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Photography: Photography:
TVan/Sewell's
Marina;
TVan
/Clayton
Perry;
TVan/Coast
Mountain
Photography;
TVan/Vancouver
Foodie
Tours
CYCLING AND
MOUNTAIN BIKING
While the city is surrounded by
mountains, downtown Vancouver is
relatively flat, making it easy to get
around by bike. Cycle City Tours
offers unique, guided group tours that
showcase Vancouver's history, culture,
and natural setting through storyteller
cycling guides. For those clients who
prefer to take their own tour on two
wheels, there are plenty of companies
offering bicycle rentals both by the
hour and by the day such as Spokes
and Bayshore Bikes; most are located
along Denman Street and the area close
to Stanley Park. For those looking for
an adrenalin rush, the mountain biking
trails on the North Shore (the birthplace
of the sport) will not disappoint.
HIKING
Vancouver is home to a maze of trek-
worthy trails. Send your clients to
explore the West Coast rainforests of
the North Shore Mountains by visiting
the shores of the Capilano River and
Lynn Canyon, watching the sunset from
the cliffs at Lighthouse Park or tackling
the steep incline of the Grouse Grind
– affectionately referred to as "Mother
Nature's StairMaster" – to the top of
Grouse Mountain. They can also visit
Vancouver's west side, enjoying a quiet
stroll through the forest at Pacific Spirit
Regional Park; venture to Deep Cove in
North Vancouver to hike to a worthwhile
viewpoint at Quarry Rock; or stay close
to downtown and take an easy hike
through Stanley Park.
Clients preferring an interpretive tour
will discover ancient natural wonders and
fascinating wildlife on the North Shore or
Bowen Island: knowledgeable guides from
Rockwood Adventures lead groups
through the lush West Coast rainforest,
amid towering Douglas firs and cedar
trees – some 500 to 900 years old.
GARDENS
Garden-lovers will revel in the floral
offerings of Vancouver, which was
named Destination of the Year in the
Canadian Garden Council's 2014 Garden
Tourism Awards. The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen
Classical Chinese Garden offers
serenity and educational opportunities
through an extensive calendar of cultural
events. At the UBC Botanical Garden,
which doubles as a plant research centre,
eight separate installations are in bloom
year-round, while the Nitobe Memorial
Garden, a traditional Japanese
installation, is thought to be one of the
top gardens of its kind outside of Japan.
Meanwhile, the renowned VanDusen
Botanical Garden is a spectacular
22-hectare (55-acre) botanical paradise
offering beauty in every season.
BEACHES
Did you know that Vancouver's sandy
beaches, dotting the edge of Burrard Inlet,
earned the city a spot among National
Geographic magazine's "Top 10 Beach
Cities"? On the downtown peninsula,
English Bay is the most popular spot,
offering the perfect vantage point to catch a
Vancouver sunset. Second Beach, along the
Adventures on Land
Adventurous
Exploits
From tame to extreme, visitors to Vancouver
will find no end of adventure all year round
