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Every year Outside Magazine runs a feature on top 50 best small towns to live in USA. If they did same survey for Canada, Thunder Bay, Ontario, on western end of Lake Superior, would get my vote for one of top ten best Canadian places to live.

Although Thunder Bay is no longer main grain shipping port for interior hinterlands of Ontario and prairie provinces, world’s largest grain elevators still stand as testament to power of agriculture, with wheat, oats, and barley freighted across Lake Superior by mammoth ships and around world.

Thunder Bay is a relatively new city in Canada, built on namesake of Port Arthur and Port William, merging together as one cosmopolitan unit in 1970s. The city now is a tourism draw and a center for small business and light industry. They even have their own Casino, a charity casino with profits shifted to national government. The Casino offers slots and table games of Blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, Let It Ride, Spanish 21, Texas Hold 'Em, and Roulette.

The most historic place to hang your hat while in town is Prince Arthur Hotel, which was originally conceived in a 1908 poker game. While traveling to Winnipeg and back, John James Carrick, mayor of Port Arthur, and Sir William Mackenzie, president of Canadian Northern Railway, together with Sir Donald Mann, were playing poker in Sir William’s and Sir Donald’s private rail car. In small hours of morning J. J. told Sir William that Port Arthur needed a good hotel and that C.N.R. should build one. Without any authority from city council, J.J. added that town had an ideal location for hotel (the existing site overlooking waterfront) and was prepared to turn it over to C.N.R. When Sir William showed an interest J. J. said that hotel would cost about a quarter of a million dollars to build. Sir William agreed.

The following year (after city council had agreed to proposal and passed necessary by-law), construction began on a four story hotel under architectural supervision of Warren and Wetmore of New York City. To quote from Mr. J. D. Matheson of firm, “The probability is that entire exterior of magnificent building will be of Simpson Isle or Isle Royal sandstone.” The hotel was open for travelers on March 14, 1911, and was one of best furnished and appointed hotels on North American continent. The hotel even had hot and cold running water! (Rates were $1.50 without bath and $2.00 with bath per day.) In April 1912, an addition was started and completed in 1914. The hotel cost more than original estimate envisioned by J. J., coming in at about $850,000. The two story rotunda still exists. The original bedrooms were twenty feet long with an outside living room. The first three floors still are decked with original mahogany, with upper floors hewn weathered oak. The original dining room wass approached from rotunda by way of a marble staircase. Now Portside Restaurant is hotel's major dining area.

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What would Beverly Hills be without a fabulous French hotel?

Four and a half years ago (1999) French chain Le Meridien took over Asian-style Nikko, near corner of La Cienega and Burton Way in a most fashionable section of Los Angeles.

Fifteen million dollars later—voila!—Le Meridien at Beverly Hills.

Upon entering lobby, one is enveloped in an atmosphere of fresh, open, comfortable luxe. Marble tile floors color of sun-washed stone extend to reservation desk, a concierge desk, a business center, Café Noir Bar & Lounge, and guest elevators. Ficus trees, potted white chrysanthemums, and a gurgling atrium fountain are centered among cozy couch and coffee table arrangements, as if you were entering an Architectural Digest living room you can call your own.

At reception desk I'm told, "The computers have been down since Friday, so we're going to do this old-fashioned way." The woman speaking has a welcoming smile as she presents paper and pen. "It won't take long." And indeed, when one is greeted with such natural honesty who cares about computers?

Later, Director of Operations Kurt Wiksten says, "At least you'll get an honest, truthful response from us. We're not perfect, but we'll do what we can to make your stay comfortable."

My Junior Suite is everything one would expect. The room is spacious, peach, with blond woods and a chaise longue in addition to queen-sized bed. Linens are top-of-the line and bathroom is oversized and high-tech. There is a deep soaking tub and separate roomy tiled shower, plus bathrobe and slippers. The technology doesn't overpower design, and though this is still a bedroom, you're comfortable with all business amenities available.

All guestrooms have double-edged executive desks, high-speed wireless internet access, personal "walk around" phones, a phone in bathroom, a fax/printer/copier machine, CD/video players, and a bedside control unit programmed in six languages. This is Beverly Hills, after all, where world meets to wheel and deal.

Le Meridien at Beverly Hills, where, according to literature, "European luxury meets L.A. style" has 197 oversized guestrooms, including 54 suites, all designed for a wide variety of personal and business needs.

Other amenities found in all rooms include tea and coffee making items, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, minibar, satellite television, and international direct dial telephone. You can have a free nightly shoe shine and in morning LA Times is outside your door. There are rooms with handicapped capabilities and telephone for use by deaf. Voicemail you check easily yourself is standard on your telephone.

Oui, this is a class hotel, but without any pretense or arrogance. Oui, décor is first-class, amenities abundant, food exquisite and ambiance relaxing, but it's people who make Le Meridien Beverly Hills such a special hotel.

The concierge desk is rarely idle. Here guests can take advantage of a variety of services. From 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., besides driving instructions and car rental, concierge on duty often arranges limo service, gift baskets and flowers, airline and show tickets. Concierge Michelle, originally from London, points to an award on wall and says in her lilting accent, "This is an international award that we're very proud of."

The plaque reads "Resort & Great Hotels Connoisseur's Choice 2002 AWARD to Le Meridien at Beverly Hills."

What was her most unusual request? Michelle pauses, then relates an event that happened during a video conference at LA Convention Center. "A man in Presidential Suite wanted an Xman 2000 game installed in his room." When she found a company to complete it in three hours, he rented it.