This awe-inspiring bridge is built of sturdy steel cables spanning 450 ft (137 m) and strong enough to support a full Boeing 747. Those crossing the bridge today cling tightly to the handrails as they experience the same thrills as visitors did in 1889.

Friendly costumed guides in period attire welcome visitors to the park. Taking on the roles of local historical characters, the guides narrate the sometimes hair-raising stories of the North Shore’s early days when timber was king.

An interactive exhibit with storytelling and a First Nations interpreter is located in the open-fronted Little Big House (a smaller version of the Big House). Skills and cultural knowledge are shared with appreciative onlookers. At the center of the cedar-planked Kia’palano Big House is the Next Generation story pole, honoring First Nations artists.

Almost 700 ft (213 m) of bridges and stairs lead along the cliff edge, offering stunning views of the Capilano River gorge 230 ft (70 m) below. Once on the other side, visitors can enjoy the panoramic views from the cantilevered deck that serves as a lookout.

This exhilarating exhibit is located in the West Coast rainforest across the suspension bridge. A boardwalk leads you gently upwards over seven suspension bridges attached to eight old-growth Douglas fir trees. At the end of your journey, you are 100 ft (30 m) high in the mysterious zone of mid-story treetops.

To protect the delicate environment, Treetops Adventure uses an innovative compression system to secure observation platforms to the trees. Instead of nails or screws, friction collars are used. Held on by compression, they exert a gentle pressure equivalent to pressing a thumb firmly on a tabletop.

At the centre’s entrance, a gathering of totem poles carved by local Coast Salish First Nations people makes a colorful display. Introduced in the 1930s, the carved poles now number more than 30.

In the Living Forest ecology area, clever interactive displays educate about native plants and trees, such as Douglas firs. Panels feature the animals and bugs living in a West Coast rainforest. Naturalists offer guided tours year round on its peaceful forest trails.

From miners to loggers to dancehall girls, the centre tells the history of the park and of North Vancouver in a walk-through exhibit. Hundreds of photographs bring history to life, while captions put the people and places into perspective. Voices from the Past, an audio component, fills in any blanks.

The picturesque perennial garden harks back to the homeland of many of Vancouver’s early settlers. Planted in 1910, the azaleas and rhododendrons dazzle with massive colorful blooms. The shrubs are at their best in May.