Originally published September 25, 2008
There's no disputing Vancouver is the largest and most diverse city in Western Canada. If you like big cities, this is a great place to visit. We thoroughly enjoyed the three days we spent in Vancouver as part of our visit to British Columbia last month. This city itself was every bit as cosmopolitan as San Francisco. And just like with the "city by the Bay", if you want to enjoy some of nature's best offerings, you only have to take a short trip out of town.
We crossed over an inlet, via the Lions Gate Bridge to begin our short journey into the mountains, where we would experience two of Vancouver's iconic attractions. The beautiful Lions Gate Bridge (opened in 1938) is an icon that connects the main city with North and West Vancouver.
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| Lions Gate Bridge (not my photo) |
A short drive follows to our first destination, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. The centerpiece of this 27-acre park is the 450-foot long foot-bridge that is the park's namesake. The bridge is suspended more than two hundred feet above the river of the same name, below. The views of the forests, cliffs and the river are spectacular.
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| Capilano River as seen from the suspension bridge |
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| The view across Capilano Suspension Bridge |
The suspension bridge was awesome. This thing has been in operation since the late 19th century. We got there early enough to avoid large tourist groups, and were able to take several photos of the bridge without lots of people on it. After crossing small canyon, we came across other attractions, including the Treetop Adventure. This collection of seven smaller suspension bridges travels under the canopy of the large trees, with excellent views of the forest, one hundred feet below.
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The inclines on the bridge are somewhat steep, with
special anti-slip surfaces |
Other attractions at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park include nature walks, children's activities, and several exhibits. The park also has several food offerings and a Trading Post with a wide selection of souvenirs to choose from. Tip: As the owner of a confection business, I can vouch for the home-made fudge they offer at the Trading Post. The use the exact same ingredients that I use to create their wonderful selection. Be sure to grab some to take with you.
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One of the 7 bridges that make-up the
Tree Top Adventure |
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| While in the forest, we came across this pond |
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| Great views can be had all over the park |
We only spent a few hours at Capilano because we had another place to visit on this day. The three hours seemed like enough, but I can see this as being a half, or even a full-day visit, especially for families.
We boarded our motor coach, and left Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, to head a little further up the road to Grouse Mountain. This year-round alpine attraction offers plenty of adventure and fun for everyone. We started at the base of the mountain, where we visited a wolf habitat, before hopping aboard a gondola for our ride to the visitor center.
The Skyride gondolas whisk groups of forty-five people up some 2,800 feet to the main guest areas and visitor center of Grouse (pronounced "Gross") Mountain. The ride to the top is breathtaking. Watching Vancouver and the surrounding areas get smaller and smaller as you ascend the side of the mountain on this aerial tramway is amazing.
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| The aerial tram as it makes its way to the top of Grouse Mtn. |
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| Great view of a lake at the base of the mountain |
After we reached the visitor center, we headed for the Grizzly Bear exhibit, stopping frequently to admire several giant hand-carved wood sculptures along the way. We only saw a couple of bears during this visit. But the Grizzly is impressive. Next, we made our way to an outdoor amphitheater to experience one of Grouse Mountain's most famous events.
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| A lone Grizzly Bear in its habitat |
The Lumberjack Show features actual lumberjacks, in a fun and exciting competition to see who will be named "top lumberjack". The show is complete with tree climbs, axe throwing, two-man sawing, and of course log rolling. The performers were very entertaining, and engaged with the audience. I was very impressed with the 45-minute show.
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| Lumberjacks race up twin 60-foot poles |
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| Log rolling is a highlight of the lumberjack show |
We enjoyed lunch back at the visitor center, and then took in some of the other attractions, including a nature hike, and a beautiful film about Canada, in the visitor center theater. After a few hours at Grouse Mountain, it was time to take the tram back down to the base of the mountain for our fifteen mile return to Vancouver.
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| One of many hand-carved wood sculputures |
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| Enjoying a bird's-eye view of Vancouver |
Because Grouse Mountain is open all year long, the attractions and events operate on different seasonal calendars. Skiing, snowboarding and other activities dominate the winter months, while shows, zip lining, nature activities and other adventures take over during the spring, summer and fall months. This makes a return to Grouse Mountain a must on a future trip to the area.
The best way to experience Capilano Suspension Bridge Park AND Grouse Mountain is by booking a tour. Whether guided or self-paced, there are package options available that include general admission to both attractions and transportation from downtown Vancouver. Our trip lasted about eight hours, and we found it to be the highlight of our visit to Vancouver.
