 PUBLISHERS NOTESNorthwest Travel is an international publication, showing off the Pacific Northwest as a single destination without regard to the border between Canada and the United States. Our readers come from both sides and we reveal the secrets of having fun while traveling in both countries.
Winston Churchill remarked that Britain and America were two nations divided by a common language. Canada and the United States are divided by a common currency, the dollar, which means different things in each country. The Canadian dollar is known as the “loonie,” in reference to the common loon whose image graces the $1 coin. The two-dollar Canadian coin is known as the “toonie,” a tribute I think to Canadians’ ability to appreciate a good joke when given the chance.
For decades, a loonie was worth less than a US dollar, but in 2008 it actually broke par and became worth more. The financial crisis then drove it sharply down for a while, but as I write this, the loonie and greenback are virtually equal.
Although British Columbia is no longer bargain priced for Americans, it certainly has many draws. Nature is always on display in B.C. and you don’t need to go far to find it. Enormous infrastructure improvements were built so that Whistler could host the Winter Olympics, and visitors can now enjoy them without the crowds.
And of course, there’s the international culture. Go to Victoria and you’ll find a piece of Olde England. To experience the culture of China, you can get a passport, book a flight, cross the Pacific, and visit China. Of you can save a bundle and visit Richmond.
For Canadians, the United States has become much more affordable in the past 12 months, and the hospitality industry on the southern side is actively promoting that message. You may notice in this issue an unusually large number of ads from Washington destinations. Clearly they realize the importance of the many Canadians who read Northwest Travel. Canadians have always been welcome and never more than now.
Oregon has its own special appeal. The people are friendly, the scenery is magnificent, there’s no sales tax, and it’s a law that somebody else has to pump gas into your car. Readers who travel through Idaho and into Montana can take part in the 100th anniversary celebrations at Glacier National Park. For Canadians and Americans alike, there’s no end to places to go and things to do in the Pacific Northwest, and in two months, we’ll bring you more. Stay tuned.
—Rob Spooner
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Horseback Riding at Glacier.
Wildflowers at Stanley, Idaho.
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