything about the Algonquin is first class, from the spacious rooms to the excellent service to the outstanding cuisine.

Extensive renovations (and a new addition) have added modern convenience and luxury to the hotel's historic ambiance. Included is a full gym, indoor swimming pool, hot tubs and saunas.

Originally opened in 1889, the sprawling wooden hotel is perched on a hilltop overlooking one of the most gorgeous views in all the Maritime Provinces. The rooftop gazebo is the perfect romantic spot to gaze at boats sailing on the nearby Passamoquoddy Bay or to scope out the charming village of St. Andrews -- both in easy walking distance of the hotel.

Each of the rooms in the hotel's original building is slightly different. What the rooms have in common, however, is spaciousness, lots of amenities and an old world charm that is lacking in so many more modern hotels. There happened to be an antique car touring club staying at the Algonquin at the same time I was. The rows of vintage automobiles parked in front of the grand old hotel added to the illusion that I was truly in a time warp.

Spooky Splendor
Another part of the charm of an old hotel is that they tend to be just a little bit spooky. You always have the feeling that there must be ghosts lurking about. The Algonquin doesn't disappoint on this count either, although the hotel's ghosts don't seem to be all that interuptive.

The majority of ghostly activity seems to come from an area of the hotel that is no longer used, a tower which was formerly an employee lodging. Lights have been seen in this section of the hotel which remains locked and un-occupied at all times.

Stephen King stayed at the Algonquin, early in his career. Algonquin personnel claim that their property, along with Colorado's Stanley Hotel, were the inspiration for his novel The Shining. I can understand why as the hotel physically looks like what I imagined the Overlook Hotel in The Shining to look like. Needless to say, my stay was a lot more peaceful.

First Class Cuisine
While the Algonquin has a lot to offer, by far one of the best things is its cuisine. Executive chef Willie White, a native of Scotland, is making Canadian Maritime Regional Cuisine a force to be reckoned with.

White is involved in all aspects of the dining experience at the Algonquin. We even spotted him in front of the hotel picking flowers to decorate the evening's dinner table. The meal he and his assistants prepared was one of the best I'd had in years! From the roasted banana squash soup to a Maritime seafood medley, to the truly spectacular maple mousse tower dessert (photo at left), the food alone was worth the trip to New Brunswick.

Other Activities
There's lots to do in close proximity to the Algonquin, so even though you're in a small town, there's no chance of being bored. First class golf is nearby, as are all kinds of day adventures: kayaking, horse-back riding, sailing, hiking, cycling, fishing, rappelling and canoeing to name just a few.

If you're less inclined to be active, how about a cruise on an authentic tall ship, or a ride on a zodiac boat to spot some migrating whales? History buffs will enjoy exploring King's Landing Historical Settlement or other local historical attractions.

New Brunswick has so much to offer and the Algonquin makes a wonderful base from which to explore. The Algonquin is an easy day's drive from Boston or Montreal and a mere three hour drive from Bangor, Maine. A day's train ride will get you there from Toronto. The nearest airport is located about an hour away in historic Saint John, New Brunswick.

Algonquin Changes Written by: Cheri Sicard Wednesday, 30 July 2008

Since this article was written, the Algonquin has been taken over by Fairmont Hotels -- it used to be a Canadian Pacific Hotel.  Chef Willie White is no longer with the Algonquin either.  I have not visited since these change took place -- this article was one of my first travel pieces in the late 90s.  If anyone has more recent experiences, please post them here and let us all know.  The Algonquin was a fabulous old hotel and it appears that the Fairmont people are keeping up the good work, but a first hand account from someone who has visited recently would be nice.  Talk to us! (please)

You must be a registered member to leave a comment. So why not sign up now?