| Canadians certainly have no shortage of natural beauty at their doorsteps, but it’s on display particularly close to home in the heart of British Columbia’s biggest city, Vancouver. Stanley Park comprises more than 1,000 acres (larger than New York’s Central Park) of prime waterfront real estate on the northwestern half of the city’s peninsula. The city’s oldest park, Stanley Park was founded in 1888 and named after Lord Stanley, then governor general of Canada.
Today, the park contains nearly half a million trees, a 5.5-mile-long seawall, almost 17 miles of nature trails, and numerous beaches. If that’s not enough to keep you occupied, you’ll also find tennis courts, playgrounds, a golf course, a music venue, a waterpark, and restaurants (including a charming tea house). Visitors can explore the park on foot, by bicycle, via horse-drawn carriages, or even by miniature train. At the park’s Brockton Point, nine ornately carved and painted totem poles celebrate the artistry of Canada’s Indigenous First Nations. Don’t miss a visit in spring — more than 4,500 rhododendrons and azaleas and more than 3,500 roses are planted in the park’s gardens. |
