Inside Vancouver

Our Wild Backyard: 4 Daytrips for Nature Lovers

by Remy Scalza in Green City on November 24, 2011

Dwarfed by the nearby Coast Mountains and surrounded by the wild Pacific Ocean, Vancouver is the rare city readymade for nature lovers. Within an hour’s drive of the downtown core, endless adventures await on land and sea. Here are four daytrip ideas for people eager to get back to nature:

Paddle Indian Arm: A 12-mile glacial fjord carved through steep mountains, Indian Arm is just a 40-minute drive from downtown Vancouver. From the community of Deep Cove, you can rent kayaks or strike out on hiking trails.

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Our Wild Backyard: 4 Daytrips for Nature Lovers

Halloween Hiking: Spooky treks around Vancouver

by Remy Scalza in Outside on October 24, 2011

Vancouver in October is readymade for Halloween. Overcast skies, deep, dark forests and mist rising from the chilly coastal waters all lend a spooky air. For hikers seeking a little extra thrill on their excursions, here are three suggestions for atmospheric Halloween treks:

Scare Yourself Silly in Stanley Park: Vancouver’s central park is covered by hundreds of acres of dense, damp Pacific rainforest. Long trails wind through dark groves of cedar, fir and hemlock. Did I mention the area also borders on Deadman Island, once home to a First Nations’ burial site? Click here for a trail map.

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Halloween Hiking: Spooky treks around Vancouver

Urban Hiking in Vancouver: Black Mountain

by Remy Scalza in Outside on September 13, 2011

Everyone knows that Vancouver is surrounded by stunning, snow-capped mountains. What many people don’t realize is how close the city truly is to those rugged peaks.

Within a 30-minute drive from downtown, you can access fantastic trails running through pristine alpine terrain. I call it urban hiking – since you can be back in the city in time for dinner. During the summer, one of my hands-down favourite hikes – offering big rewards with a minimum of time and effort – is the quick ascent of Black Mountain, one of the peaks of Cypress Mountain.

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Urban Hiking in Vancouver: Black Mountain

Vancouver by Trolley – Stop 15 Prospect Point (Red 7)

by Inside Vancouver in Town on July 1, 2011

If you’ve read the 30 Stops in 30 Weeks blog previously, it’s pretty apparent that I love Stanley Park. With 1000 acres to explore, many a wonderful afternoon can be spent exploring Vancouver’s #1 attraction. What you haven’t read yet, is my love for ice cream. You can imagine my excitement when I hopped off the Trolley at Prospect Point yesterday, home of the World Famous Ice Cream. Aside from their regular ice cream flavors, the Prospect Point Cafe offers something new to the market – matcha green tea soft-serve. This is a far stretch from the twist cones we remember from McDonald’s, yet the grown-up taste is a welcomed refreshment. I of course had to get a scoop of my favorite maple walnut ice cream, too. Continue reading:
Vancouver by Trolley – Stop 15 Prospect Point (Red 7)

Moonlit Night Hikes at Pacific Spirit Regional Park: March 19

by Remy Scalza in Outside on March 17, 2011

Photo credit: daveelmore on Flickr

Perhaps because it’s situated a bit outside of downtown, Pacific Spirit Regional Park doesn’t get as much attention as some of Vancouver’s other green gems like Stanley Park and Queen Elizabeth Park. But that doesn’t mean Pacific Spirit can’t hold its own with the local heavyweights.

Located adjacent to the University of British Columbia, the park covers a whopping 763 hectares, making it almost twice as large as Stanley Park. It embraces terrain ranging from rugged shoreline, including the popular Wreck Beach, to thickly forested hills, plateaus and valleys.

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Moonlit Night Hikes at Pacific Spirit Regional Park: March 19

Our Wild Backyard: 4 Daytrips for Nature Lovers

Halloween Hiking: Spooky treks around Vancouver

Urban Hiking in Vancouver: Black Mountain

Vancouver by Trolley – Stop 15 Prospect Point (Red 7)

Moonlit Night Hikes at Pacific Spirit Regional Park: March 19

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