I had only a few days in Vancouver before I was moving on and had to make the most of my time. My first full day in Canada I woke up early and walked to Stanley Park; my original intentions was to spend a half day there before moving onto Gas Town. Once there my plans changed. I didn’t realize that this was Vancouver’s equivalent to Central Park in New York. Stanley Park is 404 hectares park/forest, filled with more attractions than Disney World, and the biggest tourist destination that Vancouver has to offer.

There is a path called the Seawall Promenade that winds around the park offering views of the ocean as well as the cargo ships waiting to enter the port. They do offer shuttles that run the perimeter of the park as well. I decided to start off walking. I found that this was the best way to see the most possible, and quickly began stumbling across several attractions the park has. Just off of the main path is a small area dedicated to several totem poles of natives that lived in the area. At the base of each pole is an explanation of what each pole represents.

Once back on the Seawall I passed the 9’o clock gun, which fires each night at 9. The gun is surrounded by a fence, which I though detracted from its interest for me. I walked the trail for about 3 hours without turning off onto one of the side trails. Along the way there was a lighthouse, several large, purple starfish on the rocks below the Seawall, views Lions Gate Bridge, but my favorite was the Girl in a Wetsuit just after Brockton Point. The statute sits on a rock out in the water. Once of her legs is extended down the side of the rock and is said that her toe touches the top of the water at high tide.

Soon after I turned off a trail in search of Beaver Lake. It was exactly what it promised a lake, but I saw no beavers and was surprised to see how over grown this section of the park was in comparison to the other well-manicured areas.

After leaving the lake I became hopelessly lost. Luckily there was a wonderful woman from California who took me under her wing for a while, and not only helped me back to the main gate area, but also took me around the rose garden. Once back at the main gate I wasn’t ready to leave because I hadn’t even seen a ¼ of what the park had to offer, but it started to rain. Instead of trying to continue my tour of the park on foot I jumped on one of the free shuttles that go around the park. This way I got to see the actual forest that I didn’t see while walking along the Seawall and missed out on the rain.

Leaving the Sylvia Hotel, we turned right and in about a minute we were in Stanley Park: 1,000 acres of trees, grass, and foot and bike paths. One path follows the perimeter of the park, allowing you to walk, bike, or rollerblade along the waterfront the whole way round. Alternatively, well marked trails weave in and out of the park. Most of it is forested but areas on the eastside are set aside for attractions such as cricket, an aquarium, and a rose garden.

As we walked north towards Third Beach we could see signs of the damage left by the windstorms that swept through the park in December 2006. The park was closed to the public for a while but repair work must have been very swift as paths were clear and any areas of damage were clearly marked or fenced off.

Along the water we spotted herons fishing in the shallows. Closer to Siwash Rock we saw a cautious raccoon scampering through the ivy although he gathered up enough courage to investigate closer to the footpath. We turned back at Siwash Rock, stopping to admire the manmade, gravity-defying rock towers that have been constructed close to Second Beach.

The following day we drove over to the Totem Poles at Brockton Point, reportedly the most visited tourist attraction in all of British Columbia. Parking is easy to come by although there is a charge ($1.85US / hour or $6.48US / day) but to see the Totem Poles is free. The group of about eight poles are set at the edge of a lawn park, with a back drop of tall bright trees. Just to the north of them you get a wide view of Burrard Inlet and the Lion’s Gate Bridge.

Whichever route you follow through or around Stanley Park, one piece of advice I can offer is "don’t forget your camera", as the views from any side are quite phenomenal.

It ranges from commercial to industrial to residential to ocean to mountains.

The choice of view is yours, even the same view is changing as you watch it. ENJOY!

This peninsula was named after Lord Stanley, the Governor General of Canada (1888-1893), who also lent his name to hockey’s illustrious Stanley Cup trophy. These 1,000 acres form the first public park in the city. You can ride the no.19 bus from Georgia Street into the park, but, for full effect, we strolled along the shoreline from Canada Place towards the veritable forest of trees within the grounds.

People can walk or rent a bicycle to complete the 5.5-mile circuit around the seawall promenade. For those with limited time, hop on the free trolley that circulates every 15 minutes during the summertime and makes 14 stops along the way. The driver points out the highlights during this 45-minute circle. You must see the gathering of colorful totem poles near Brockton Point; it is regarded as the most visited tourist spot in all of British Columbia. The expressions on these authentic totem poles crafted by the Kwagiulth people are beautiful and priceless. Stop by the nearby Brockton Visitor Centre (designed by Lubor Trubka Associate Architects) for locally crafted gifts and light snacks.

If you enter the park from the Coal Harbour shore, you will see the Vancouver Rowing Club, which hosts elite rowing squads. The sporting theme can be found all over the park, with cricket pitches, jogging and hiking trails, plus tennis, golf, and swimming. The statue of Canadian track star Harry Jerome sprints along the seawall promenade as does the "Girl in Wet Suit," a sculpture of a female figure lounging atop a rock that is akin to Copenhagen’s "Little Mermaid".

If one continues along the northern edge, you will climb up to Prospect Point. From the lookout plaza there is a great view of the majestic Lions Gate Bridge, reminiscent of the Chain Bridge of Budapest. You can relax or buy trinkets at the nearby cafe (there are other restaurants and snack shacks sprinkled throughout the park). The elevation will also allow you to appreciate the tall trees, including sequoias. Natural curiosities include the Hollow Tree, a bizarre, twisting tree-within-a-tree that you can walk through, and the 50-foot tall Siwash Rock.

Hiking trails lead to notable spots like the Vancouver Aquarium (the largest one in Canada), Beaver Lake, and Lost Lagoon with its fountain in the center. Kids can ride the Miniature Railway, pet animals in the Children’s Farmyard or stare at Canada geese near the Rose Garden. Watch for the clearly marked lanes for cyclists, in-line skaters, and walkers throughout the park (visitors on wheels are supposed to move in a counterclockwise direction). Enjoy the natural beauty of Vancouver at Stanley Park!