Vancouver and Stanley Park

Vancouver is one of the most beautifully sited cities in the world, where forested mountains, the Pacific and a gleaming glass skyline meet. At its heart lies Stanley Park, a great peninsula of ancient temperate rainforest larger than New York's Central Park, ringed by a seawall for walking and cycling with views of the mountains, ocean and city, and dotted with totem poles, beaches and giant cedars.

What you actually see

• The seawall - the waterfront path around the park with mountain and sea views.
• The rainforest - the ancient cedars and trails of the interior.
• The totem poles - the collection of First Nations totem poles.
• The city and mountain setting - Vancouver's skyline against the peaks.

When to go

Summer, June to September, for the driest, sunniest weather, as Vancouver is famously rainy the rest of the year; the park and seawall are lovely in any dry weather. Autumn brings colour and the mountains their first snow.

Honest expectations

Vancouver is famously wet outside summer, with long grey, rainy spells, so time a visit for the drier months if you can. The city is beautiful but expensive. The seawall is long, best cycled if you want to loop the whole park. It is an urban park, so busy on fine weekends.

Nearby

The mountains of the North Shore, Grouse Mountain and the ski town of Whistler are close.