Wandering Around the Vancouver Area

Even though we were near the top floor of the Fairmont Waterfront, there was no great view: Canada Place, a cruise ship, and container cargo.

I don't recall which shop, but these pastries looked so good . . . Most of the food vendors in the Public Market looked to be of high quality. And they were all very busy.

Since 1875, the lighthouse has guarded Burrard Inlet. Originally a wood-frame structure accessible only by boat, it was replaced in 1912 by the modern hexagonal concrete tower.

Lynn Creek runs through a picturesque canyon that can be explored via interconnecting hiking trails within the Seymour Conservation Area. The creek eventually empties into Vancouver Harbor.

The Sea to Sky Gondola's summit is on (near?) Mount Habrich. At the top is the 9000 sq. ft. Summit Lodge, which contains several eateries, a bar, and a gift shop.

The Spirit Trail has a scenic overlook platform that provides a gorgeous view of Howe Sound's deep blue waters and surrounding lush pine forests.

This image displays a formal garden area at VanDusen Botanical Garden featuring structured plantings with ornamental grasses, perennial flowers, and carefully maintained hedgerows.

Initially, we planned to take an early morning Seaplane (like the ones above) to Victoria, then hop a bus to Buchart Gardens, but due to the 3 AM arrival, we cancelled those plans.

Walking along the pathway westward, we took in a nice view of downtown buildings beyond the marinas of False Creek. The inlet was once much longer, consisting primarily of shallow tidal flats.

The park is a 70-acre National Historic Site that features several historic buildings, landscaping, connecting pathways, and is one of the Lower Mainland's last remaining old-growth forests.

Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge was built in 1912, when the park opened. The bridge hangs ~160 feet above the canyon floor. The Capilano Bridge hangs 230 feet above its river.

The Bridge is 95 m (312 ft) long, offering excellent views and providing access to the Spirit Trail with its several notable viewpoints.

This was another trail that we hiked, it was longer and wound through some lovely forest areas before looping around a large, tranquil pond.

These maples at VanDusen Gardens are ornamental deciduous trees native to Japan, Korea, and China, showcasing foliage in colors from green to deep red, purple, and bronze.

Granville Island Public Market is Vancouver's "premier" food destination, featuring an indoor market with meat and produce stores, restaurant stalls, and bakeries.

Yaletown is an upscale waterfront neighborhood that offers boutique shops, an abundance of restaurants, and convenient access to False Creek.

Whyte Islet on the left appears to be an island, but it is attached to Whyte Park. In the distance is Passage Island, a 33-acre island in the Howe Sound.

The 30-foot pool is a popular swimming spot in Lynn Canyon. It has a narrow bedrock canyon lined with boulders, creating a cold, deep pool perfect for cooling off.

The Sea-to-Sky Gondola summit area has twelve hiking trails. We took a couple of the easier ones. This picture of Sky Pilot Mountain was taken from a Spirit Trail viewpoint.

Shannon Falls, near Squamish, is the third-highest waterfall in British Columbia at 1,099 feet. It begins from Shannon Creek, which plunges down granite cliffs below Sky Pilot Mountain.

African daisies are native to South Africa. They are valued for their vivid, multi-tone petals and drought resistance. They are also known for closing their petals at night and on cloudy days.