Ride around Stanley Park
Who is Stanley Park named after?
The park has a long history and was one of the first areas to be explored in the city. The land was used by first nation peoples before British Columbia was colonized by the British in 1858. The land was later turned into Vancouver’s first park when the city incorporated in 1886. It was named after Lord Stanley, a British politician who had recently been appointed governor general. Stanley Park is 10% larger than New York City’s Central Park. Scenic views of the water, mountains, sky, and majestic trees along Stanley Park’s famous Seawall.
Seawall bike Tour
The 9-kilometer Seawall cycling path; the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront path. Total of 23 km around the city
Downtown Vancouver is 65% residential. Even hotels such as Shangri-La are half hotel/half residential.
Seaplane: 159$ per person for a 30min tour including 20 min in the air
The aquarium is a must do attraction in a raining day.
The 9 O’Clock Gun
The 9 O’Clock Gun is a cannon that is shot every night at 9 pm.
It also has its own Twitter Parody Account in which it tweets “BOOM!” every day at 9 pm
In 1898 the gun was fired for the first time in Stanley Park at noon. The 9 pm firing was later established as a time signal for the general population. The cannon is now activated automatically with an electronic trigger.
Lions Gate Bridge
The Lions Gate Bridge is the first bridge built from Vancouver to North Vancouver. It was built by the Guinness family (yes, the beer family) to access land holdings in North and West Vancouver. The road to the bridge goes directly through the heart of Stanley Park!
In 1939, Queen Elizabeth presided over the official opening during a royal visit to Canada.
Totem Poles
First Nations culture is an important part of the history of both Stanley Park and Vancouver. These are the traditional lands of the Coast Salish People, a First Nations village. The nine totem poles are BC’s most visited tourist attraction
The Little Mermaid & the SS Empress of Japan figurehead
“Girl in a Wetsuit” is a life-size bronze sculpture by Elek Imredy.
The SS Empress of Japan figurehead is a colorful replica of the actual figurehead of the ship that conducted commerce between Vancouver and the Orient in the early days of Vancouver.
Rainforest & Beaver Lake
You may notice a change in temperature, humidity, smells and sounds as you enter the coastal temperate rainforest.
It was named Beaver Lake by European settlers who observed beavers in the lake around 1907.
After a long absence, beavers are again living in this very shallow lake and are largely responsible for clearing away the water lilies, creating the area of open water in front of you. You can see the beaver lodge, which looks like a small island, about 30 m offshore.
keep your eyes open for the northern flying squirrel!
Red cedar trees
600-year-old Western Red Cedar. It fell because of the severe windstorm in December 2006. The storm destroyed hundreds of trees in 2006 in Stanley Park and Capilano as well. A tree fell off Capilano bridge, the bridge did not break despite the heavy weight of the tree.
Siwash Rock
Siwash Rock, also known by its Squamish name Skalsh, is a famous rock outcropping in Vancouver. A legend among the Indigenous Squamish people surrounds the rock. It is around 15 meters tall.
Finding the Lost Lagoon
Despite its name, this lagoon is easily spotted near the base of the park, just west of the Georgia Street entrance from downtown Vancouver. Before the Stanley Park Causeway was built in the 1920s, the tide flowed in and out of the pond, leading local poet Pauline Johnson to write “Ode to the Lost Lagoon”—which likely gave the pond its name. This is a good spot to see peacocks and another wildlife strutting by.
If you would like to learn more about our Vancouver Bike Tours, contact us.
