Cover The 460-foot long bridge at the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in Vancouver, Canada (Photo: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park)
The 460-foot long bridge at the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in Vancouver, Canada (Photo: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park)
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No matter what season it is, there’s always something to do in Vancouver
Renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty, diverse wildlife, and vibrant urban life, Vancouver is one of Canada’s top destinations for tourists who want a mix of nature and the city. It’s also nicknamed the “Hollywood of the North” because of its prominence in film and TV productions such as Deadpool & Wolverine, Rocky IV, and Juno. With Air Canada opening direct flights from Manila to Vancouver, now’s the best time to visit the Great White North—here are five places you should visit.
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Grouse Mountain
Technically located in North Vancouver, Grouse Mountain is close enough to the main city to enjoy. Depending on the time of year you visit, the mountain has plenty of activities for the adventurous traveller. From November to April, guests can ski, snowboard, or snowshoe from the peak. If walking’s more your thing, the popular Light Walk offers a calmer atmosphere as you stroll through an enchanting glowing tunnel just off the mountaintop.
During the summer, you can catch some of the wildlife as they come out of their homes. From in-flight birds of prey such as eagles and falcons to grizzly bears waking up from hibernation, the mountain is home to these majestic creatures.
Fun fact: The grizzly bear habitat has two resident bears named Grinder and Coola that guests can have breakfast with.
VanDusen Botanical Garden
Known as a hidden gem among travellers, the 55-acre VanDusen Botanical Garden is nestled in the heart of Vancouver. Its lush environs offer a wide diversity of habitats well-suited for urban wildlife such as squirrels, turtles, coyotes, and insects—creating its own ecosystem. Tourists can also find the Elizabethan Maze at The Garden—a hedge maze made of 3,000 pyramidal cedars.
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
In 1889, Scottish civil engineer George Grant Mackay, built a 460-foot bridge over the Capilano Canyon using only hemp rope and cedar planks. Over the years, the bridge would go through several owners—with each of them reinforcing the bridge with wire cables. Today, it’s owned by Nancy Stibbard who went on a mission to elevate the park into a world class destination. She succeeded when the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park was inducted into the Canadian Tourism Hall of Fame in 2000.
The bridge itself goes above the Capilano River and allows visitors to gain a squirrel’s eye view of the rainforest. When it gets dark, the pathway is illuminated with thousands of beautiful lights.
Tatler Tip: Those who visit from April to September can catch multiple species of birds, such as owls and eagles.
Granville Island Coast
Board a dinghy or a first-class vessel and set sail to see some whales. Vancouver’s seas are home to pods of orcas and humpback whales and it’s not uncommon to catch them breaching. An added bonus is the high likelihood of seeing other marine wildlife such as seals, sea lions, dolphins, porpoises, and even bald eagles.
Tatler Tip: Whale watching season in Vancouver runs from April to October, but the good news is orcas and humpbacks can be seen all-year-round. If you’re looking to see gray whales, it’s best to visit from March to June when they migrate northward.
9 O’Clock Gun
Above The 9 O’Clock Gun in action
A 1,500-pound, 18th century artillery piece, the 9 O’Clock Gun was brought to Stanley Park in 1894 and served as a time signal for salmon fishermen that the workday was about to end—with its predecessor simply being a bundle of dynamite being detonated above water. Nowadays, the gun still goes off at exactly 9 pm to continue the tradition while deafening passersby and startling tourists for over a century.
Tatler Tip: You can get close to the 9 O’Clock Gun. Just make sure to be mindful of the time as its blast may relieve you of your hearing capabilities.
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About
Gabriel found his passion for writing through poetry in high school. He sharpened his skills at Ateneo de Manila University and hopes to write a play worthy of Broadway one day. A self-proclaimed geek, he loves to spend his free time playing video games and board games. When he's not clicking heads on Valorant or roleplaying as a barbarian in Dungeons and Dragons, you can find him exploring art galleries or watching stage plays.
Work
A creative writer who writes about anything and everything, Gabriel loves to dive deep into the arts and culture scene—as well as going on long road trips for travel pieces.
You can reach him on Instagram at @gbohol for any leads, casual conversations or game invites.
