Vancouver: Parks, Gardens and City Life

Vancouver offers a range of themes to consider when planning your trip: forest trails and wildlife viewing, parks and gardens, activities along the Seawall, a covered market and a cultural site in Chinatown. If you’re looking for a hotel in Vancouver, these themes can help guide how you plan your stay. The trails described range from a one-kilometer path at Beaver Lake to more than 27 kilometers of forest trails in Stanley Park. You can play pitch and putt in both Stanley Park and Queen Elizabeth Park.

Stanley Park: Forest Trails, Lake and Pitch and Putt

The forest trails in Stanley Park extend for more than 27 kilometers and offer a quiet retreat away from the bustle of the park’s more developed perimeter. A one-kilometer path runs past Beaver Lake, where you can observe birds, wetland plants and beavers. This lakeside path is distinct from the extensive network of trails through the forest.

Stanley Park Pitch and Putt has 18 holes ranging from 40 to 100 yards in length and is lined with a rhododendron garden. Another attraction for nature enthusiasts is the Vancouver Aquarium, home to more than 65,000 animals in 120 indoor and outdoor exhibits. The forest trails, a round of pitch and putt and the aquarium’s wildlife each offer a different experience in Stanley Park.

Parks and Gardens

At 125 meters above sea level, Queen Elizabeth Park is the highest point in Vancouver. You can also play pitch and putt here. The park is home to the Bloedel Conservatory, with more than 500 plants from tropical and subtropical rainforest habitats, as well as a variety of exotic birds and koi fish. The combination of parkland and plant and animal life makes this a distinct focus for trip planning.

A different variety of plants awaits you at VanDusen Botanical Garden in the heart of Vancouver. The 55-acre garden features more than 7,500 plant species and cultivars from around the world. This gives you two distinct garden experiences to choose from: tropical and subtropical rainforest habitats define the Bloedel Conservatory, while VanDusen Botanical Garden brings together plants from different parts of the world.

The Seawall and Granville Island

Vancouver’s Seawall is ideal for walking, cycling and jogging. The False Creek Seawall passes directly by Granville Island. There, the covered Granville Island Public Market offers a wide selection of food, fruit and vegetable shops, and farmers’ stalls. A visit to the Seawall and a trip to the market offer different experiences to consider when planning your trip.

A Cultural Site in Chinatown

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is in the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown and is an authentic representation of Ming Dynasty tradition. In addition to its expansive gardens and pathways, this site offers a cultural point of interest that stands apart from the parks’ plant and animal life.

Discover more destinations: Maple Ridge, Tsawwassen, Pitt Meadows, White Rock, Richmond, Delta, Bowen Island, Burnaby

For the broader travel overview: Metro Vancouver.