A Trip to the North Shore Part II: North Vancouver

Fifteen minutes after departing downtown Vancouver and threading its way through the towering freighters of the working harbour, the SeaBus pulls into its slip. Vancouverites have been crossing Burrard Inlet by ferry for over 130 years. First Nations' peoples have been making the crossing for considerably longer. Today, when you arrive in North Vancouver on the SeaBus you'll discover a vibrant public market, waterfront parks, working ship yards and some of the best views of the Vancouver skyline.

Planning to take your car? North Vancouver is well serviced by two bridge crossings. In the heart of North Vancouver, along Lonsdale Avenue, you'll find the shopping varied and interesting. Lower Lonsdale's early commercial buildings contain a nifty collection of shops. Those looking for a bite to eat will be spoilt for choice, from tiny bistros to waterfront views. You can even dine on the water at the Seven Seas Restaurant aboard their former North Vancouver Ferry.

The mountain backdrop to North Vancouver is the setting for spectacular attractions and parks. The regions oldest attraction, the Capilano Suspension Bridge, high above the Capilano canyon, is sure to give you a thrill. While Grouse Mountain Resort's Skyride will whisk you 1200 metres (3,960 feet) up the mountain for stunning views and in season, hiking and skiing. . You might even be tempted to hike the "Grouse Grind," a strenuous trail which rises dramatically under the Skyride.

The area's numerous parks, including Deep Cove Park and Mount Seymour Provincial Park, offer outdoor recreation activities ranging from sea kayaking, to hiking to downhill skiing. Lynn Canyon Park's 250 hectares (615 acres) of coastal rainforest includes a popular ecology centre and a host of easily accessible trails.

The community's active arts and cultural life is evident in a number of galleries, while amateur theatre groups perform regularly in local theatres. Nearby residential areas have interesting examples of architecture ranging from simple cottages built to house wartime shipyard employees to large Tudor Revival homes.