VISITING VANCOUVER
Stanley Park is the largest urban park in Canada and is without a doubt Vancouver’s most impressive feature. Consisting of over one thousand acres, it is a part of British Columbia’s coastal rain forest. Giant trees fill the park. Red Cedar and Douglas Fir stretch high into the sky and to enhance its beauty, the park is surrounded by water on three sides.
Giant Haida totem poles can be found in the park. These giant totems attest to the skill of Haida carvers. Though many of the totems are in danger of returning to the earth from whence they came, they are a wonder to behold. Grizzly bears, eagles, killer whales and the Haida’s main staple, Halibut, speak of past generations of Native Peoples who called the coast and surrounding waters home.
The Sea Wall is Stanley Park’s parameter walkway. Pedestrians, cyclists, joggers and in-line skaters can be seen enjoying the solitude and beauty of this wondrous park. Canadian Native poetess, Pauline Johnson spent many hours in the solitude of this park. She enjoyed the peace of this natural wilderness area and before she died she requested she be buried here with no marker on her grave. However, The Women’s Canadian Club erected a large stone etched with her picture and Mohawk designs.
The picturesque scenery of the park, coupled with pungent scents of forest and ocean, seems to carry you away from the downtown area, which is only minutes away. Visitors to the park enjoy tours, outdoor vendors and the world famous Vancouver Aquarium.
The Vancouver Aquarium is a must-see. Water Wonders, an educational tour, will inspire curiosity in the very young by allowing them to dive into a world of marine life. Here they will see and learn about marine animals such as sea stars and killer whales. The aquarium offers a wide spectrum of creatures of the deep, including Spineless Creatures, Marine Mammals, Arctic Adventures, Salmon Tales and Spring Beach-walks.
Visiting Gastown is like taking a step back in time. Here, the world’s first steam powered clock sounds out the hour. Cobblestone streets and heritage buildings give the feeling of walking in a completely different era. This small community in the heart of the city has a variety of shops, galleries and attractions.
Gastown is adjacent to the downtown Business District and is where the city of Vancouver originated. This portion is named after “Gassy Jack” Deighton who was a colorful character who spent time there during the 1800’s when Vancouver was a rough and tumble boomtown called Granville. The old-fashioned gas streetlights are a delight when walking through the area at night. It is steeped with history and still maintains its old time architecture.
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