Celebrate Spring in Vancouver

Vancouver in the spring is a feast for the senses. The scent of bursting cherry blossoms fill the air, sunshine and warmth displace the rainy winter gloom, and parks and gardens start bloom with vibrant colors. It’s a prime time to visit this Canadian city, and here are five ways to enjoy it in the springtime.

Smell the Flowers
Stanley Park is a must-visit for the springtime bloom, as the formal Rose Garden peaks in April with 3,500 fragrant roses. In May, catch the park’s vibrant display of 4,500 azalea and rhododendron bushes. Over at the Nitobe Memorial Garden, marvel at cherry trees with pink blossoms, stone gardens, Koi pond, and an authentic tea garden.

Kayak False Creek
False Creek is a short city inlet that separates downtown Vancouver from the rest of the city. The calm waterway makes for sublime kayaking, and Ecomarine Ocean Kayak is offering guided kayaking tours of this inlet. On the 2 ½-hour tour, you’ll pass under the Burrard Street Bridge and see sailboats, colorful floating homes, and seals and seabirds – you might even spot a bald eagle. The tour departs from Granville Island, which filled with a public market, restaurants, and art galleries, making it a perfect pre- or post-kayak stop.

Go Hiking
Hiking trails abound in Vancouver, and in spring, the trails are dry and ready for a trek. Head to Lynn Canyon Park for a walk across its suspension bridge, which swings 165 feet above a river canyon. On the other side of the bridge are the Twin Falls and Thirty Foot Pool trails, which lead to forest pools and waterfalls – perfect for family fun. Head to Lighthouse Park for ocean views and old-growth Douglas fir trees, all accessed by easy trails.

Stroll Steveston
Just 30 minutes outside of Vancouver, Steveston is home to Canada’s largest fishing fleet, with more than 600 boats. Stroll the waterfront boardwalk, which is lined with seafood restaurants and also has a cannery museum with interactive exhibits. You can even buy fresh fish right off the dock. Nearby is the ocean dyke trail, which takes hikers past tidal flats, sunning turtles, and farms. End your day with a meal of fish-and-chips at a wharf-side eatery.

See Vancouver from the Water
For a different way to see Vancouver, take a ride on the Aquabus, a fleet of small boats that zigzag across False Creek, stopping at hip Yaletown, the Maritime Museum, and Granville Island. Get further out on the Seabus, a larger ferry that takes passengers across the Burrard Inlet from downtown to North Vancouver’s Lonsdale Quay, home to food shops and an indoor market. But it’s the stunning views that make this a ferry ride worth taking.

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