Parks

The country can be paradise for music lovers. Canadians love festivals – so consider these if you like the sound of the sounds. The Festival International de Jazz in July is in Montreal, Winnipeg has a famous folk festival, also in July, while Festival Vancouver in August is one of the country’s most popular classical events. But basically almost every city has something for lovers of every type of music. So look on line or get details from a tourist office or flick through a local paper when you arrive.



A tour of the Olympic park in Montreal is worth doing – if only to get a picture of what London’s Olympic site may look when the 2012 games have been and gone. The massive flagship stadium is now one of the world’s biggest white elephants – and as a tour guest you will be one of the few people to get to go inside it. Back in downtown Montreal there are fantastic parks and great restaurants – it’s one of the foody capitals of the country.

Visiting Vancouver
by Mary M. Alward

Stanley Park is the largest urban park in Canada and is without a doubt Vancouver’s most impressive feature. Consisting of over one thousand acres, it is a part of British Columbia’s coastal rain forest. Giant trees fill the park. Red Cedar and Douglas fir stretch high into the sky and to enhance its beauty, the park is surrounded by water on three sides.

Giant Haida totem poles can be found in the park. These giant totems attest to the skill of Haida carvers. Though many of the totems are in danger of returning to the earth from whence they came, they are a wonder to behold. Grizzly bears, eagles, killer whales and the Haida’s main staple, Halibut, speak of past generations of Native Peoples who called the coast and surrounding waters home.

The Sea Wall is Stanley Park’s parameter walkway. Pedestrians, cyclists, joggers and in-line skaters can be seen enjoying the solitude and beauty of this wondrous park. Canadian Native poetess, Pauline Johnson spent many hours in the solitude of this park. She enjoyed the peace of this natural wilderness area and before she died she requested she be buried here with no marker on her grave. However, The Women’s Canadian Club erected a large stone etched with her picture and Mohawk designs.

The picturesque scenery of the park, coupled with pungent scents of forest and ocean, seems to carry you away from the downtown area, which is only minutes away. Visitors to the park enjoy tours, outdoor vendors and the world famous Vancouver Aquarium.

The Vancouver Aquarium is a must-see. Water Wonders, an educational tour, will inspire curiosity in the very young by allowing them to dive into a world of marine life. Here they will see and learn about marine animals such as sea stars and killer whales. The aquarium offers a wide spectrum of creatures of the deep, including Spineless Creatures, Marine Mammals, Arctic Adventures, Salmon Tales and Spring Beach-walks.

Visiting Gastown is like taking a step back in time. Here, the world’s first steam powered clock sounds out the hour. Cobblestone streets and heritage buildings give the feeling of walking in a completely different era. This small community in the heart of the city has a variety of shops, galleries and attractions.

Gastown is adjacent to the downtown Business District and is where the city of Vancouver originated. This portion is named after “Gassy Jack” Deighton who was a colorful character who spent time there during the 1800’s when Vancouver was a rough and tumble boomtown called Granville. The old-fashioned gas streetlights are a delight when walking through the area at night. It is steeped with history and still maintains its old time architecture.

Nothing can compare to visiting the Granville Island Market on a Saturday afternoon. It is a most rewarding experience to stroll through the market and enjoy the unique atmosphere. Art and craft stores, art galleries, toyshops and Granville Island’s own brewery have all been built into the original warehouses of the area.

Surrounding Granville Island is a marina. Kayaks and small passenger ferries add to the atmosphere. Rental boats are available for those who would like to experience Vancouver by water. This is an awesome and breathtaking tour.

The North Shore is another place of exquisite beauty. It has the best beaches in the area and forested trails where one can stroll to enjoy solitude and spectacular views. Though only about fifteen minutes from downtown Vancouver, this is a wonderful place to enjoy a quiet day of relaxation.

While on the North Shore, take a trip across Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet. The scenery will leave you feeling as one with nature.

View Vancouver from the Lion’s Gate Bridge. Constructed in 1937 by the affluent Guiness family, the bridge and view are both spectacular.

Chinatown is at the heart of the history of Chinese Canadians who have settled here for generations. A walk down crowded sidewalks will take you past exotic produce. The fragrance of spices fills the air. While here, you may want to checkout the traditional foods and medicines. The Classical Chinese Gardens in the area are a delight. A unique sight in Chinatown is the World’s Thinness Building, located on the corner of Carall and West Pender Streets.

Wherever you decide to go in Vancouver, you will see awesome sights and experience incredible fragrances and sounds. Be sure to put Vancouver on your Canadian destination list.