6 Things to Do at Whytecliff Park

Whyte Islet in Whytecliff Park. Photo: Destination BC/Alex Strohl

Whyte Islet in Whytecliff Park. Photo: Destination BC/Alex Strohl

West Vancouver’s Whytecliffe Park has spectacular scenery. Go for a hike, explore an off-shore island at low tide, enjoy the incredible ocean views, and lots more.

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6 Things to Do at Whytecliff Park

7 Ways to Get Outdoors in Winter in West Vancouver

Cross-country skiing through the forest at Cypress Mountain.

Cross-country skiing at Cypress Mountain. Photo: Destination Vancouver/Kindred & Scout

From snowy peaks to oceanside strolls, there are lots of ways to get outdoors in winter in West Vancouver. Hit the slopes, go for a hike, explore a park, and lots more.

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7 Ways to Get Outdoors in Winter in West Vancouver

October’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Brother’s Creek

Old growth cedar trees along the Brothers Creek trail in West Vancouver, BC

Old Growth cedars along the Brothers Creek Trail

The hike along Brother’s Creek in West Vancouver is a great one for October. It’s not high enough to get snowy or icy and the tree cover overhead keeps you a bit drier on rainy days. This loop route climbs steeply in places, so you need a moderate fitness level. While you won’t summit a mountain or reach an epic viewpoint, there are plenty of beautiful things to see including old-growth cedars, a waterfall, fern-lined canyons, a tiny but picturesque lake, and the ruins of an army truck.

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October’s Vancouver Hike of the Month: Brother’s Creek

Get lucky at Ambleside Park with Vancouver classic rock royalty

Loverboy, circa now.

How about some classic rock? How about some Canadian classic rock? What about some Vancouver classic rock?

Rock Ambleside Park features three days of bands from yesteryear performing hits that burned up Canadian FM radio dials in the ’70s and ’80s in a lovely park setting. Many of the bands are Canadian, some are from Vancouver, and a few are even international: Nazareth (Scotland), Sweet (Britain), and Little River Band (Australia).

Other heavy-hitters include Loverboy, Trooper, and Chilliwack. Rock Ambleside Park takes place Aug. 17-19 at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver. Let’s take a look at some of the performers, shall we?

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Get lucky at Ambleside Park with Vancouver classic rock royalty

Enjoy cocktails by some of Vancouver’s finest mixologists at this year’s Harmony Arts Festival

Looking for a reason to visit West Vancouver? Look no further than the Harmony Arts Festival. Now in its 28th year, HAF is a celebration of visual art, music, food and drink. It takes place on and near the Ambleside waterfront Aug. 3-12.

Back this year are perennial favourites that include free exhibits, workshops, and concerts, along with ticketed events like Night on the Pier (local bartenders craft innovative cocktails) and Best of the West. But this year’s festival offers some new additions as well.

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Enjoy cocktails by some of Vancouver’s finest mixologists at this year’s Harmony Arts Festival

Dundarave Festival of Lights and the Forest of Miracles in West Vancouver

dundarave festival of lights 2017

Image courtesy of Dundarave Festival of Lights

On a quiet beach in West Vancouver, a dazzling sight appears after dusk each night when hundreds of Christmas Trees are lit up in the “Forest of Miracles” on display as part of the annual Dundarave Festival of Lights.

This family-friendly display is the largest outdoor display of Christmas trees in coastal BC. Each of the trees are sponsored, lit, and decorated by community groups, businesses, schools, churches and families in order to raise funds to alleviate homelessness on the North Shore.

The trees are free and displayed for everyone to enjoy 24/7 until December 31, 2017.

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Dundarave Festival of Lights and the Forest of Miracles in West Vancouver

Ambleside Amble

Photo: Rob Weiss

Welcome! Gazing up at the glorious Coast Salish Welcome Figure in Ambleside Park I felt humbled. This iconic gift from the Squamish Nation, carved from an old growth cedar log, honours the teachings of our Squamish Nation grandmothers. Intended to foster respect for the land, animals and people in the area, the figure spoke to me. Silently, I stared across the water at Stanley Park, a Vancouver treasure, and reflected once again on how unique our city is. Vibrant and bustling, yet so intimately connected to nature.

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Ambleside Amble