Vancouver June 2016

Canada Place

 

Our Alaskan cruise began with two days in Vancouver.  Vancouver turned out to be a great choice of cities to begin and end a cruise.  There was lots to do using the waterfront Canada Place area as our base.  Our cruise left from this area but also all the city transportation picked up at this location.  
 

Nearby  a constant stream of seaplanes were landing and taking off in the Burrard Inlet.

The popular and historic Gastown area is only a few blocks from Canada Place and offers lots of places to shop and eat. The famous Gastown Steam Clock is located there.  It is powered by steam and whistles music to signal the time.

 



We soon found out why Vancouver is know as the city of glass.  All of its many skyscrapers are made predominately of glass.  On a sunny day this is quite a sparkly show!

Using one of the Hop On Hop Off trolleys we visited many places around the city beginning with Stanley Park where we saw displays of totem poles and beautiful views of Coal Harbor and the Lionsgate Bridge.

 
We enjoyed lunch at the Teahouse in Stanley Park and watched the eagles flying in the park area nearby.




We continued our tour around the city with a stop at the Vancouver Art Gallery to view their visiting exhibit of Picasso.

 

We finished our city tour on the Hop On Hop Off trolley seeing many places we would have liked to visit that would have to wait for another day.  There is a lot to do in Vancouver!

There is also lots  to do in the surrounding area near Vancouver.  Top on my list was the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park.  I had been looking forward to walking across this bridge since I first saw its pictures  on Pinterest.  

It lived up to all my expectations!

It was long and super shaky with rushing water far below.  It was perfect!

On the other side of the suspension bridge begins the Treetops Adventure.  An elaborate series of walkways, seven suspension bridges, and many, many stairs gets you to the tops of the huge trees of this rain forest.  It was such a great experience that we didn't even complain about knee pain until the next day.

  

 

But the adventure is not over.  After crossing the bridge back to the other side of the canyon we went to the Cliffwalk part of the park.  This is a series of walkways and steps clinging to the granite cliff high above the canyon with a section that extends off the cliff for a super view of the bridge and canyon.

 

It was such a fantastic experience we might have done it all over again it we had been 20 years younger!

Grouse Mountain is another fun adventure only 20 minutes from Vancouver.  After a free shuttle bus ride beginning at Canada Place you begin your adventure with a scenic ride on the Skyride tram to the top of the mountain.  You could easily spend the whole day with all the activities offered.

During our afternoon at Grouse Mountain we enjoyed watching the Lumberjack Show, following the grizzly bears around the Bear Habitat, watching the Birds of Prey demonstration, and soaking in the beautiful mountain scenery. 

After two busy days in Vancouver it was time to repack.  After all, we were there to begin our Alaskan cruise.  That's right! 

It is time to get on the cruise ship!  Bon voyage!