It is the end of the fall semester of 2021. Some of us will go home while some will stay in Vancouver. If you plan to relax and enjoy the sites and sounds of Vancouver, here’s my first question for you: Have any of you made good use of your Compass Card lately? We pay good money for it- So with today’s post, we’ll be offering you some suggestions and possibilities on where it can take you! It is easy to hibernate and stay indoors during the winter months, especially when it’s as wet and rainy as it has been. But if you make the effort to get out and explore something new, we guarantee you’ll be glad that you did.
When was the last time you visited Londsdale Quay? Capilano Suspension Bridge? What about Cleveland dam? Maybe you’ve heard of some of these places, but never actually visited. North Vancouver may be known for its multiple ski hills, but it’s more than just skiing during winter and hiking during summer. We are talking about a place with million-dollar views, amazing craft breweries, and nature around every corner.
If you want to see bright lights, extensive untouched natural rainforest, and eat some of the finest in the culinary arts, then I suggest you make a day trip to North Vancouver. In today’s list, we are going to start from the top and down.
First on the list would be Capilano Suspension Bridge on upper Capilano Road in North Vancouver. Do you love lights and nature? If you love the feeling of being outside and surrounded by holiday decorations, then this is the place to go now that the Christmas season is upon us.
The Capilano suspension bridge Canyon lights run from November 20th to January 23rd. Over 500,000 thousand lights and decorations across the park. They attract over 1.2 million visitors annually, and feature everything from floating snowflakes to Santa Claus and Rudolph the red noise reindeer, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. When was the last time you had a west coast style dinner? What is a west coast style dinner, you may even ask? How about Halibut steak with your choice of vegetables and mashed potatoes? If that sounds appealing, then step inside Capilano Suspension Bridge Park’s Cliff House restaurant offering a refined dining atmosphere. Enjoy your dinner with a glass of chardonnay from the Okanagan. Suppose you love taking pictures and posting them on social media. Let me tell you; Capilano Suspension Bridge is the place to be. Every corner of the park has a new theme, making you take countless amount of photos. Street food-style kiosks are plentiful and inexpensive. Single tickets for students are only $41.95. After seeing all the bright lights and taking all the selfies with Santa and Rudolph, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed with all the sights, sounds, and people.
Now, what would you do after all that walking, now that you want some alone time where it is quiet and serene? Head over to Cleveland dam located on Capilano road. Now, why would you want to go to Cleveland dam, you might ask? Well, it is not just any ordinary dam.
The dam itself was built in 1954, and blocks Capilano Lake, which supplies fresh drinking water across the Lower Mainland. It sits atop the Capilano River Regional Park. Capilano Lake and the peaks of the Lions provide a spectacular view.
View an impressive spillway nearing 300 feet, holding back the 670-acre artificial Capilano Lake. If you like running, go for a quick sprint along the Capilano-Pacific Trail which stretches 5 miles (8 km) north from Ambleside Park to Capilano Lake.
Aside from the history of the Dam, this is the place to be if you want nothing but serenity. The smell of fresh air mixes in with the cool breeze of the water. Wild birds soar above the clouds and old-growth forests are right at your fingertips. Cleveland Dam is the place to be and to be seen.
Walk along the main trail, and you will come upon a free attraction called the Capilano Salmon Hatchery. As you walk deeper into the trails, some areas can be challenging. Don’t be surprised if you catch a Great Horned Owl staring at you. If you love taking pictures and posting them on social media, then the Cleveland dam is another place for you to take some great shots. Just walking into the park and seeing the old-growth forest itself is a treat and the lush green lawns make you feel like you are in the scenes from the movie The Sound of Music. However, sit back, collect your thoughts and reflect upon the last year. Just say to yourself how lucky we are to have a place called the Cleveland Dam in our backyard. You have completed your stops at Capilano Suspension Bridge, then headed south to Cleveland Dam. What to do next?
Only a bus ride away, you hit the Shipyards district next to the Lonsdale Quay. In 10 years, this place has changed from an old boat factory into an oasis of high-end condominiums, coffee shops, and refined casual restaurants. The Shipyards district is more than just restaurants and coffee shops. Walk south along the boardwalk, and at the very end, you see spectacular views of Vancouver. Walk west, and the first thing you will encounter is the Polygon Art Gallery, where the focus is on photography and media-based art.
Keep on walking because the next stop you will make will be the Londsdale Quay. Do you want fresh-made pizza? Fresh spices or, better yet, how about new dog treats for your pup. If your feet are hurting, you can get a foot massage from one of the vendors. If you happen to stumble by during Happy Hour, the selection of food and drink is phenomenal. From popular bar-and-grill style chains to food trucks, this place has it all and more. Let’s say you love skateboarding or rollerblading- try the mini-open skate park. If you love to take photos, then the views of the Shipyards district and the Quay are the place to be. You see old icons of ship-making machinery and the enormous neon lights of the Quay signage, but it is the architecture that stands apart. As a relatively new development, the modern buildings stand out. You mix a bit of new with the old. You are limitless in the number of ideas in the pictures that you take.
What are you waiting for? Finish those final projects and make good use of your Compass pass.