Showing 1-13 of 13 results
-
Bloedel Floral Conservatory
Cresting the hill in Queen Elizabeth Park, this popular Plexiglas conservatory - an ideal indoor warm-up spot on a rainy day - is the area's green-fingered centerpiece. It has three climate-controlled zones with 400 plant species, dozens of koi carp and 100 free-flying tropical birds - expect Charlie the cockatiel to harangue you with his verbal dexterity.
-
Brockton Point
The name refers to the eastern end of the park as well as the eastern tip of the peninsula. It contains Brockton Oval playing field and cricket pitch, a colorful clutch of totem poles from several different First Nations people, and the Nine O'Clock Gun on Hallelujah Point - an electrically fired cannon that sounds at nightly and was originally used by ships' captains to set their chronometers.
-
Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden & Park
A tranquil break from clamorous Chinatown, this intimate 'garden of ease' exhibits the Taoist symbolism behind the placing of gnarled pine trees, winding covered pathways and ancient limestone formations.
Read more about Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden & Park
-
Lighthouse Park
Some of the region's oldest and most spectacular trees live within this accessible 75-hectare park, including a rare stand of original coastal forest and plenty of those gnarly, copper-trunked arbutus trees. It's ideal for a romantic picnic, and you'll find plenty of doe-eyed couples hogging the grass here.
-
Lynn Canyon Park
Set amid a dense bristling of ancient trees, the main feature of this provincial park is its swinging suspension bridge, a free alternative to Capilano. Not quite as long or high as its tourist-magnet rival, it provokes the same jelly-legged reaction as you sway over the river 50m below - and it's also far less crowded or commercialized.
-
Mt Seymour Provincial Park
A popular, rustic retreat from the downtown clamour, this giant, tree-lined park is suffused with more than a dozen summertime hiking trails that suit walkers of most abilities (the easiest path is the 2km Goldie Lake Trail). Many trails wind past lakes and centuries-old Douglas firs and offer a true break from the city.
-
Nitobe Memorial Garden
This lovely garden is a perfect example of Japan's symbolic horticultural art form. Aside from some traffic noise, it's a tranquil retreat, ideal for quiet meditation. Considered one of North America's most authentic Japanese gardens, it's divided into a Tea Garden - complete with ceremonial teahouse - and a Stroll Garden, where the layout reflects a symbolic journey through life following the principles of yin and yang.
-
Pacific Spirit Regional Park
This stunning 763-hectare park - the city's largest - cuts a wide swathe across the peninsula. Stretching from Burrard Inlet on one side to the North Arm of the Fraser River on the other, it's a green buffer zone between the campus and the city. A smashing spot to hug some trees and explore (there are 54km of walking, jogging and cycling trails) - you'll marvel at the giant cedars and firs that will be towering over you here.
-
Queen Elizabeth Park
The city's highest point - it's 167m above sea level and has smashing views of the mountain-framed downtown skyscrapers - this 52-hectare park claims to house specimens of every tree native to Canada (look out for the white-flowered dogwood, BC's floral emblem). Sports fields, manicured lawns, formal gardens and pitch-and-putt golf keep the locals happy, and you'll likely see wide-eyed wedding couples posing for their photos.
-
UBC Botanical Garden
A haven for green-fingered visitors, this 10,000-tree, 28-hectare plot near the corner of West 16th Ave comprises eight separate gardens, including Canada's largest collection of rhododendrons (plus some lovely blue poppies), a 16th-century-style apothecary garden and a winter garden of plants that bloom outside springtime.
-
Advertisement
-
Vandusen Botanical Garden
Vancouver's favorite ornamental green space, this 22-hectare idyll is a web of paths weaving through 40 small, specialized gardens: the Rhododendron Walk blazes with color in spring, while the nearby Korean Pavilion is a focal point for a fascinating Asian plant collection. There's also a fun Elizabethan maze, walled by 1000 pyramidal cedars, and an intriguing menagerie of marble sculptures.
-
Vanier Park
Winding around Kitsilano Point and eventually connecting with Kits Beach, waterfront Vanier Park is more a host site than a destination. Home to three museums, it's also the evocative venue for the tents of the annual Vancouver International Children's Festival and the summertime Bard on the Beach Shakespeare extravaganza.
-
Whytecliff Park
Just west of Horseshoe Bay, this is an exceptional little park right on the water. Trails lead to vistas and a gazebo, from where you can watch the boat traffic in Burrard Inlet. The rocky beach is a great place to play, go for a swim or scamper over the large rocks protruding from the beach. The park is also popular with scuba divers.
Showing 1-13 of 13 results
