Travel for Life: Seawall

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 cyclists should follow the purple path up Denman Street to Vancouver Harbor. Once at the waterfront, ride along the red path. Remember, the 14-mile Seawall bike route is one-way, so ride counterclockwise. Always stay on the designated bike path (left: bike or roller/ right: pedestrian) and follow the direction indicated by the arrows.

Photo Gallery

Captured on a balmy summer morning in 2017, these images offer a glimpse into the scene. Click on any image for a closer look.

With Canada Place in the distance

Girl in a Wetsuit—Stanley Park

With Lions Gate Bridge in the backdrop

Third Beach in Stanley Park

Autumns Colors

These photos, taken on 11/02/2024, were shared with permission by my Facebook friend, Minda Ho.

References

Bikes and Blades Rentals (718 Denman St, Vancouver, BC V6G 2L5, Canada)
Stanley Park (Wikipedia)
Stanley Park Reviews (U.S.News Travel)
Ultimate Canada bucket list: 33 best places to visit in Canada
The world’s most beautiful sights (Kuoni)

Charleson Park: More Than Just a Park, It's a Vancouver Experience

Charleson Park best of the area

—one of my favorite locations in Vancouver—is a 17.6-acre community park. It's also a dog park sprawling above the seawall on the south bank of False Creek. If you walk up the hill into the woods, you may run into some unleashed dogs accompanied by their owners.

Across the creek, Yaletown or Downtown Vancouver sit there. It is especially beautiful in the evening as you can see the lights of the buildings across the creek with their reflections on the water.

How to Get There?

There are two ways to reach Charleson Park from Canada Line Skytrain:

Arriving Olympic Village Station and taking W 6th Ave westwards (red route)
Arriving Broadway-City Hall Station; walking on Cambie St northwards and tuning left on W 8th Ave; turning right on Laurel St.; at the corner of W 7th Ave and Laurel (see picture below), taking an overpass into the park (brown route)

This is my favorite route because you can visit Whole Foods Market on the way to use its washroom or buy things to eat. Note that if you visit the park in early morning hours, most public washrooms are not opened until 10 am.