cc licensed ( BY NC SD ) flickr photo shared by hynkle

Lynn Canyon

While the Capilano Suspension Bridge is more popular, it’s also $25 dollars more expensive. Save yourself some money, and the headache of falling into a bit of a “tourist trap” and check out Lynn Canyon. It’s a short drive from downtown Vancouver and is an incredible location to take in the outdoors of Vancouver. The Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge looms beautifully over trees and gives you a great view of the area.

Cross the bridge and you’ll come across Baden Powell trail, a relatively novice hike that can get you all the way down to Rice Lake. Lynn Canyon has several trails, and many places to explore, including a few secluded spots to setup picnic and even go for a swim. This location offers some beautiful photo opportunities. What better way to take in Vancouver than above a BC river & twin waterfalls.

cc licensed ( BY NC ND ) flickr photo shared by JoshNV

Seymour Demonstration Forest

Not far from Lynn Canyon, bikers, hikers, walkers and strollers grace the Demonstration Forest on a daily basis. A great getaway to stretch your legs and enjoy some outdoor activity. There’s plenty of wildlife in the area, so keep your eyes peeled. If you’re looking for a paved trail, you’ll be happy to hear the Seymour Valley Trailway is just that. But be wary, it can be the busiest trail, so if you’re looking for a little “you time” and less “get out of my way please and thank you time” you should stick to the unpaved trails.

cc licensed ( BY NC SD ) flickr photo shared by Sinéad McKeown

Grouse Mountain

Many Vancouverites tend to take their wall of mountains for granted. North Vancouver has some of the most scenic views in the city, and Grouse Mountain is no exception. While it can be a bit touristy at times, and the crowd can be a bit of a headache on weekends, if you stop by midweek on a beautiful day you’re going to be in for a treat.

Grouse Mountain is an outdoorsy mecca. Whether you’re a runner, hiker, skiier, or crazy enough to hit the Grouse Grind (a 2.9 KM hike to the top with an elevation gain of 853 meters (2,800ft) known locally as the “Stair Master”), you’re sure to find a few ways to burn a couple hundred calories here. If you’re not at your physical peak and would rather take it easy, the Gondola ride to the top, followed by the free chairlift (which gets you even higher) can offer some of the most beautiful views of the area. Best of all, they’ve got ziplining!

Expect Grouse Mountain to be a “splurge” day, as it’s definitely not cheap to do, but if you’re planning on seeing Vancouver and experiencing the outdoors it’s worth a stop!

cc licensed ( BY SD ) flickr photo shared by dmealiffe

Stanley Park

Stanley Park is probably one of my favourite spots in all of Vancouver. This massive park has a notorious ability to make you think you’ve completely left the city. With countless walkways, a swimming pool, a zoo, a bunch of awesome monuments, totem poles, and all the free room you could ask for. Stanley Park offers locals and tourists the ability to enjoy the outdoors in a budget friendly fashion. Rent a bike and explore the trails, or strap on your favourite runners and see the park from a slightly higher speed than your ordinary walker.

Hands down one of the best city parks I’ve ever been to. Stanley Park is easily worth a full day if you have the time, or a half day if you’ve got other plans nearby.

cc licensed ( BY NC ND ) flickr photo shared by rickie22

Crab Park

Crab Park is a beautiful little park located in Gastown that’s always bustling with activity. Watch as the coast guard’s hovercraft cruises by, or dream of what it must be like to be rich and famous as you watch private helicopters take off from the city. While this Crab Park isn’t really the hiker friendly park that others in this list are, it’s convenient and offers some simple walks and gorgeous views of the city. I should note that some may be put off at this park by some the locals. Gastown can be notorious for it’s wide variety of characters, so just keep a smart head on you. Though at the end of the day you have to remember Vancouver is a very friendly city, even amongst the most quirky individuals.

cc licensed ( BY ND ) flickr photo shared by WriterGal39

Queen Elizabeth Park

Another great nearby and local park worth stopping by. While it may not be for the diehard hikers, it’s easily worth a relaxing stroll. This park is filled with simple trails, the occasional tennis player and lawn bowler, and some great views of downtown Vancouver. Queen Elizabeth Park offers plenty of great photo opportunities in this park, including some friendly people and a plant conservatory. Rain or shine it’s worth a stroll!

Vancouver’s a big city with countless parks to explore. Whether they’re small and simple with a few benches and a good view, or a park that competes with the rest of the world and pushes it’s visitors to try something new and break a bit of a sweat. Taking in the outdoors as much as possible is an incredibly “Vancouver” thing to do. I’ve heard people say they could never live in a city that get’s so much rain. But when you see an entire populace simply ignore it and continue on with their day to day lives, it’s easy to feel like you could too.

Am I missing any other awesome Vancouver Parks? Would love to hear from you in the comments below!

6 Vancouver Parks worth checking out this Summer is a post from: I Backpack Canada

cc licensed ( BY NC SD ) flickr photo shared by MsNina

Wreck Beach

Vancouver’s Wreck Beach never ceases to make me smile. Perhaps it’s my North American upbringing that makes me giggle at the thought of hundreds of people letting the sun shine where it so rarely does. Nude beaches, they’re intriguingly fascinating. They’re by all means not common in Canada, but I’m happy they exist! While nudity is a big part of this beach, it’s technically only “clothing-optional”. There’s plenty of things to do for those scared to make that leap into letting your bits and kibbles out for the day.

Volleyball, hot dogs, guitars, smack a drum or two or take in the cool waters of the Pacific. Of coarse, there’s also a fair amount of public drinking to be had, but be careful. Beer is crazy expensive around here. So perhaps consider smuggling your own. On a warm summer day, expect the skunky smell of BC Bud to fill the air. While technically Pot is illegal in Canada, it is legal for medicinal use, and is generally tolerated by most, particularly on the west coast. Wreck Beach is a unique Vancouver experience. Just whatever you do, avoid bringing your camera out in these parts. Old timer hippies will happily bark at tourists and looky-lou’s trying to snap photos of their “freedom”.

cc licensed ( BY NC SD )  flickr photo shared by gmcmullen

Tower Beach

Tower beach isn’t your typical “paradise” looking beach. You won’t find gold sand, tanned and oiled bodies who look like they just finished a set at the gym. What you will find is rocks. Lots of them. If you plan on relaxing in these parts, bring good shoes. It may not be the comfiest beach to lounge around, but the sight of two 10-11 meter high concrete towers that overlook the Vancouver Harbour makes for neat photos.

Don’t expect much in terms of amenities. There’s no public washrooms or vendors, but there is something that can be hard to come by at the other beaches. Peace and quiet.

cc licensed ( BY NC ) flickr photo shared by Danny Ko

Spanish Banks

The Spanish Banks will always have a place in my heart. It’s hard to complain about the view. A massive view of the ocean, mountains, sky, and the sight of dozens of sail boats cruising around. Great sand, cute beach cafes, volleyball courts, and a large grassy area perfect for picnics, BBQ’s, and playing frisbee with your dog!

While it’s a little more “out of the way”, it is a great reprieve from the hustle and bustle of downtown Vancouver. In my opinion this has to be the best beach in Vancouver.

cc licensed ( BY NC ND ) flickr photo shared by russilwvong

Jericho Beach

Probably one of the best views of the North Shore mountains, Jericho Beach is far enough away to be considered quiet and family friendly. Tucked away from the Spanish Banks and Kits Beach, this little slice of heaven is perfect to get away from everything. There’s plenty of room to lounge, get your volleyball on, or setup a fancy picnic to impress that special someone. If you’re from away and checking out Jericho Beach, consider staying at the HI Jericho Beach. It’s the only beach retreat hostel in Vancouver and they know the Jericho like nobodies business.

cc licensed ( BY NC SD ) flickr photo shared by Junnn

Kitsilano Beach

Kits gets bashed a lot because of the people that hang out around here. There seems to be a ridiculous amount of good looking people in these parts. Which is quite common in Vancouver, but these particular types are sort of the “hot and I know it” variety. If you can get over the occasional douche vibe, and put your reservations aside, Kits is actually an awesome beach to check out.

Kits is an urban beach, which means it’s not going to be your typical secluded and peaceful beach. But if you can embrace the chaos, it’s widely interesting and can be a great way to spend a hot day in Vancouver. This is one of the best places in Vancouver to people watch. Frisbees, hippies, hacky sacks, girls in bikinis and high heels, guys trying to flex their way out of tshirts, cute dogs, people with hilarious burns, people with great tans, and best of all: It’s all surrounded in the beautiful scenery of mountains, ocean, and the city!

Boom! So that sums up my favourite 5 beaches in the beautiful city of Vancouver. Beaches are synonymous with summer in Canada, and you’d have to be a full on crazy not to take advantage of them during our short but hot summer months. While summer may be a good month or two away from fully kicking in, it’s good to be prepared. Bring you sunscreen, a towel, and a few friends and find out why Vancouver is so consistently rated as one of the best cities in Canada.

Map of Vancouver’s Beaches

My 5 Favourite Beaches in Vancouver, British Columbia is a post from: I Backpack Canada

Tofino is a surf town at its very core, and its a great stop for backpackers. There’s a couple Hostels in town, and plenty to see and do. Tofino’s a great spot for first-time surfers. If you have a little more experience you’ll have to chat to the locals to find the fear-inducing locations. Be sure to book ahead in Tofino as accommodation in the summer is pretty limited. If things are full, don’t be afraid to check out Ucluelet, which is a great alternative to Tofino.

Video by Canadian Tourism

Sunday Canadian Travel Video – The Surf Lifestyle in Tofino BC is a post from: I Backpack Canada

In June I had the opportunity to participate in my first TBEX, (Travel Blog Exchange). TBEX ’11 was held in Vancouver British Columbia. Thousands of writers, bloggers, and PR folks met to discuss business at large and share a few cocktails. Near the finale of it all, many of the bloggers were invited to hang out on a yacht like a bunch of millionaires.

Millionaires we are most certainly not. But scoring photos like these, sometimes I wonder if I should be. (Ha!)

I’m still considering biting the bullet to attend TBEX 2012 in Colorado, but I’ll have to see where exactly in Canada I am around that time.

Will you be at TBEX 2012?

Photo Du Jour – Downtown Vancouver Skyline is a post from: I Backpack Canada

Located in Southern British Columbia near Kelowna, the Okanagan Region is roughly two-thirds the size of Belgium. There are a bunch of award winning Vineyards in the area, hundreds of fruit orchards & some amazing lakes & rivers for swimming and fishing. The dry desert climate in this area makes it perfect for growing all types of fruit. The fact that this place actually has cactus growing wild completely blows my mind, which just adds to the exotic factor of this location.

Ever been to the Okanagan? How awesome is it!?

Photo Du Jour – Kalamalka Lake in the Okanagan Valley is a post from: I Backpack Canada

While I was staying at the Kelowna Samesun Hostel, I ended up having several drinks with this young Australian guy. He was 23 years old, staying at one of the local hostels in downtown Vancouver. Right in the heart of all the mess. We got talking and he gave me his entire story on how he saw things go down. He wants to remain anonymous, but he agreed to let me share his story.

The following will be written from his point of view.

We Just Wanted A Photo

I was watching the game with a few friends I’d just met that day, and after the loss we were hearing from people that riots had broke out. Word got out that things were getting crazy around Georgia Street, and that a car had already been lit on fire. Looking back, the next decision I made probably wasn’t that smart, but beer & curiosity will make you do crazy things. We left the hostel in hopes of getting a quick photo of the riots, something to say “we saw what happened the day the Canucks lost”.

Photo Credit: Andy Liang

A Run In with Riot Police

We made it up to Georgia Street, and saw what was left of one car. Burnt metal, smoke, and a cluster of crazy people screaming around it. We snapped our picture and stayed a few minutes, watching. We figured things might get crazy quick, which made us think we should probably get back to the hostel quick. As we were making our way back, we were met by a line of riot police in full gear. Tear gas was shot out at the crowd. We ran down a small street to try and avoid the chaos and get out of the line of fire.

The next street over we see another band of crazies. Some guy was hammering away at a Hummer. I said to someone nearby “All this over a trophy?”, and was given a reply by one of the rioters. “The Canucks lost! Vancouver has to burn!”. His eyes screamed that he sincerely believed this. Through the kicks to cars, we saw someone trying to light the Hummer on fire. They had rags hanging out of the gas tank in hopes that they could light the petrol up. It didn’t work, which only pissed them off more. Eventually someone showed up with some flaming pieces of wood. They threw a bunch of fire underneath the hummer. We took a couple pictures, then figured we should go. Quick. Things were progressively getting more insane. More rioters joined, even less crazy ones who just wanted to smash something.

Intimidation with Shields & Batons

As we run from the Hummer fire scene we heard an explosive boom. We heard through the herd of people that the Hummer had exploded. At this point we were barely able to move. People were everywhere. Up the road more riot police held their ground. People were kicking their shields, throwing rocks, and screaming at the Riot police. The Riot Police faught back with intimidation, smashing their batons against their shields. More tear gas came out, this time in heavy doses. It was getting hard to see and breathe.

We found a small alleyway and ran down it and lucked out. We ended up near the back entrance of our Hostel. I walked out onto Granville with my hands up, and my hostel key out in hopes that people will know I’m not a rioter and just a tourist in the whole event. A police in riot gear told me to get out of here, it’ll be another three hours at least before things settle down. At this point I was thinking I’m screwed.

We went back to the alleyway and began hollering up at hostel windows. We finally caught the attention of someone in their room and told them we had dorm rooms there. We showed our keys, and they told us to just go around front. We told them that everything was boarded up, police aren’t letting anyone through, and we have nowhere to go. The people in the window said to wait there. They’d look for help.

Tear Gas Begins to Thin Out

We waited for 10 or 15 minutes before one of the higher-ups at the hostel let us through the back door after we showed him our keys and confirmed we were who we said we were. I made it back, washed up, and watched the rest of the scene unfold over the TV and looking out the window. Tear gas thinned out, the fires went out, people cleared the streets, and the city looked like it had seen the end of days.

I kept thinking how crazy things got so quick. Just a couple days ago I was high-fiving the entire city of Vancouver. Then this happened. My entire faith in this city I had been visiting for the past week had been totally lost. I was already planning on leaving the city soon; however, this confirmed that I needed to do so quicker.

Then I Awoke

Then something mind-blowingly surreal happened. I awoke the next morning and found the city clean. The glass, the debris, the remnants of the fires, all completely clean. It was as if the whole ordeal never happened. I asked at the front desk how this happened and was told that thousands of volunteers came out after things died out and helped clean up.

Boarded with Love

Shattered windows were boarded up and had already begun to be drawn on. Messages of hope. Messages of anger. Messages of love. “This is OUR city, thx to every1 who helped clean up!” – “I love Van” – “Solidarity Forever” – “Vancouver people are beautiful”. Within days those boards had filled up, there was hardly any room left to write on. Supporters sold white pieces of fabric for people to paint on with proceeds going to the cleanup of Vancouver.

A Heart Warming Sight

Seeing the city come together after an event like that is incredibly heart warming. The people behind the riots weren’t true Vancouverites. Sure, people got caught up in the mess, but from what I saw, these people were planning on rioting win or lose. Whatever the case may be, thats how I saw things. It was crazy. I’m just happy I made it out alive.

There’s a Peace Rally planned for Saturday June 25th to honour the Paramedics and Police who helped keep Vancouver Safe. See the Vancouver Spirit Rally Facebook Page.

Big thanks to my anonymous Australian pal for sharing the details of this with me. Were you in Vancouver for the riots? Please share your story.

An Australian Backpacker Caught In The Vancouver Riots is a post from: I Backpack Canada

Kayaking with Natural Escapes

The girls from Natural Escapes Kayaking took the group through a crash course of kayaking, which included proper paddling techniques and even some basic lifesaving assistance. Very thorough, I thought to myself. I can’t think of how many times I’ve gone kayaking with people who weren’t given a lick of instructions on what to do if somebody flips. It was reassuring to the whole group that we were in good hands.

Photographic Echos

Sunshine clawed its way through the clouds and warmed the black paddle in my hands. I pushed forward through the water and felt the mountain breeze across my face. I let my hand drag through the glacier fed lake and thought how great this place was. I guiltily broke the peace and quiet of this tranquil location, “Hey Candice, picture!”. My travel amigo struck a pose and laughed. The beeping camera noise seemed to echo off the water.

Lake Wildlife

Our Kayaking guides informed us that this tiny lake was home to the elusive painted turtle, a couple of beavers, and even a resident bald eagle. Everyone on tour with Moose Network paddled from corner to corner of the lake in hopes of finding some wildlife. The beavers remained in hiding, as did the bald eagle; however, turtles were spotted, as was a blue heron, and we even had a local deer stop by to say “What’s up!”

Goodbye Kayaks, Hello Vistas

We parked our hand crafted water chariots after touring the entire lake. Smiles were exchanged as we bid our farewells to our guides. The BC sunshine lead the exhausted and partially wet travellers back aboard our Moose Network Bus. Rachel, our Moose Network guide, cranked the tunes and put the wheels in motion. Within no time we were back on the road to explore the Rockies!

Strike A Stupid Pose

Despite how exciting road trips are, driving for hours will drive people to exhaustion. Maybe its the scenery, the rocking back and forth, or the gentle vibrations of the highway. Whatever it is, a good stretch can change the mood of an entire bus. Our lovely Moose Network guide pulled over as often as possible to let us stretch our legs and get photo-snappy with her box of goofy hats. You can only take photos of scenic backdrops for so long until you realize having a little fun in front of the camera will likely be more memorable than the millions of photos you have of trees, mountains, and rocks.

Our target had been locked in. Like a master dart player, the Moose Network Bus lined up its shot, and launched. It wasn’t long before we found out we had made it to the little mountain town known around the world. Banff! This is where the fun begins. The outdoors, the icefields, the white water rafting. To say we were looking forward to it would have been the 2nd most largest understatement in the century. (The first would be that Poutine is tasty. )

Tour all over Canada with Moose Network

Kayak British Columbia with Natural Escapes Kayaking

Thanks to the Moose Network for their awesome help with planning my recent visit  through B.C and Alberta, and for arranging for a comped pass to the hostel. All opinions, reviews, and photos are my own.

Kayaking Near Revelstoke Mountain with The Hoodapus Gang is a post from: I Backpack Canada

The Sunday Canadian Travel Video: Whistlers Nightlife is a post from: I Backpack Canada