Vancouver, British Columbia is a lovely city, nestled against the Coast Mountain Range and surrounded on three sides by water. Big Papa and I escaped the hubbub of the July 4th holiday and enjoyed four relaxing days with our Canuck cousins north of the border.

We stayed at the Nelson House Bed and Breakfast in the West End, a lively neighborhood just adjacent to spectacular Stanley Park and within walking distance of shops and restaurants along Robson Street. It was wonderful to be able to park the car and hoof it to most of our destinations.

One afternoon, we took the wee False Creek Ferry over to Granville Island and lazily poked around the market, art and gift shops. We dined on fresh seafood, French cuisine and spicy Greek treats for dinner. Stanley Park provided an afternoon’s worth of strolling amidst roller bladders, children playing seaside and tourists checking out First Nations Totem Poles. Yaletown, the trendy revived warehouse district and the colorful Davie Street, the center of gay life in Vancouver were just blocks away. There was no shortage of interesting things to see and do during our stay.

With all the city of Vancouver has to offer, the high points (literally) of our trip were our adventures to four suspension bridges, each just a short drive from our comfy B&B. First, I should say that Vancouver is “all about bridges,” not surprisingly for a city where there is water in just about every direction you look. In fact, on our map, I counted at least a dozen bridges in close proximity to downtown Vancouver.

The three suspension bridges we visited take the entire bridge concept to a different level so to speak, since the only traffic to cross their narrow, swaying spans is foot traffic. Big Papa and I explored the suspension bridges and environs at Capilano, Lynn Canyon Park and University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Botanical Gardens.

Capilano

At 450 feet (137m) across and 230 feet (70m) above the Capilano River, the Capilano Suspension Bridge lays claim as Vancouver’s oldest tourist attraction. It was originally built in 1889 out of hemp rope and replaced with wire cable in 1903. At $30 per person to enter the park, it also took its place as the most expensive bridge we visited.

In addition to the bridge, Capilano hosts ‘Treetops Adventure,’ a series of suspension bridges 100 feet (30m) up above the forest floor. As our second Suspension Bridge experience, Treetops was a relaxing jaunt through the evergreens. At Capilano Park, kids can also partake in nature tours, the Rainforest Explorer program and Living Forest Exhibit. Everyone can enjoy the crowds. Capilano easily took the prize for the most crowded.

As Big Papa and I walked across back across the main bridge’s expanse, we shared the sway and staggering view to the river below with more people than I cared to count. It was cool to be up there looking down, but it would have had more impact if we weren’t sharing the moment with the throngs.

Lynn Canyon Park

Lynn Canyon Park Suspension Bridge was Suspension Bridge number three. It’s height at 150 feet (50m) doesn’t compete in stature with Capilano but its price tag, free, and somewhat lighter crowds was a nice relief.

Lynn Canyon also gave us a bit more bounce for our step. After crossing the bridge, there is a decent trail system through the woods and a river with lots of boulders where families were swimming and lounging around. It’s the kind of place where you can get your five minutes of thrill and then sit down and enjoy a picnic riverside.

UBC Botanical Garden
Last, but not least, in my book anyway, was the Canopy Walkway at University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Botanical Garden. Greenheart Conservation Company promotes ‘Eco-forestry’ canopy walkway projects around the world in places like Ghana, Madagascar and Rwanda.

Although the UBC Suspension Bridge only reaches heights of 59 feet (18m), its purpose is less to thrill than to educate. Visitors are able to experience the unique biodiversity of a Pacific Coastal Rainforest canopy, which includes treetop mosses, lichens, birds, insects and, of course, lots of trees.

This series of bridges through the trees had the least number of people (maximum of 32 per tour) and our guide told us about the unique trees at UBC, including Western Red Cedar, Big Leaf Maple, Taiwanese Coffin Tree and Himalayan Umbrella Tree.

Back in the U.S.A.
Our weekend was a pretty cool adventure overall. As we headed back to Seattle, Big Papa and I talked about what we liked the most about our trip. We concluded that while cities are interesting, we both recharge our batteries in the country. Vancouver was a fun place to visit, but the two of us will retreat to the treetops any chance we get.