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.

History

People have been here for more than 3,000 years: the Squamish had a large village, Whoi Whoi, where Lumberman's Arch now stands, with a longhouse 61 metres long, another settlement called Chaythoos stood near Prospect Point, and the Musqueam used the park's resources. The Spanish captain José María Narváez in 1791 and George Vancouver in 1792 were the first Europeans to explore the peninsula, and in 1888 residents of both villages were removed to build the road around the park (Wikipedia, Stanley Park).

What's there

• 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.

What to expect

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.

Key facts