Clair’s Bed and Breakfast and Greek Night in Ladner

Sometimes I get seriously behind in blogging and this Ladner post is so very long overdue, but luckily for us, it’s almost timeless and everything I experienced in Ladner this winter is still readily available. Perhaps it’s an even better time of year to visit now it’s warmer out and all the flowers are in bloom.

Husband Michael often works on weekends and hey, we also need he occasional break from each other; what married couple doesn’t? So luckily one of my besties, Tess, is an awesome +1 and is very fond of weekend getaways (check out our last one on Bowen Island). We’d met Clair Oates who owns Clair’s Bed and Breakfast in Ladner thought our friends from Jeweliette Jewelry store, and we’d heard very good things about her award-winning B and B.  When she invited me out I was super thrilled! Clair is absolutely charming and full of entertaining stories, so be sure to allow some time to chat with her over your delish breakfast and you’ll learn a few things for certain.

Clair’s Bed and Breakfast is located at 48th & Bridge in Ladner/Delta, just a half an hour drive from our home, the perfect distance for a leisurely weekend escape and there’s no border to cross! Here you’ll find six rooms, all decorated differently, with a distinctly historical undertone. I stayed in the Amethyst Suite ($255/night), which is adorned with a  pine canopy bed, antique wardrobe & dresser and has a separate “salon” where you can light up the fireplace, read a book or watch some TV in comfortable chairs. The bathroom has an antique claw foot tub and I indulged in a bubble bath before bed. An added bonus is the free wifi throughout the house, and there’s other rooms downstairs that you are welcome to lounge in. 

We arrived in the late afternoon and decided to explore the charming neighbourhood before dinner, stopping in at Stir Coffee House for coffee, such a tasty spot, and finding a few other gems as well. If you’re looking for women’s clothing, South Coast Casuals is worth a visit, Vinca’s Kitchen is chock-full of culinary tools and Muddy River Landing has lots of Ladner swag and items such as our favourite wooden boards by Bowyer and Toulson.

Hygge Bath was another cool shop, with lots of locally-made beauty products and a soap refill station, and The Flower Shop in the Village has gorgeous flowers and gifts.

For dinner we went with Greek, and Taverna Gorgona served up a great meal which we enjoyed with a couple other friends who live in the area. We loved the tarama, the feta-topped greek salad and the calamari was just the way I like it, un-breaded and full of lemon and garlic. We rounded things out with a flavouful spinach pie, prawns saganaki, tiger prawns smothered in garlicky tomato sauce and topped with feta and ended our meal by sharing some ekmek,  phyllo pastry layered with custard and whipped cream, so very good.

After a great night’s sleep we were greeted by Clair with a delightful breakfast; yogurt with granola and berries topped with cream and a beautiful crab and shrimp benny, complete with a beet swirl and sunflower sprouts. Coffee and conversation flowed freely and we got a chance to get to know Clair, a true hostess who knows how to make her guests feel at home. She’s even got some guests that stay weeks at a time and still manages to serve them up innovative, ever-changing breakfasts every day.

 

Waving goodbye to Clair we took a drive out to Keith’s Produce where we picked up some farm-fresh eggs and were tempted by the fruit-filled jams, and contemplated a wine tasting at the nearby wine Angel Estate Winery,  but decided we had better get on the road on the way home. 

Here’s Clair’s Bed and Breakfast when the flowers are blooming, it’s truly a special place to stay. We’ll be back on sunnier days when sunglasses are necessary! Jimmy Choo’s by Smart Buy Sunglasses, many more available here.