Inside Vancouver

A Place of Magic: North Vancouver’s Cleveland Dam

by Inside Vancouver in Outside on February 22, 2012

photo: Kate Sutherland

The following article was contributed by Australian native, Kate Sutherland.

If someone were to ask me what the most magical place in the world is, my answer would be Cleveland Dam’s walking tracks. It doesn’t sound very magical to say it, but Cleveland Dam is so breathtakingly beautiful, how could it not be magical? Come take a walk with me in a land where fairies would live.

Cleveland Dam and its enchanting trails are situated just 15 minutes from Vancouver’s Downtown in the Capilano Regional Park. The dam is cradled between beautiful Grouse Mountain and the majestic “Lions.” It is some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

Continue reading:
A Place of Magic: North Vancouver’s Cleveland Dam

Cross-country skiing: The great-great-grandparent of ski sports

by Taraneh in Outside on January 26, 2012

Winter in Vancouver is built around the pursuit of powder. But have you tried all the options? Sure, alpine skiing is exhilarating and snowboarders get to use words like “shred.” In this post, however, I’d like to revisit the glory of classic cross-country skiing.

In the words of Jackrabbit Johannsen (Canadian XC ski hero who cut tracks through age 111): “Running is an act of will; skiing an act of spirit.” He’s referring to the bliss of the perfect cross country diagonal stride: you drive forward with each with each skinny ski, swinging the opposite arm and gliding swiftly.

With 19 km of cross-country trails at nearby Cypress Mountain and 56 km of world-class terrain at Whistler Olympic Park—just two hours away in the breathtaking Callaghan Valley—there’s no shortage of opportunity. If you haven’t yet tried classic cross-country skiing, I hope this motivates you: Continue reading:
Cross-country skiing: The great-great-grandparent of ski sports

Best Places for Sledding in Vancouver? You make the call!

by Remy Scalza in Outside on January 18, 2012

Vancouver may not have been dumped with a mega snowfall this week as predicted, but there is still a centimetre or two of the white stuff on the ground in most places. It might not be enough for a snowman, but it should do the job for a little sledding.

But where to sled? There are dedicated tobogganing parks on Mount Seymour ($9 all-day) and Cypress Mountain ($10 for two hours). But I was thinking more in terms of local, neighbourhood hills where you can sled.

Where’s your favourite sledding hill in Vancouver? Let us know by leaving a comment below before the snow melts.

Here are a few ideas to get you started: Continue reading:
Best Places for Sledding in Vancouver? You make the call!

The Bald Eagles are Back in Vancouver

by Remy Scalza in Outside on January 16, 2012

Every winter, thousands of bald eagles descend on the rivers, lakes and coasts of British Columbia to feed on spawning salmon. This year is no exception, and right now is one of the top times for wildlife lovers to spot the majestic birds in Vancouver and the surrounding communities.

Here are some tips on where to see the eagles for yourself. Continue reading:
The Bald Eagles are Back in Vancouver

New, Free App for Vancouver Parks

by Dana Lynch in Outside on January 9, 2012

Almost two years ago, Metro Vancouver debuted their iParks Explorer App, a mobile guide to Metro Vancouver’s 22 regional parks. At the time, many wondered why there wasn’t a similar app for City of Vancouver Parks. Now there is. Last month, the Vancouver Park Board unveiled their new, free app for iPhone, iPad and iTouch, the Vancouver Parks App.

The new Vancouver Parks app features all of Vancouver’s 200+ city parks, providing information on each park’s amenities and facilities as well as park photos, plus directions for reaching the parks closest to your current location. Users can also search for Vancouver parks by map or by alphabetical order and create lists of personal favourites.

Continue reading:
New, Free App for Vancouver Parks

A Place of Magic: North Vancouver’s Cleveland Dam

Cross-country skiing: The great-great-grandparent of ski sports

Best Places for Sledding in Vancouver? You make the call!

The Bald Eagles are Back in Vancouver

New, Free App for Vancouver Parks

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Vancouver photo essays