Travel for Life: Stanley Park: A Vancouver Gem

Saturday, August 5, 2017

Stanley Park: A Vancouver Gem

Stanley Park Seawall—a popular spot for walking, cycling, and jogging

Stanley Park ⭐⭐⭐is a 1,001-acre (405 ha) public park that borders the downtown of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. It is almost entirely surrounded by the waters of Vancouver Harbour and English Bay, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city.

The park was established in 1886 on land that was previously occupied by non-aboriginal settlers. It was named after Lord Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby, who was the Governor General of Canada at the time.

Stanley Park is home to a variety of attractions, including:

Vancouver Aquarium

This world-famous aquarium is home to over 70,000 animals from the Pacific Ocean

Stanley Park Seawall

This 14-mile (23 km) long waterfront path is a popular spot for walking, cycling, and jogging

Brockton Point Lighthouse

This historic lighthouse offers stunning views of the city and the harbor

Rose Garden

This beautiful garden is home to over 7,000 roses

Beaver Lake

Beaver Lake is a lake in the middle of Stanley Park. It is starting to fill in with sediment and is mainly covered in foliage. It is very diverse wetland. There is a large beaver dam that can be seen from the main view spot.

There are also several bike rental companies near the park, so you can explore the more than 17 miles (27 km) of forest trails. Travelers recommend biking the South Creek Trail, which leads to the lily pad-covered Beaver Lake.

Stanley Park is a must-visit for any visitor to Vancouver. It is a beautiful and relaxing place to spend a day exploring the city's natural beauty.

Bike Riding

I rented bikes twice in the summer of 2017 from two different shops:

I prefer Bikes and Blades Rentals because it is cheaper and the service is more personal. For example, when I rented a bike to ride the 14-mile-long Seawall in Stanley Park, I only paid $12 for two hours. I recommend not renting from the closest shop (Spokes Bicycle Rentals) to the bus Stop. Instead, walk a little further down Denman Street to check out other bike rentals. You won't be disappointed.

All people walk their bikes up the Denman St towards Vancouver Harbor first (purple path) and ride the bike only from the waterside (red path). The 14-mile-long Seawall bike route in the Park is running counter-clockwise. In most bike routes, it's ONE WAY (see picture below). So, make sure you ride the bike on the right side (i.e., not on the pedestrian side) and in the correct direction (see the arrow sign; note that below picture shows blade, but it's similar for bike).