Bloedel Floral Conservatory, Queen Elizabeth Park
The celebrated Vancouver views are legendary, each providing a stunning medley of mountains, ocean and city.
The choices are endless: should you view the city from the top of Queen Elizabeth Park's Little Mountain ? Or from the 167-m (550-ft) viewing deck at Harbour Centre. Perhaps the most stunning view can be seen at sunset overlooking English Bay . Then again, North Vancouver's Lonsdale Quay and the North Shore mountains offer exquisite vantage points.
No matter where you go to be awed by the view, it's sure to be unforgettable. Just don't forget your camera!
Highlights
Hide Map
Address Location
At approximately 167 metres above sea level the Vancouver Lookout is the BEST FIRST STOP for all visitors. Enjoy the spectacular 360º view of the city, North Shore Mountains and one of Canada's largest ports. Ride up in the exterior glass elevator, approximately 50 seconds from street level to the top. On deck you can learn all about Vancouver and the must-see, must-do activities and attractions around the city. Visit our gift shop and the new Armstrong Gallery. Admission ticket(s) valid for same day return.
> View Details
Known as the Peak of Vancouver, Grouse Mountain is a favourite destination for locals and visitors alike. Just a short drive from downtown Vancouver, your mountain adventure begins in the parking lot, where a 100-passenger aerial tram ride whisks visitors up the mountain to the lodge. At the top, enjoy a delightful meal at Grouse Mountain's Observatory.
If panoramic views partnered with colourful floral displays appeal to you, head to Queen Elizabeth Park. This manicured 52-ha (130-ac) urban oasis is the city's highest point south of downtown. As such, it offers visitors unparalleled views of the city and its surrounding mountain peaks from its lookouts.
In addition to formal gardens of glorious colour, Queen Elizabeth Park is home to the country's first civic arboretum. Here you can examine a collection of nearly all trees native to Canada in addition to some international specimens. As well, the Bloedel Floral Conservatory celebrates the natural world through its tropical birds, plants, rainforest and fish.
There is also ample opportunity for an introspective moment in the tranquil rock gardens, ponds and waterfalls of the Quarry Garden.
Park amenities include a pitch-and-putt, myriad walking paths and tennis courts. Pack a lunch to enjoy on the picnic grounds.
Queen Elizabeth Park is just a 15-minute drive south of downtown Vancouver.
A word or two on your visit:
• Admission fee in effect for the conservatory
• Approximate time required: 1-2 hours
>
Queen Elizabeth Park website .
The crown jewel of Vancouver's parks, 405-ha (1,000-ac) Stanley Park has room for plenty of spectacular views. Navigating the park in a counterclockwise direction, some of the panoramic vista points include:
The Seawall from the Georgia Street entrance to Brockton Point Lighthouse provides stunning views of the downtown skyline, including the distinctive five-sails silhouette of
Canada Place .
Rounding the bend beyond Brockton Point, prepare to be wowed by the stature of Lions Gate Bridge, the legendary three-lane suspension bridge connecting Vancouver to the North Shore.
In proximity to the bridge is Prospect Point, a perfect place to stop and view the picturesque North Shore.
As you continue to make your way along the western tip of the park, Siwash Rock -an offshore volcanic outcropping- comes into view, a testament to the vagaries of time.
Stanley Park is within easy walking distance of downtown Vancouver.
>
Stanley Park website .
Most people expect water views from a beach. In Vancouver, you also get the unexpected: mountain and cityscape views.
This is particularly true of Spanish Bank, Locarno, Jericho and Kitsilano Beaches along the southern shores of English Bay. Each is renowned for its stunning views of the downtown city skyline, North Shore mountains and Pacific Ocean.
Gaze at the setting sun from your perch on a large log - one of many interspersed along the beaches. Observe the mesmerizing bob of passing sailboats and keep a lookout for a Harbour Seal.
English Bay's south-shore beaches are just a 15- to 25-minute drive from downtown Vancouver.
Lonsdale Quay delivers magnificent vistas of downtown Vancouver and its harbour, including one-of-a-kind
Canada Place with its distinctive five-sails silhouette.
The only thing that competes with the view is the Quay itself, crowded with Lonsdale Quay Market & Shop visitors, artisans and vendors.
A walk along the Quay's waterfront promenade is particularly satisfying in the evening, with the lights of Vancouver twinkling in the distance.
Lonsdale Quay is located in North Vancouver, a scenic 15-minute ferry ride from downtown Vancouver via the SeaBus.
>
Lonsdale Quay website .
The entire family will enjoy this wilderness escape at the mouth of Burrard Inlet. Hidden on the outskirts of West Vancouver, the well-developed trail system includes an invigorating five-km (3-mi) circuit through centuries-old Douglas-fir and cedar forest.
To the east, enjoy fabulous views of English Bay, Stanley Park and downtown Vancouver. To the west, see Bowen Island and, further on,
Vancouver Island . No trip to the park is complete without a look at its namesake, 1912's Point Atkinson Lighthouse.
Lighthouse Park is located in
West Vancouver , 25 minutes from downtown Vancouver.
A word or two on your excursion:
• Rated: moderate
• Approximate time required: 2 hours
>
Lighthouse Park website .