Stanley Park

You must visit here even if it is raining. in fact I think when it is raining it is even more beautiful.

Stanley is 1000 acres of incredible park. It is an oasis on the edge of one of North America's more modern cities. I spend a lot of time here in my job yet still love it.

It was given to us in 1880's by Lord Stanley who was the Governor General to Canada at the time. I challenge you to find a more beautiful city run park any place in the world.

Getting here is very easy from downtown. During the summer do yourself a favour and either take a taxi or a city bus into the park. Parking for you car is very hard to find during the busy season. There is a free shuttle bus that runs around the park during the summer that makes you visit much easier.

To get to the park from downtown take the #19 bus Stanley Park. This route runs through downtown along Pender Street. If you are coming off of the Skytrain get off the train at Burrad Station. Once you get out of the station look for the #19 stop near the corner of Burrad and Pender Streets. Make sure the stop says Stanley Park as the same bus returns the opposite direction to the suburb of Burnaby.

Once on the bus ride it to the end of the line. You will be at the Stanley Park bus loop. You are just up the hill from the Vancouver Aquarium and near many of the attractions in the park.

If it is summer the Parks Board hires the Vancouver Trolley Company to operate a free shuttle around the park. There are 15 stops the park as the shuttle runs a loops around the park. The closest stop to the #19 stop is only about 50 meters up the hill. Just make sure when trying to board the board the shuttle that the bus says free on the side. The same company operates and full city tour, that costs money, and the two buses often share stops in the park.

You can also walk from downtown to the park. The quickest is to find Georgia Street and walk west until you in the park. This can take more then 30 minutes though, depending on where you are and how fast you walk. A more pleasant walk is along the expanded Seawall. Basically find the ocean anywhere between the park and Canada Place and follow it west. If you stay along the water you find the park though it can take a while and it is not a straight line. Currently there is a lot of construction between Canada Place and Thurlow Street but this should be complete in the next 12 months or so.