STANLEY PARK
A local favorite since the Victorian era, spectacular Stanley Park is a mere ten-minute bus ride from downtown. Forest walks, beachside strolls, and a vibrant rose garden are among its natural attractions. Activities include a children’s water park, playgrounds, tennis courts, and a pitch-and-putt course. Located inside the park, the Vancouver Aquarium is world-renowned for its realistic walk-through exhibits based on scientific research projects. To the north of the park lies the iconic Lions Gate Bridge, designated a National Historic Site of Canada. Two Art Deco lion sculptures guard its entrance.
Map of Stanley Park
NEED TO KNOW
311 • www.vancouver.ca
Main Park: open 24 hrs daily (washrooms open dawn–dusk)
Vancouver Aquarium: 845 Avison Way; 604 659 3474; open late Jun–Aug: 9:30am–7pm daily, Sep–mid-Jun: 10am–5pm daily; adm adult $38, seniors, youths & students $30, children $21, under-3s free; www.vanaqua.org
- There are many eateries throughout the park, with two cafés at the Aquarium.
- The Lions Gate Bridge is accessible via Prospect Point, and offers excellent views of the city.
- Traffic in the park is one way (counterclockwise) and parking fees are strictly enforced.
- It’s a good idea to rent a bicycle or in-line skates to cover more of the park. Spokes Bicycle Rentals (1798 W Georgia St; 604 688 5141; www.spokesbicyclerentals.com) is a hire company nearby.
1. Lost Lagoon
This willow-fringed lagoon is a wildlife sanctuary. It protects a bevy of wood ducks, blue herons, and white swans.
Lost Lagoon with the Downtown Vancouver skyline in the background
2. Siwash Rock
According to Squamish legend, this ancient lava rock deposit jutting up from the water was once an indigenous warrior, turned to stone.
3. Seawall
Pedestrians, cyclists, and in-line skaters happily share the 6-mile (10-km) paved path ringing the park, with its unimpeded views of English Bay and Burrard Inlet. Look out for the sculpture Girl in a Wetsuit on an offshore rock.
Cyclists on a sunny day on the Seawall Walk around Stanley Park
4. Rose Garden
A formal rose garden blossoms year-round. From April to September, a variety of perennial plantings ensure vibrant color.
5. Prospect Point
Set on the northern tip of the peninsula, this is the park’s highest point. It affords unrivaled views of the striking Lions Gate Bridge, built across the dark-blue Burrard Inlet, with the magnificent Coast Mountains in the backdrop.
The Gorgeous panoramic view from the iconic Prospect Point
6. Brockton Point Visitor Centre
Carved gateways and a cedarwood interpretive pavilion welcome visitors. One of the poles on display is a carved copy of a pre-1878 Skedans mortuary pole by Haida artist Bill Reid.
7. English Bay
The sandy beaches at the bay draw crowds. Sunbathers relax against driftwood logs at Third Beach, and the heated saltwater pool at Second Beach offers a warmer alternative to the bay.
8. Beaver Lake
Hiking trails to Beaver Lake follow old logging roads through a raincoast forest. Frogs, raccoons, and rabbits may be spotted at the natural-state lake fringed by cattails and water lilies.
9. Brockton Point
The point offers a terrific view of Burrard Inlet. In 1915, a lighthouse was built to guide vessels into the harbor. Sailors set their chronometers by the Nine-O’Clock Gun at the nearby Hallelujah Point. Its boom has been heard nightly since 1894.
10. Vancouver Aquarium
Marine displays capture the drama of the West Coast. Sharks, rays, penguins, jellyfish and several other sea creatures from around the globe can be seen at this aquarium.
A swarm of jellyfish on display, at the Vancouver Aquarium
THE HISTORY OF STANLEY PARK
Home to First Nations tribes for thousands of years before Europeans arrived, the peninsula was used by colonialists as a military reserve because of its strategic position. In 1888 it was established as a city park, dedicated to Governor General Stanley. To stop erosion, the Seawall was constructed in 1917.
