Wednesday, May 7, 2014

The Algonquin Resort: Why St. Andrews-By-the-Sea, New Brunswick should be on your summer destination list!


We had the most marvelous time during our getaway to the Algonquin Resort this past weekend.





While I have always adored the Algonquin and the quaint-safe-old money-resort vibe of St. Andrews itself, the spectacular refurbishment of the Algonquin by the Marriott Group will take the town to a whole new level.

I loved the original photos that lined the hallways!

 The resort had previously been owned by the Province and it was, too put it kindly, tired.  The food was less than stellar, the rooms were well past their best before date.

What a difference.

Every hotel room has been refurbished.  Every window has been replaced.  New patios have been built.  The outdoor pool was completely redone.  An indoor pool was added.


The three story water slide that delivers you back into a tube.  How cool is that?




Katy's Cove waits 5 minutes away for you to take a dip in the ocean


see how far the tide goes out?

(I personally do not recommend doing this till June, but then, I am not hardy!)

On arrival, our King Size bed behind us...



A water view out our window.  Imagine when the trees are green again!
Shots from our friends' suite:








The dinner menu has been overhauled and the food is exquisite.  We had dinner and breakfast at the hotel and found the prices reasonable.



I loved the wallpaper!



Barry's difficult breakfast decision...


Me just finishing multi-grain waffles with lemon curd whipped cream! A little tired after the night before...  

The cocktail bar and dining room are like little chic jewel boxes.





The rest of the hotel awaits its conference and wedding business.

The long foyer with plenty of spots to play a game, sit in front of a fire, read a good book or sip some champagne...





Barry staring at the fire, likely thinking of tickling the ivories...

The long inside porch...
A telescope is set out to watch the stars or the ocean.  And since this is New Brunswick, and hardly anybody lives here, you are going to see stars, and lots of them!



rocking chairs waiting...


The Carleton Rotunda and its water views below..



The staff are friendly and helpful.  When we went to check out on Sunday, we asked if we could see one of the rooms that had a patio and the staff were more than willing to accommodate us.

a nice place to spend an afternoon...


For my American friends, right now the Canadian dollar is worth approximately 10 cents less than your American greenback, so you are getting a 10% discount right from the get-go.

A five minute walk delivers you to the downtown, or to the amazing Kingsbrae Gardens.  Apparently, June and July are fully booked, but come in August and September and bring a warm sweater and take a whale-watching tour from the wharf downtown.  There are other excellent restaurants on Water Street and little nooks and crannies to explore.  When the tide is out (and boy, does it go out in the Bay of Fundy!) you can put on your water shoes and walk out hundreds of feet and explore tidal pools.  There is nothing my kids liked better when they were young to put on their crocs or rubber puts, grab a pail and collect starfish and crabs and oysters, dumping them back when they were done.

The resort has been so good as to provide bikes to help you get there:




On the weekends, a farmer's market sets up downtown and there is often live music to be found.

The Algonquin itself had a wonderful young man playing jazz and light rock on the grand piano outside the dining and cocktail bar till around 8:30.

My favourite haunts downtown are The Leather House for purses, shoes and clothing and Crocker Hill Studio, which is run by an amazing artist, Stephen Smith, and his wife.  Water street has a small grocery store, the town's original drugstore and a liquor store if you forgot anything at home!

We had the best time and Barry and I have already vowed to go back soon and how would this be as a location for a blogging conference or meeting?  We took a few shots as we drove through town on Sunday morning:










Getting out of town for an overnighter was just what the doctor ordered.  And I cannot recommend it enough to the rest of you!  Tell them Wendy sent you!  (And no - the Algonquin has nothing to do with this review, though I wish it did!)

And since this is Wednesday -  A picture of me getting set to go to dinner:



And a bar shot taken by my friend Mike:



So congratulations to the Algonquin Resort!

Have a great day and stay safe out there!

xoxo wendy

63 comments:

  1. What a lovely getaway weekend Wendy and weren't you looking bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and lovely in that navy dinner outfit!

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    1. Thanks GSL! The lighting must have been wonky, as it was my new black brooks brother tee and my black silk skirt! Funny about lighting is so weird! When I looked I could definitely see why you thought it was navy!

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  2. Oh my gosh Wendy, I am IN, girl, the minute you start planning a bloggers conference. You look happy, refreshed, and gorgeous and the Algonquin looks pretty much the same! :-) So glad you and handsome Barry had fun and told us all about it!!!!

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    1. Thank you very much for staying with us Wendy. So glad you like the new look and that yo enjoyed your visit. Your photos are fabulous, you really tell our story. Come back in the summer for a dip in Katy's Cove.
      Denise Bradbury

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    2. Thanks Denise! You have an amazing spot and I can't wait to come back and sip champagne on the porch in one of those rockers!

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  4. Thanks for sharing all these photos. Sounds like you had a fabulous time - you look gorgeous!! Your skin is positively glowing.

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    1. High praise from you! It could have been all the red wine....

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  5. You look lovely. What a swish spot! I'll be putting that on the bucket list for sure! (We will be making it out to PEI this summer but to a less posh type of spot that will accommodate the herd!

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    1. When you come through let me know! You have to drive through here to get to there and would love to have you for dinner or lunch or wine in the backyard!

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  6. Oh Wendy, that looks like my kind of place!! Fabulous. I love places with history and it's such a gorgeous spot. On my bucket list now too!! You look so relaxed and happy!! Cheers my friend. xo

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    1. Jennifer - it is most definitely YOUR kind of place! They would bow down to you!

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  7. Great post, Wendy! I love the Algonquin and I'm glad that you do, too! The attention to detail is terrific, isn't it? I'm looking forward to showing it off to anyone who comes our way!

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    1. Honestly, I need to become a published and rich writer Heather and just move into there for the summer! I am crazy in love with all the changes!

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    2. Writer in residence (hotels do these things.)

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    3. well if I can get published, Tim may jump on it, since my book(s) are set I the area!

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    4. I have appalling tales tales to tell of writers in residence!

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    5. Oooooh! I hope to create appalling tales in my future!

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    6. One word: groupies!

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    7. Well I won't consider you a groupie so much as part of the entourage - you can curl up in the corner with the bourbon and hold court!

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  8. I am going to the Algonquin next week! Can't wait. Happy to see they have a pool and bikes to rent. Thanks for the tour!

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    1. Barb - you will love, love, love it! I almost want to go right back with you! Take a nice warm sweater so you can sit out on the porch in the evening with a drink!

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  9. Wow! I love the look of it! That wallpaper in the dining room!
    It looks amazing. You and Dani are doing a fantastic marketing job for Canada and its hotels!
    You look fabulous too - hotel life suits you!
    If you do hold a blogger conference I'd love to come, although I fear the $$$ for the airfare might be prohibitive...

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    1. Ruth, I think hotel life does suit me! Plus I haven't taken many pictures lately! You would have to get Canada Tourism to fund you so you could write your piece for the Aussies!

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  10. You captured the weekend splendidly Wendy. It was just as you have described and I for one would go back in a heartbeat!

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  11. Thank you for the wonderful review - it looks gorgeous. Good to know about the renovation. We cannot decide what to do in August for a family trip - I now need to add this destination to the list of places worth considering.

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    1. Julie - you would love it! And if you go, let me know - I can send you a lot of information (such as taking the kids to the chocolate museum 10 minutes down the road in my old stomping grounds) and I would even drive down to have a cup o'tea with you!

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  12. Looks so nice and that water slide is right up my alley! Your hair really suits you by the wat.

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  13. I want to go there, I can see that as a spot for the summer hols. Maybe I should rethink shack-by-the-sea, after all the restaurant there will be run by a staff of one and that would be me!
    You are looking gorgeous and I think your hair so suits you, it really shows off the beautiful shape of your face.

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    1. Thanks Dani! I want you to go there as well!!!!!

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    2. Iam laughing, you are so right Dani, we would get you a white frilly cap.

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    3. Yes, unless you have Tabs there as scullery maid (don't count on her for the cooking - I'll come for that, but then you'd be all done with fish and nuts! ;-)

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  14. Hi Wendy, glad you enjoyed your weekend, the Algonquin looks well worth a visit. You look especially pretty in your dinner outfit!

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    1. Patricia - St. Andrews will only be 10 hours from you soon enough....

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  15. Lovely photos of you Wendy. This looks such a beautiful old hotel with all the modern comforts.

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  16. Fine, I will be up to visit when the blogorama fest is all planned...let me know;). You do look like you're having quite a time.

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    1. Ha! And they had no snow there! I have a small sliver of snow in my backyard...

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  17. Wendy this explains the radio silence but we will forgive. This place looks wonderful. It's so nice to get away! Even when I have free time or a day off, I can't relax since there is always work to do. I am way overdue for a vacay! Oh and love the hair! It suits you.

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  18. HOTEL UNCALIFORNIA Blue Booby has called it, bring on Blogorama - 2015? Between you and DaniBP are doing Canada's historic hotels bi-coastally proud this week. Feeling like I might have to pop along to the Frontenac AND then try to come up with piccies and a blog post ;-) You and BtheB do look relaxed and happy.

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    1. You know I have never stayed at the Frontenac??? I must do that this year! I've stayed at almost all other ones!

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  19. Looks lovely! Alas, as I live on the other side of the continent, a visit is unlikely. Still, you look relaxed and rested, and it sounds like you had a marvelous time. The hotel has some beautiful features!

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  20. Wendy this looks just fantastic! I'm envious - I certainly need something like this!

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    1. There is something about a getaway at the end of a long winter that cleanses the soul!

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  21. It does look like a perfect spot for a blog fest. They did such a lovely job refurbishing an old beauty. Looks like you and your group enjoyed a really great getaway. You and your photos should be hired to do publicity as you make the hotel seem so inviting. So glad you had a chance to relax and have fun.

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    1. Ha! Yes, I would LOVE to be the International Ambassador for the Algonquin Hotel!

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  22. Great pics, Wendy! Looks like you all had lots of fun!

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  23. What a lovely place, in my bucket list for sure. I am also loving your short do. You look radiant and sophisticated in your monochromatic black outfit. Barry looks very presidential, ruminating whether to strike or not to strike .... brioche or croissants, ha.

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  24. Look at those photos of you and Barry-- you are radiant and relaxed at this beautiful place. How much of a drive from here? Off to Google. That's quite a tide. I love hotels that care for you; assume you had a bathrobe there,too.

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    1. HI Lane - you are close! I believe you would be 4 hours to Calais and then 15 minutes further from there.

      Beautiful bathrobe! The tides are the highest in the world - it is amazing to see them come in and out!

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  25. You packed that pillowcase for me didn't you?

    You look so slender and chic in that navy/black dress, great look.

    I should swap our St Andrews for yours!

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    1. I think you would definitely prefer ours! Yes A for Awesome!

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  26. It looks beautiful up there and (if my mapping is correct) right over the border!
    Two weeks ago I came this close to driving up to Montreal with the girls. I think it's time for me to admit that, despite my proximity, I have never been to Canada. It is a situation I simply must correct immediately.

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    1. well come to new Brunswick first! We are even closer for you!!! You would love St. Andrews - very similar to Ogunquit and Kennebunport, but not so busy and so much to do!

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  27. What a beautiful place, the views look fabulous too.

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