Wooden souvenirs by Signature Woodcraft
Take home a piece of the province with an engraved bookmark, luggage tag or magnet by Signature Woodcraft, all made from recycled BC lumber. Each one of these Canadian maple beauties is earth-friendly, as it uses wood left over from the construction of high-end musical instruments. Buy these long-lasting souvenirs at Circle Craft or Capilano Suspension Bridge.—Jennifer Patterson
26 of the hottest places to entertain tots, tykes and teens this month
By Sheri Radford
Bill Reid's sculpture outside the Vancouver Aquarium. Photo by KK Law
1) Richmond Olympic Oval
From Mar. 12 to 23, kids aged six to 15 participate in week-long camps in everything from hockey to badminton to volleyball—and explore this stunning building, which was built for the 2010 Winter Games. (more…)
Grab a paddle, lace those hiking boots and ready that fishing pole: Where‘s headed to the North Shore
By Jennifer Patterson
Meghan and Mat glide through the water in brightly coloured rentals from Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak. Photo by KK Law
Get Wet
Water babies feel right at home in picturesque Deep Cove, a short drive from downtown Vancouver and a haven for water sports enthusiasts. Rent a kayak at Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak and glide through the water, up picturesque Indian Arm, to Granite Falls. This photogenic park offers camping spots for multi-day trips. A growing trend with both celebs and weekend warriors: paddle boarding. Stand upright on a long, flat, surf-style board and use a long paddle to manoeuvre through the calm waterways.
Grab a fishing pole and head into the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve for some peaceful trout fishing around Rice Lake. The main dock is usually busy but the three-km- (1.8-mi-) long path around the lake is filled with hidden benches and quiet corners.
Learn about the culture and history of the Coast Salish First Nations on a guided canoe trip through Indian Arm with Takaya Tours. The traditional wood canoes are 7.6 m (25 ft) in length and tours can be customized to include drumming, songs and stories. End your day on the water with a grilled salmon feast, available by request.
Stay Dry
Landlubbers seeking an outdoor escape head north of downtown to kick up dirt on the tree-covered mountains. The 48-km- (30-mi-) long Baden-Powell Trail, a winding stretch through the North Shore Mountains, starts in Horseshoe Bay and ends in Deep Cove. Don’t feel pressured to complete the entire route in one go—an ambitious venture, indeed—as the trail has multiple entry points and smaller trails branching off along the way. A couple of route highlights: the famous Grouse Grind, also known as Mother Nature’s StairMaster; the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge; and Quarry Rock lookout in Deep Cove.
Those with a need for speed grab a mountain bike and burn rubber on backwoods trails. Mt. Seymour, Mt. Fromme and
Meghan and Mat make their way back from Quarry Rock viewpoint on a well-established trail. Photo by KK Law
Cypress Mountain offer paved, gravel and plank-covered paths ranging from relaxed cross-country to extreme downhill. If you’re a first timer looking for a little guidance, companies such as Endless Biking (page 64) can set you up with an instructor and guide.
If a city bike is more your style, 10 km (6 mi) of paved trails await on the car-free Seymour Valley Trailway. Do you have some energy to spare? Peddle the paved roads all the way to the top of both Cypress and Seymour.
Head a little further north, to the Stawamus Chief Park, for hard-core rock-climbing on the second largest granite monolith in the world (think sheer rock face with nowhere to go but up). If you prefer pounding the dirt to dangling from ropes, make your way up and through the mountains via trails, ladders and stairs to either the first, second or third peak. The climb is a bit challenging but the 360-degree views from the top make it well worth the sweat. Before heading back into Vancouver, visit neighbouring Shannon Falls, the third-highest waterfall in British Columbia.
Up in the Air
Challenge your fear of heights on the 137-m- (450-ft-) long Capilano Suspension Bridge, hanging 70 m (230 ft) above the rushing river. This popular attraction with both visitors and locals added a jaw-dropping new feature this year: the Cliffwalk, a cantilevered and suspended walkway that juts out of a granite cliff face. The faint of heart may balk at the glass-bottomed sections, which offer crystal-clear views of the canyon far below.
Feel the wind beneath your wings as you set flight from the top of Grouse Mountain on a tandem paragliding ride with an elevation drop of 1,000 m (3,300 ft). No experience is required but a sense of adventure is a must.
Gear for Here
Stock up on clothing and equipment, for outdoor adventures both big and small, at Mountain Equipment Co-op and the Arc’teryx Factory Store.
Cliffwalk, Capilano Suspension Bridge's newest attraction
Scaredy-cats and acrophobics, this might not be your thing. But thrill-seekers will love the adrenaline rush and sweeping views from the suspended stairs, bridges, walkways and glass-bottomed decks in Cliffwalk, the eco-friendly attraction that opens Jun. 3 at Capilano Suspension Bridge.—Sheri Radford
Come Fly With Me
This summer, get up close and personal with birds of prey at the Capilano Suspension Bridge (to Sep. 7). From 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day, you’ll find barn owls, falcons and hawks roaming the park with their handlers, who educate guests, answer questions and explain the importance of these majestic animals to our ecosystem. Bird brains? No way.
– Jennifer Patterson
The Power of Pink
As you’re out and about in Vancouver this month, you may find yourself in the pink—and not just from the sun. Thousands of women and men sporting rose-coloured attire descend upon city streets Aug. 15 to 16 for the 6th annual Weekend to End Breast Cancer, a 60-km (37-mi) walk that raises millions of dollars for the BC Cancer Foundation. The deadline for registration has passed, but you can still make a donation at www.endcancer.ca.
– Kristina Urquhart
Photo by Sheri Radford
Flights of Fancy
Bald eagles are flocking to Vancouver, but you might have to look hard for real feathers on these 2.3-m (7.5-ft) fibreglass birds. Eagles in the City, a public art project by the BC Lions Society, enlists local artists to create a unique design for each eagle, including “Haida Eagle Takes Flight” by Lyle R. Campbell (at the corner of Robson Street and Burrard; pictured). The striking birds are on display throughout BC until April 2010, when they will be auctioned off for charity. Visit www.eaglesinthecity.com or pick up a Bald Eagle Flight Path Map at Tourism Vancouver for a bird’s-eye view of where the eagles are nesting.
– Kristina Urquhart
Dive In
After 28 years of scuba diving, Mike Hughes knows more than the average person—or fish, for that matter—about the underwater world. He shares this knowledge in The Northwest Dive Guide (Harbour Publishing, $29.95), which covers everything from training to gear to dive sites in BC, Washington and Oregon. Bursting with colour photographs, this handy guide is making a splash at local bookstores.
– Sheri Radford
Photo by Aki Mimoto
Festival Fun
Have you ever secretly dreamed of competing in an amateur sumo tournament? You can—plus do much more—at this year’s Powell Street Festival (Aug. 1 to 2).
– Sheri Radford
Photo by KK Law
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Stay, Dine, Do
