It may be early December, but it’s been a beautiful past couple of days in Vancouver–cold but sunny– which is a timely reminder that outdoor activities are not just for the summer here, they’re for any time it’s not raining!

Lighthouse Park is a perfect destination for a winter or summer ramble, a combination of classic west-coast forest with soft paths and giant tree stumps (and giant trees) and picture perfect rocky cliffs complete with, of course, a lighthouse. The dark density of the forest makes a striking and beautiful …

Vancouver is a city that hovers somewhere between urban and rural, and a lot of people think it should stay that way. The downtown is a maze of shops, cafes and galleries but wildlife and a small town feel are always only a short drive away. And if you’re staying in North Vancouver, an even shorter drive…
Deep Cove, a stunning and tranquil bay nestled in a bay of Burrard inlet in the far east of the North Shore, is one of the highlights of North Vancouver tourism. …

There are many famous and beautiful parks in and around Vancouver, some ideal for hiking, some famous for their gardens, some simple fields in residential areas, but given the recent articles on Gastown, it seems like a perfect time to mention the virtually unknown, except by locals, Crab Park.
Crab Park can be seen from the seabus as you approach Downtown Vancouver, only a small slice of beach, a simple boardwalk by the water, and a green park for playing soccer or frisbee and a little playground just out …

The main problems with Capilano Suspension Bridge are the price and the crowds, both of which are happily absent from the smaller, more natural, locals-favourite version, the Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge.
From downtown Vancouver it’s slightly farther away than Capilano (perhaps a 25 minute drive versus 15, and similar with the seabus/bus on public transit) whereas from Beckside both locations are no more than a ten minute drive, only in opposite directions.  The extra distance is more than made up for by the price–it is free.  The thrills are the same: …

Undoubtedly the most famous and advertised tourist attraction in North Vancouver is Capilano Suspension Bridge, and it is a fantastic afternoon out, so long as you’re not deathly afraid of heights– and even if you are it’s an enjoyable personal challenge.  A delicate and faintly swaying plank bridge stretches across a steep ravine, with a rocky, swift-currented river at the bottom.  As entertaining as crossing it yourself is watching other people cross it: some trying to pretend it’s just a normal walk in the park, others clinging to the sides …