The city of Vancouver is located on the Pacific coast of Canada. It must not be confused with Vancouver Island, another lovely destination on the west coast. Bordered by the Rocky Mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, the location is spectacular. There is much to do for the urban sightseer and for those who are interested in nature. Knowing that we would be returning in the fall, this past June I decided to concentrate on visiting the city highlights. For my second trip, in September, I concentrated on hiking possibilities in and around Vancouver that did not require long distance travel.
Cost Of Visiting Reasonable
Currency The Canadian dollar
Location West coast of Canada
Measures The metric system is used throughout Canada. This means 100 kilometers equals 60 miles, and -18 Centigrade equals 0 Fahrenheit.
Transportation Vancouver is serviced by many major airlines. I got around town easily with public transportation: bus and Skytrain (subway), and also by taxi and rental car. Vancouver is also the terminal for some cruise ship lines. This terminal is centrally located downtown, allowing visitors access to the North Shore and its many tourist attractions.
Day Hikes
On our second trip to Vancouver, I decided to explore the possibility of day hikes within an easy commute from downtown Vancouver. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could hike everyday without having to travel long distances.
Grouse Mountain was the furthest destination, from the Seabus Terminal on the North Coast; it took me about 20 minutes by local bus. Once I arrived, I had two options: the Skyride to the top or The Grind. This is a hiking trail to the top of the mountain also commonly known as “nature’s Stairmaster.” It took me one hour and 27 minutes to reach the top, with stops on the way up. This hike is not for the faint of heart! The hike took me, up to the end destination of the Skyride, to breathtaking views. There are some pleasant trails on the top of the mountain as well as a restaurant and snack bar. Since it was not possible to yoke back down tThe Grind, I reated myself to a one way return ride down the ‘Skyride’ wich costme $5 CanadiancdI dedicated a full day to enjoying the beauty of this location. This trail is considered moderate to challenging.
Closer to the city, but on the same bus route, is the Capilano Regional Park . The park has an extensive network of trails that go past giant cedar trees, a fish hatchery, through Capilano Canyon to the Cleveland Dam and the beautiful Capilano River. These trails are considered easy to moderate. As no restaurants were nearby when I was there, I was happy that I had packed a light lunch.
Burnaby Lake is situated in the suburb of Burnaby with easy access by Skytrain from downtown Vancouver. The largest lake in the lower mainland, Burnaby Lake, has a rich ecology and is home to many species including ducks, geese and beavers. The lake also has a 10 kilometer hiking path that loops around the entire park area. This is an easy hike with little to no elevation.
Stanley Park, adjacent to downtown Vancouver near the harbour front, this park has many hiking and cycling paths. Trail maps were available at several tourist points in the park, and.bBcycle rentals were available at the entrance of the park for a nominal fee. There was also a chip and putt 9 hole golf course. A walk along the sea wall offered many scenic views of English Bby and the inner harbour.
Day trip north of Vancouver We rented a car to visit the British Columbia Museum of Mining. This indoor and outdoor museum is located at Britannia Beach on Highway 99 towards Whistler, 45 minutes from Vancouver and, 52kilometers (32 miles) on the Sea-to-Sky’ oute. We chose a sunny morning and drove along the coast. The Britannia copper mine was used continuously from 1904 to 1974. After it’s closure, the mine was named a historical landmark and haened to the public. Our tour took us through an underground tunnel dating from 1912 where, we were ble to pan for gold and we saw watdemoations on the various mining techniques. The mill wasis still in t proceed and so we had to hard hats. On our return drive to Vancouver we stopped at Shannon Falls. Located along the sSea to sSky highwy near Squamish, BC., SBritish Columbia, Shannon alslare the third highest waterfs in therovince. This park is directly adjacent to Highway 99, making it a popular day-use park. The park provides picnicking, hiking and access to the trail in Stawamus Chief Provincial Park . Thanks to the We had a warm sunny day and syed hiking some ohorter and, easyier t rails.
Reviewers Article by Andrea de Gosztonyi-McRae and Doug McRae
Photos by Andrea de Gosztonyi-McRae
Would You Visit Again? Yes