Stanley park

This is one of my all time favourite locations! It is very near downtown Vancouver, and is easily walkable from Georgia St or the sky-train at Burrard. Or drive to Stanley park, park in one of the car parks near the entrance to Stanley park and walk the walls! Or take your bike down and cycle round or if you have no bike there is a place near by where you can hire one.

Another good way to see Stanley park is to take a Horse drawn ride starting as you enter the park from the Georgia end.

Another way is to take the tram bus with the wooden seats, which tours round Vancouver doing a circular route. You can get on and off as you wish and catch another one that comes your way if you like. I have done this tour but stayed on the whole way, enjoying Vancouver and getting off at the end, which is also the beginning!

As a birthday treat one year we took our bikes down to Stanley Park, parked the car and cycled round the walls. It was raining that day but was wonderful. You have to cycle in a clockwise direction but you can turn off at a number of points and go towards the centre of the park and then cycle back from there.

To go round the sea walls it is 8.85 km or 5.5 miles.

Stanley Park is a temperate rainforest. The park is named after Lord Stanley Governor General of Canada who at the dedication of the park in 1889 said: "To the use and enjoyment of people of all colour, creed and customs for all time."

The park covers 1,000 acres.

Lost Lagoon is a haven for Canada geese, swans, ducks and many other birds.

The Aquarium is a favourite with young and old alike.

The Brockton Visitor Centre, which houses washrooms, a gift shop and an open air interpretive area, is beside the Totem Poles, a great place for the tourist to see.

The miniature railway is a replica of the Locomotive Engine #374, which pulled the first transcontinental passenger train into Vancouver in 1886. At Halloween time the train runs through an illuminated area in the deep dark woods! During December there is again an illuminated journey, with dozens of delightful animated displays and more than a million twinkling lights that transform the forest, train and children's farmyard.

There is an outdoor swimming pool at Second Beach, which charges a fee for it's use. However there is a free spray playing area at Lumberman's Arch which is loved by many children.

There are two beaches, one at Second Beach and one at Third Beach.

You can drive right round the park, starting at the Georgia St end. You have to drive in a clockwise direction and you can stop off at car parks along the way.

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View of Downtown Vancouver taken from Stanley Park: