A Trip to the
North Shore Part II:
North Vancouver -
Courtesy of
Tourism VancouverFifteen 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.
There is so much, so close.
