A visit to Vancouver is not complete without a visit to Stanley Park. Stanley Park is an evergreen oasis of 1,000 acres close to the heart of Vancouver's downtown core. Established in 1888, only 2 years after Vancouver's incorporation, Stanley Park is one of the city's best known landmarks. Enjoy walks through the forests of Cedar and Douglas Fir or the assortment of recreational activities that the park has to offer. Don't miss to look at the unique totem poles, which so naturally fit in the environment.
Stanley Park is almost entirely surrounded by ocean water and features a 10km (6.2 mile) seawall walkway. Along the way you will want to stop at the several scenic lookouts, which the park has to offer. The first, at Brockton point, features a lighthouse built in 1890, and one of the best close-up views of Vancouver's harbor. The second, Prospect point, is on top of a high bluff at the northern end of the park and has an excellent view of the Lions Gate bridge and the North Shore Mountains The eastern section of the seawall provides a close-up view of Vancouver's harbor and the downtown skyline, whereas the west side showcases West Vancouver and Point Grey. The western side of Stanley Park is almost completely dense forest, which includes some Cedars and Douglas Firs that are almost 50 meters (164 ft) high. Buried among the evergreens is a large pond called Beaver Lake that is the home of a wide variety of birds. The south end of the Park lies on the shores of English Bay and features numerous tennis courts, picnic areas, and some of the most popular beaches in Vancouver. On the South side you will find Lost Lagoon, the park's largest lake. Lost Lagoon is the haven for many varieties of birds including swans, ducks and Canada geese.
At the Park's heart is the formal Rose Garden surrounded by mass perennial plantings looking their very best from April through September. The spring-blooming Ted and Mary Greig Rhododendron Garden bordered the pitch and putt course, which is one of recreational activities that Stanley Park has to offer. Among the popular sites within the park are the Children's Farmyard, the Miniature Railway and the Vancouver Aquarium.
Today, Stanley Park is an oasis of green amidst the city's urban sprawl, and stands as a tribute to the foresight of those responsible for its creation.
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