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6400 Nancy Greene Way
North Vancouver, BC V7R 4K9
Phone: 604-984-0661
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The big draw here is the Skyride, North America’s largest aerial tramway. On the way up, the views from the tram are simply spectacular, and at the top of the mountain, there are even more activities to choose from. One of the most popular activities on the mountaintop for active travelers is the zipline ride, where you can hurtle over the treetops at breakneck speed. To get any even higher look around, there are helicopter rides as well, but even down on land, there’s plenty to capture your interest. For example, you’re definitely going to want to check out Grouse Mountain’s famous lumberjack show, which is a high-energy look at traditional British Columbia logging techniques. Plus, in the winter, there's a full slate of cold weather activities for visitors, from sleigh rides to skating, to skiiing and snowboarding.
Kitsilano Beaches
Around Cornwall Avenue & Arbutus Street
Vancouver, BC V6K 1C3
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Whether you’re exercising your dog over by the Maritime Museum, or exercising your body near Jericho Beach, or even exercising your imagination just about anywhere along the coast, the beaches of Kitsilano are the perfect getaway on a warm summer afternoon. As much as the modern Vancouver skyline is something to behold, it still can’t hold a candle to the natural beauty of the British Columbia coastline, and that beauty is on display everywhere you turn on these lovely beaches.
Murrin Provincial Park
Near Squamish, BC
Phone: 604-986-9371
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One of several provincial park along the Sea-to-Sky highway, this little gem has picnic spot written all over it. There are numerous trails surrounding a little lake, and if you’ve got your tackle and rod along, it’s a great spot to toss a line in and try your luck. Or, if you’re after a bit more excitement, Murrin Park has numerous rock climbing spots that are sure to give you a challenge.
Around Southgate & Douglas Street
Victoria, BC
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Located just a few minutes walk from the Royal Museum, Beacon Hill Park gets its name from its former use a signal point for boats coming up the Juan de Fuca Strait to the south. These days, the park’s elegant landscaping makes it a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike, and during the summer months, there are even free concerts at the bandshell. Throw in a petting zoo for the kids, and you’ve got yourself a great way to spend a summer afternoon.
Butchart Gardens
800 Benvenuto Avenue
Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1J8
Phone:
250-652-5256
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This stunning location was originally a limestone quarry owned by the garden’s namesake, Robert Butchart. But luckily for us, the limestone was pretty much mined out by the turn of the last century. Butchart’s wife Jenny convinced her husband to let her have the run of the landscaping out here, and Butchart Gardens was born in 1904. Jenny started with a breathtaking sunken garden, and then over the years, Japanese and Italian gardens were added, as well as an expansive Rose Garden. Throughout the year, the Butchart staff grows and maintains over one million different plants and flowers. And their work is not wasted. The Butchart Gardens has gained an international reputation as one of the world’s very finest botanical gardens.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
3735 Capilano Road
North Vancouver, BC V7R 4J1
Phone: 604- 985-7474
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The Capilano Suspension Bridge has been attracting visitors for more than a century. This simple pedestrian bridge traverses the Capilano River far below. A bridge over this ravine was originally built way back in 1889, out of hemp ropes and cedar planks. This latest version of the bridge dates back to 1956. Every year, over three quarters of a million visitors put their acrophobia on hold long enough to make the journey from one side to the other. In addition, there's the new Treetops Adventure. This latest attraction consists of seven footbridges suspended between old-growth Douglas Fir trees on the west side of the canyon, forming a walkway high above the forest floor.