Canada

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is what it says on the tin: a park built around the famous suspension bridge. And it recently got an addition to its set-up: the Capilano Cliffwalk.

Capilano Suspension Bridge sits just outside of Vancouver. The suspension bridge, which is one of Vancouver’s most famous and most visited attractions, has been around for a while: since 1889. Back then, George Grant Mackay constructed a footbridge, made of hemp rope and planks, to span the canyon and connect the two patches of the forest he had bought on either side of the Capilano River. Quite a feat at that time!

In 1904 the hemp was replaced by wire cables, and the bridge changed owners a few times over the decades, as did the cabin erected right at the edge off the cliff. One of the owners invited First Nations people to place totem poles in the park, and thanks to them the park now hosts one of the largest private collection of First Nations totem poles.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge Park consists of a few elements. Obviously, the bridge itself, but before you even get to it, you walk through the Story Center. Plenty of interpretive displays tell the history of the bridge and the story of the people who owned the land and the bridge and the involvement of the First Nations people. You can opt to take a tour with a guide who, dressed in a period costume, entertains your group with the story of the famous bridge and the people connected to it.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

And then, on to the bridge itself. Try walking straight and completely upright across the total 136 metres of wobbliness that is Capilano Suspension Bridge, and don’t forget to stop once in a while and enjoy the view of the canyon 70 metres below you. With the bridge being such a popular destination, it is likely you will be crossing it with a few others. There is quite a bit of movement up and down, which is especially noticeable if you don’t walk in the middle but on the sides and hold on to the steel cable.

A note for the nervous: there is a little security stand on either side of the bridge, where staff monitor what’s happening on the bridge, plus, the railing is really high, so there’s really nothing to worry about.

Treetops Adventure

On the other side of the bridge awaits the park, with a lot more attractions than most people are aware of. The park features rainforest, beautifully landscaped gardens, ponds, nature trails, wildlife and Treetops Adventure.

Treetops Adventure is basically a boardwalk leading from tree to tree in up to 30m height. It’s an exhilarating and calm experience at the same time, venturing up and out among those old, tall Douglas firs and walking from platform to platform, admiring the sea of green beneath and above you.

Licking a banana slug…, and other creatures of the Pacific Northwest.

Say what?! Back on the ground, it is time to get to know some of the local forest inhabitants, such as the banana slug. Our tour guide kindly picked one up for us and held it out for everyone to admire. Little did we know that she had more in mind with that innocent little creature. Apparently, it is a rite of passage for kids in British Columbia to pick one up and lick it. Why? Because your tongue goes numb! Unfortunately, we didn’t have any takers in our group…

While the banana slug didn’t make any new friends that day, this little guy did for sure. Everyone was really taken with him. I have no idea what his keeper said, that’s how mesmerised I was. He was just so beautiful!

Capilano Cliffwalk

The end of our tour led us to another highlight of the park, which was only added in 2012 – the Capilano Cliffwalk. The cliff walk is built on the side of the cliffs over the Capilano River. A series of platforms, connected by cantilevered walkways, bridges and stairs, leads around the granite precipice. It can definitely get your heart pumping, walking along the narrow walkways and standing on the glass platforms, looking straight past your feet down to the bottom of the canyon!

I had a great few hours at the park, visiting the various attractions. And it has to be said, the gift shop at the entrance/exit is a great place to pick up a useful and stylish souvenir, among which there are many handcrafted items and First Nations art.

Would you do the Cliffwalk? Or rather lick the banana slug?

Disclosure: I visited Capilano Suspension Bridge Park as part of my #WhyYVR competition win. However, all opinions are my own. A big thank you to the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and Tourism Vancouver for their fantastic hospitality.

Last time I was in Vancouver, I indulged in some aerial exploration of this beauty of a city. As you know, I hopped on a helicopter on Grouse Mountain to see what everyone’s oohing and aaaahing about when they talk about the scenery of BC.

Flightseeing is great, and I immediately thought I’d have to do this again soon. Little did I know it would be so soon. My itinerary with the Virgin Atlantic crew was quite a jam-packed one, and although there was nothing on our paper schedule in the form of further aerial pursuits, they managed to put a “surprise” on there.

Well, one evening, just before heading off to the legendary VIP party where I would have a drink with Richard Branson and Cory Monteith, we all assembled in the stylish lobby of the Fairmont Pacific Rim and were told our “surprise” was only a few minutes’ walks away. It all became perfectly clear when we walked down the stairs to the seaplane terminal!

Seaplane flight from Coal Harbour

It was the tiniest airplane I’ve ever been in – until I went skydiving. You couldn’t stand up straight, and the seats were arranged in a 3-2 pattern, i.e., 3 on one side, 2 on the other. Given it’s such a small aircraft, it’s surprising it even fits that constellation!

Of course, we couldn’t take off without the obligatory safety instructions – from the pilot himself, who turned around in his seat and flashed a safety card! And then we were off. Well, it actually took a while until we really took off. A lot of floating around on the water, at increasing speed, and with quite some noise, but it didn’t feel choppy at all. Just the normal sort of movement you would feel in a normal airplane that’s accelerating on the runway.

Once airborne, everything was very smooth. And given such a fine day, I was very happy to have a window seat. Here are some of the shots I took, with my nose glued to the window 🙂

Floatplanes in Coal Harbour, Vancouver

What the daily commute on a floatplane must be like? These floatplanes are parked at the seaport in Coal Harbour, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Would you go flightseeing on a floatplane? Where would you preferably take to the skies to discover a destination from above?

“Pedal and paddle” – mountain biking and canoeing in Whistler, British Columbia. When I saw this activity listed as one of the activities on the itinerary of my recent trip to British Columbia, I couldn’t possibly NOT go for it. Admittedly, the other options for our only morning in Whistler were quite enticing, too (a spa in the mountains, zip lining in Whistler, hiking to Nairn Falls or playing golf, just to mention a few), but having two sporty outdoor activities in one and guilt-tripping myself over lazing about in a spa when I’m in a gorgeous place like Whistler had me choose mountain biking and canoeing almost instantly.

Almost, because I was wondering what level of fitness would be expected; visualizing the mountains I was getting a bit anxious as to what mountain biking in Whistler actually meant…; it’s British Columbia, it’s proper mountains, after all (the Coast Mountain range, to be precise).

Mountain Biking In Whistler

But, to my relief, Whistler Eco Tours were not expecting participants of Olympic calibre. I joined the group behind the Fairmont Chateau Hotel, where our tour guide was already waiting with all the equipment. One after the other, we were fitted with helmets, given our bikes and were briefed on how to adjust our saddles and use our brakes. Obvious, you would think, but apparently which brake controls the front and the back wheels is exactly opposite to how it works in Britain! Who knew! So as to avoid involuntary somersault off the front of our bikes, we all tested our brakes until we felt comfortable, and then headed off through Whistler Village towards the park.

What About Bears?

Of course, most people in the group being from Britain, the topic of bears had to be discussed before we got anywhere near a bush or tree. Our guide told us that sometimes bears could be spotted from the cycle path. But since he took the lead and rode ahead, he would get eaten first warn us in good time so we could take a detour or head back in the opposite direction. That whole discussion made me imagine dirt tracks and wilderness to the extent of having to wrestle tree branches and riding through the thick undergrowth when the route we took was actually quite a comfortable ride through residential streets to start out with, then paved bicycle paths through the woods, the park and around the lake. Still relatively at the start of our bike ride, we took the first stop at the golf course to gather everyone and take a scenic picture break, of which as many as we wanted were to follow. There are lots of golfing to be done in Whistler – it has four (!) championship golf courses.

Canoeing on Alta Lake

Shortly after, we ditched our bikes for canoes. Again, brief and to the point instructions on lifevests, how to paddle, and how to steer. And for the lucky ones like me, how to relax in the middle seat and take pictures. Not that I needed any instructions on that. And out on the lake, we went.

We took an epic tour of Alta Lake, paddling out in the sunshine, with big smiles on our faces. We paddled all across the lake, stopping here and there to take in the views of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains – you could even see the peak-to-peak gondola. The peak-to-peak basically links the summits of the two mountains, and it’s great for skiers and snowboarders as they can travel to the other mountain in just 11 minutes! I’d like to try that on my next trip, snowboarding there in the winter. But back to summer sports: we paddled into the nooks of the lake to watch some wildlife and had a heated debate on what lakeside properties were the most beautiful. It’s a tough choice!

We paddled back to Wayside Park, where we had left our mountain bikes, and devoured the yummy muesli bars our guides distributed. Soon after we hopped back on our bikes and cycled the Valley Trail, heading to our next destination, Rainbow Park, which even has a sandy beach.

Signs of bears

This sign at Rainbow Park is quite encouraging – if you are looking to find bears. Makes it seem like they are regulars. But alas, none to be seen sunbathing on the beach. So after another brief stop to take in the beautiful scenery, we hopped on our bikes to complete our tour and cycle back to the Fairmont. And just when we thought that was as close as we would get to a bear, we saw this:

This cycle path has “I was here” written all over it, in bear writing. Apparently, this is what bear droppings look like. Especially surprising to the German in me; Germans refer to liquorice as “Bärendreck” (bear droppings). There’s your cultural insight for the day 🙂

We completed our tour with a very scenic ride along the golf course with Whistler and Blackcomb mountains in the backdrop.

To be fair, this tour is definitely on the leisure side of things, not the full-on mountain bike fitness challenge, and thus also suitable for people with a lower level of fitness, or those that prefer having a recreational few hours of casual cycling with plenty of opportunity to take in the scenery and enjoy nature at a slow pace. There are no real mountains involved – there is a bit of downhill in a residential neighbourhood, but the track around the lake is flat and only before you reach the lake, and at the end of the tour there are short bits where you need to go slightly uphill.

If you’re looking for a more adrenaline-fuelled mountain biking adventure, this won’t be your chosen tour, but you could go downhill mountain biking in Whistler Mountain Bike Park that ends right in Whistler Village, or choose one of the more challenging tours offered by Whistler Eco Tours.

I’m almost sad that my next trip to Whistler will be in the wintertime. I am sure the snowboarding will be great, but I have gotten to know Whistler as a summertime destination and really liked it.

Getting to Whistler

Virgin Atlantic fly to Vancouver from London four times a week. Whistler is approximately a 2.5-hour drive from Vancouver airport, along the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway.

Disclosure: This activity was part of my #WhyYVR competition win. My trip to Vancouver was courtesy of Virgin Atlantic and Tourism British Columbia. However, all opinions are my own. Very special thanks to Tourism Whistler, Fairmont Chateau Whistler and Whistler Eco Tours for their hospitality.

Canoes at Alta Lake in Whistler, Canada

This is Alta Lake in British Columbia, Canada. Alta Lake is located just outside of Whistler, and you can get there by foot or bike on the Valley Trail that starts in the North Village. The lake itself is stunning, and whilst you can lounge on one of its beaches, I would recommend getting a canoe and going out on the lake. The water is calm, and from your canoe, you get the best views of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains and the peak to peak gondola that connects the two.

Alta Lake is surrounded by forest and has a few parks on its shore, where visitors camp, picnic, have barbecues or access the beach from to go swimming or windsurfing.

Have you been to Whistler? What would you want to do there?

Vancouver is quite something. It’s a dangerous place. That’s because once you’re there, there is a huge risk you may never want to leave again.

Vancouver has its appeal. Not only is it the warmest city in the country, but the gateway to Whistler, it’s by the coast, you could go skiing and sailing in one day, the people are incredibly friendly and welcoming … the list is long. No wonder Virgin Atlantic is now flying to Vancouver regularly – how could you not?! In their latest campaign, they asked the public to comment on what is so special about this city. So let’s see what you can get up to in beautiful Vancouver! Here are my favourite things to do in Vancouver:

Vancouver’s Beaches

Huh? Maybe beaches are not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of a city, but not so for Vancouver. The city is blessed with multiple long sandy beaches, and locals certainly know to make use of them! Walking along Kitsilano beach (pictured above), you will see Vancouver’s residents playing beach volleyball, people jogging and cycling on the path along the beach, others walking their dogs, and of course, in summer, plenty of sunbathers and swimmers! Kitsilano beach is great because it’s very close to the city centre. If you want to visit a beach just next to the centre, head to English Bay just west of downtown. It really couldn’t be any more convenient, plus, it’s right next to …

Stanley Park

If you fancy a bit of green, you don’t have to look far in Vancouver. It is, in general, a green city, both in the sense of great public transport for North American standards – there’s a great network of buses and the Sky Train that gets you everywhere you need to go. But going back to green spaces in the trees and plants sense – Vancouver is home to a huge urban park – Stanley Park. There are a great many things to discover on 1,000 acres (that’s roughly 4 square kilometres), such as the totem poles at Brockton Point.

A great way to see the park is to rent a bike and cycle along the seawall. Definitely one of my favourite things to do in Vancouver.

Granville Island

In case you rent a bicycle and explore Stanley Park (and the city) this way – which I thoroughly recommend – you may want to stop at Granville Island. You can get there either by cycling all around False Creek seawall or by taking the Aquabus to cross False Creek if you’re in a hurry. Granville Island, technically a peninsula, is known for its large public market. You can stock up on fruit and veggies, taste chocolates, pastries and all sorts of delicacies from the region or have lunch at one of its many fruit stands. It is also home to the Granville Island Brewery, where you can take a beer tasting to refresh after your long bike ride!

Great architecture and cityscapes

With all the natural attractions Vancouver has to offer, let’s not forget we are actually talking about a big city. While to many an untrained European eye North American (big) city centres can easily blur into a monotony of high concrete blocks organised in a grid, Vancouver will definitely stand out. Its high rises are a joy to look at, even for those who don’t call themselves city people. Vancouver offers highly attractive cityscapes both to live in and to look at, whether in Coal Harbour, False Creek (below), or Yaletown.

Harbour Centre Lookout

Another treat for the eyes is to be had from the Harbour Centre Lookout. Right in the middle of downtown, take an elevator and look down onto Vancouver from an almost 170m height. I found the 360-degree views of the mountains, the city, Stanley Park and the harbour quite stunning!

Discovering Vancouver: Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden

Let’s not forget about the cultural elements – Vancouver has sizeable Asian population and its very own Chinatown, which comes complete with wonderful Chinese gardens: Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s Classical Chinese Garden.

The Chinese influence in Vancouver can’t only be seen in its diverse population and the many Chinese and Taiwanese shops all over the city. Vancouver’s Chinatown also comes with its very own Chinese garden: the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Gardens.

The garden owes its name to Dr. Sun Yat Sen, the first president of the Republic of China, who is also considered the father of modern China. Built in the mid-80s, the gardens consist of a free section and a separate part with an admission fee. The design and construction of the gardens was a collaboration of Chinese and Canadian architects and also engaged experts from the Chinese garden city of Suzhou.

Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s Classical Garden is a cultural oasis in Vancouver’s Chinatown and just about a 15-minute walk from Gastown, its historic centre. Chinatown came about in the late 1800s already and was established by Chinese railroad workers. Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s Classical Chinese Gardens only date back to 1986, the year Vancouver hosted the World Expo.

Stroll along the pathways meandering through the trees, rocks and alongside the pond and take in its pleasantly balanced atmosphere. On sunny days you’ll see art students creating drawings of the pagoda juxtaposed against the pond. The gardens are a great little place to escape the city’s hustle and bustle and enjoy the heritage of its Asian immigrants, whilst being reminded of its location in inner-city Vancouver by its surrounding, flash new high-rises.

Entrance to Dr. Sun Yat Sen Park is free; admission to Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Gardens is 12 CAD per adult.

Museum of Anthropology

And if the totem poles in Stanley Park made you hungry for more First Nations culture, go pay the Museum of Anthropology a visit. It is located on the campus of the University of British Columbia in the west of Vancouver, near Point Grey. It is choc-a-block with First Nations artifacts, sculptures, handicrafts, and even more totem poles and will make for a fascinating and educational afternoon, not just on a rainy day.

In my opinion, these are some of the best things to do in Vancouver, and I would do them all again and more – perhaps going to Grouse Mountain for some hiking or snowboarding, and hopping on a ferry to Vancouver Island, where Tofino offers some world-class surfing. The fun never ends. No wonder the economist has chosen Vancouver as the most livable city a few times in a row. And I’m glad Virgin Atlantic is offering more opportunity for us to get there!

What are your favourite things to do in Vancouver?

Related Posts:

• Seaplane flight from Coal Harbour, Vancouver
• An afternoon in Steveston
• Exploring Vancouver

Discovering Vancouver | Cycling in Stanley Park

One of the best things to do on a sunny day in Vancouver is spending some time in beautiful Stanley Park. 400 hectares of greenery and scenery await and you’d better rent a bike for the day and get exploring on two wheels, or you won’t be able to see half of what it has to offer!

Bikes are easily rented on Denman Street near the entrance to the park. Prices range from 6 CAD per hour to 16 CAD for 4 hours or 24 CAD for 8 hours. The bikes we rented were very comfortable light-weight mountain bikes and also came with helmets. Enter the park from Coal Harbour and take the cycling path along the seawall. It’s a beauty – you get to look onto the many boats in coal harbour on your right, the elegant high rises, the Burrard Inlet and of course many trees and greenery to your left!

In case you’re not into cycling, you could also walk around or rent rollerblades and zoom around the seawall. The cycling and walking paths run right next to each other. As you ride along the cycling path, you’ll pass many an interesting spot or lookout point. The first one, after Coal Harbour, will probably be the Totem Poles with adjacent museum/gift shop. Definitely well worth a stop and great for informing yourself on Canada’s First Nations People!

About halfway around Stanley Park’s seawall, you will reach Lionsgate Bridge, an impressive 2km suspension bridge linking Vancouver City with North and West Vancouver, across the Burrard Inlet. You’ll see quite a few ships in this passage as it forms the entrance to Vancouver’s port.

Once you have reached the northernmost tip of Stanley Park and cycled back towards the city along False Creek, you’re in for yet another treat. Look to your right, and you’ll see Kitsilano, the young, hip and relaxed quarter with a fantastic beach. Or look straight ahead and look forward to arriving in English Bay, one of the most popular sunbathing beaches in Vancouver, and not just because of its easy accessibility from downtown Vancouver.

Naturally, you don’t have to stay on the cycling and walking paths around the seawall. There’s plenty to explore in the depths of the park, like Beaver Lake and Hollow Tree or the Vancouver Aquarium. And of course a lot of feathery and furry friends along the way as well! Alternatively, you could opt for a round of golf at Stanley Park Pitch & Putt.

At the end of your ride make sure you head towards where you started off, cycling away from the seawall, and you will find Lost Lagoon. Admittedly for most, it will sound like a tropical paradise, which of course it is not, but it is certainly no less peaceful. Get off your bike and sit down on a bench by the lake and enjoy the sight of the fountain with the snowcapped mountains in the background!

Have you cycled in Stanley Park? What is your favourite urban park?