ALGONQUIN HOTEL

THE ALGONQUIN HOTEL

I don’t usually write about hotels unless they are really unique in some way. Growing up in Maine, I always looked upon the Algonquin as elegant and always had a desire to stay there. Many decades later I had my chance when returning from Nova Scotia, Canada.

We arrived at St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, Canada just before lunchtime. I was breathless as I viewed the Algonquin Hotel perched on the hilltop overlooking Passamaquoddy Bay. Driving up to the front door we were greeted by a young doorman wearing kilts. (I happen to love kilts.)

            The Tudor style hotel with Victorian era elegance and manicured grounds was built in 1889 and speaks of gentility and grace.

Literature explained that the original hotel burned in 1914 but was rebuilt the next year following the original architectural plans. Salt water from Passamaquoddy Bay was pumped into tubs for therapeutic and cure-all baths, and in the early 1900s people flocked to Canada’s first seaside resort. The hotel’s original bathtubs had four faucets, two for regular water and two for salt water.

            Over the years the Algonquin added a second building across the street from the main hotel. To keep up with modern times the hotel now caters and serves the average man instead of only the wealthy elite. Throughout the day there were several programs and activities for children.

            From a local docent we learned that Loyalists established the historic fishing village of St. Andrews in 1783. The small seaside village has a present population of about 3000. When the King’s surveyor laid out the town he plotted 60 even square blocks. King Street runs from the wharf up the center of town to the top of the hill. It’s the steepest hill to walk, although not strenuous. By following the waterfront south 4-5 blocks before turning east the hill almost disappears and you can walk tree-lined streets of well kept old homes with manicured yards.   Many of the homes in town came by barge from Castine, Maine years ago when loyalists fled to Canada.

            The court house and jail date to 1840 and the Greenoch Presbyterian Church to 1824.

We reached the Kingsbrae Gardens at the head of King Street where we had chosen to have lunch. It was a beautiful day so we opted to eat on the patio. Service was slow but it was a busy time of day. We finally flagged down a waitress and placed our order. We didn’t mind and enjoyed a lovely leisurely lunch.

Reading the brochure we learned it took two years to build the 27-acre gardens on the grounds of several old estates. They opened to the public in 1998. The gardens were created incorporating the use of mature cedar hedges, flowerbeds, and old-growth forests. There were ponds and streams, a maze and a labyrinth, a windmill, woodland trails, butterfly garden, sight impaired garden, perennial garden, heath and heather garden, rose garden, cottage garden, wild flower garden, secret garden and more.

We found the beautiful heather garden all in bloom. We walked both the maze and labyrinth. After touring the flowering gardens we took a path through the woods where it was incredibly quiet. We read interpretative signs along the way and even stopped to rest and contemplate for a bit. It was truly a delightful place to visit and nice way to spend an afternoon.

More about this quaint little Canadian town in another post.