2010 Vancouver Olympics
The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics is a major international multi-sport event now being held on in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Both the Olympic and Paralympic Games are being organized by the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC). The 2010 Winter Olympics are the third Olympics hosted by Canada, and the first by the province of British Columbia. The whole world is focusing on Vancouver, not only on the Olympics, but also on its fantastic natural beauty and its unique history.
Queen Elizabeth Park
Queen Elizabeth Park is the last area of natural dunes on Kapiti’s coastline. Once part of a swathe of duneland stretching from Paekakariki to Foxton, the park reminds us how the coastline appeared before large-scale human settlement. Greater Wellington is working with the community to protect and enhance this environment while providing a great place to enjoy the outdoors.
With its 650 hectares of easy terrain edged by a sandy beach, Queen Elizabeth Park has plenty of space to enjoy swimming, fishing, walking, cycling, horseriding, picnics or group activities.
The park is steeped in history including pa sites at Whareroa and Wainui beaches and evidence of the 20,000 strong US marine camps from World War II The Tramway Museum is situated near the MacKays Crossing entrance, with historic trams running on the 2km line to Whareroa Beach.
2. Stanley Park
Stanley Park
Stanley Park is recognized around the globe as one of the great parks of the world! Vancouver’s first park and one of the city’s main tourist attractions, Stanley Park is an evergreen oasis of 400 hectares (1,000 acres) close to the downtown core. Its natural west coast atmosphere offering a back drop of majestic cedar, hemlock and fir trees embraces visitors and transports them to an environment rich in tranquility. The park abounds in wildlife and its features appeal to the naturalist, the plant lover or one who would do nothing more than relax in beautiful surroundings. There is always something happening in the park.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
Capilano Suspension Bridge, open every day except Christmas, is Vancouver’s oldest and most famous attraction, drawing over 800,000 visitors and 450 tour operators annually. The bridge is 450 feet across and 230 feet above Capilano River and is, without a doubt, the world’s greatest suspension footbridge! It is conveniently located 10 minutes from downtown Vancouver, through Stanley Park, and over the Lions Gate Bridge. Take a stroll in our Park… voices from the past mingle with the sounds of nature, award winning gardens skirt colourful totem poles, First Nations Carvers tell their story and the world’s greatest suspension bridge takes you to the serenity of a West Coast rainforest … it’s all in a day’s fun at Capilano Suspension Bridge .
Grouse Mountain
The Grouse Grind, billed as the world’s biggest stair-climb, is the outdoor venue these days to work out at and to meet new friends. During summer months, hundreds of trim, fresh-faced hikers ascend the steep-sided mountain from its trailhead on the east side of the Grouse Mountain parking lot at the north end of Capilano Road, usually in groups of twos and threes. A typical opening line once on top is, ‘What’s your time?’. If you complete the 1.8-mile/3-km climb, with a elevation gain of 2,760 feet/842 metres, in less than an hour, you’re doing better than average. If you beat 32 minutes for men, or 36 minutes for women, you’re the champ! A workout on the Grouse Grind is excellent preparation for a backpacking trip. This is a quick way to stretch your lower calf muscles (the ones you rarely call upon except with a 50-pound/22.5-kg pack on your back) into shape. If you’re hard-core, you’ll do the trail both ways. Other trails on the side of Grouse Mountain include the BCMC Trail (2.2 miles/3.5 km one way; allow two and a half hours), which begins from the same location as the Grouse Grind.
Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden
Situated in Vancouver’s Chinatown, just minutes from Downtown, the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden is an oasis of serenity in the heart of the city. There are two parts to this Chinese garden: a free park and a by-admission garden. Both the park and the garden incorporate elements of traditional Chinese architecture, gorgeous pavilions and bridges. In the garden, the architecture is skillfully combined with the other classical Chinese elements of weathered rock, jade-green water and plants chosen for their mystical properties. The perfect spot to meditate, relax and commune with nature, the Chinese Garden is one of Chinatown’s must-sees. It is also host to an array of events, including flower shows, art exhibits and the annual Enchanted Evening Concert Series of outdoor music every August.
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