O, Canada! The loonie goes crazy

The loonie is a dollar coin with a duck on it, the coin of the realm north of the border.

It pains me to report the loonie has flown past the U.S. dollar in value for the first time in 37 years, meaning Canada isn't the bargain destination for Americans it once was.

But should that stop us from traveling, dining and shopping in Canada? Absolutely not!

Consider this view of Rue Saint Louis in Quebec City: Priceless.

My husband Dale (he's the guy on the right) and I recently returned from Quebec. It was cold, it was rainy, it was expensive. More important, the city was friendly, safe and utterly charming.

Rue Saint Ursule, just a few steps away in the oldest section of North America's only fortress city, is home to Le Saint-Amour, a French restaurant whose cuisine is rivaled only by its romantic ambience. (In the old port section in the lower part of the city, we recommend Toast!, a hip. sophisticated restaurant specializing in foie gras, and Panache, a gorgeous dining destination in Auberge Saint-Antoine, a glorious boutique hotel decorated with artifacts from an archeological dig.)

After a carriage ride around this magnificent city, we tipped our friendly driver with a $20 U.S. bill, having cheerfully spent our loonies elsewhere. "Maybe you should hang onto this," I said, handing him the cash. "American money might be worth something some day."

Here's my advice to you: When you visit a magical place, close your eyes and open your wallet. Don't deprive yourself of a great vacation simply because the Yankee dollar has swooned. Pack your bags and get ready to travel north in 2008 for a visit to celebrate Quebec's 400th -- yes, 400th! -- aniversary.

Look forward to a wonderful experience -- and forget about the exchange rate.