Stanley Park

The 1000-acre Stanley Park is the second-largest urban forest in North America and is considered to be one of the highlights of Vancouver.   The park is full of massive cedar and Douglas fir trees as well as many walking and biking trails.  Stanley Park is also home to many birds (including bald eagles) and small to mid sized wildlife such as beavers, coyotes, and raccoons.  All this takes place at the edge of the West End, one of Canada’s densest neighborhoods.

Stanley Park is located in the downtown peninsula and has a wonderful seawall that goes around the whole waterside perimeter of the park.  The seawall is a very popular biking, jogging, and rollerblading path.   Some of the attractions within the park include the outstanding Vancouver Aquarium, the Stanley Park Children’s Farm (petting zoo), the Stanley Park Miniature Railway, and the Lost Lagoon Nature House. Also in the park is a collection of totem poles at Brockton Point, as well as several nice beaches, and several restaurants.  A substantial number of trees in the park were damaged by a huge storm in 2006, and recovery is still underway.