Vancouver Canada Surrounding Areas

Vancouver Canada Surrounding Areas, June-September  More Pictures  |  Map  |  More Info

We drove the Sea to Sky Highway as far as the Tantalus Lookout on the scenic Sea to Sky Highway. We missed the upper lookout for cars traveling northbound. So we turned around and stopped at the viewpoint for the southbound vehicles. I'm glad it was a clear day to get a good look for the Tantalus Mountain Range with the valley and river below. You can also see a waterfall in the distance. From Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver to Whistler the Sea to Sky scenic highway is supposedly one of the most beautiful drives in the world. However, we don't agree. During the majority of the drive you cannot even see the ocean, river, cliffs or other geographic elements. Instead you speed by at highway speeds staring at overgrown pine forests for miles upon of miles. This highway allows very few pull offs and when they are allowed it is often only for the south bound side. Don't get me wrong, I enourage you all to travel this road but we just think it doesn't lives up to the hype. The Pacific Coast Highway, on the other hand, does. It runs along California's coast with many more scenic opportunities and stopping points.

Above: Picture taken from southbound viewpoint of Tantalus Lookout off the Sea to Sky Highway. The valley below stretches to Squamish.

Squamish is not a beautiful town but maybe more like a hippy artisan and outdoor junkie paradise. Now, this is my just opinion. There are a couple new buildings and hotels but most of the architecture is older with a western like facade. This is the place to get your outdoor gear for hiking, climbing, and mountain biking. The Stawamus Chief is the granite rock overshadowing the city. There are a number of local art galleries and studios and the local Farmer’s Market. Although Squamish sits at the tip of Howe Sound you really can't get any waterfront views, only mountain views seen here. The land at the waters edge is used for logging companies. There are a couple of marinas and one provided a great nights sleep on our route to Vancouver. It was fairly quiet although you will hear the train come by one or two times during the night. We ate an an indian restaurant located at the historic Chieftain Hotel, good food.

Above: This picture was taken at the end of Galbraith Ave. in Squamish. There was no logging business going on during this time and I think that is why we were able to drive to the end here. We just spent a couple of hours here after dinner. It was very windy and the view, as you can see, was great with the mountains and Shannon Falls in the background.

Above: Picture taken from inside the Vanabode looking at the Stawamus Chief and marina where we spent a couple of nights.

Shannon Falls was our next stop and is British Columbia's third largest waterfall. The upper viewpoint trail to the falls is steep walking over tree roots and wooden steps but you can get very close to the water going this way. This trail will take over three hours and you can branch off to other trails as well if you wanted to hike to the Chief (that granite rock in the picture above).There is also a paved trail for wheelchairs and everybody else who just wants an easy walk to see a nice view at the base of the falls. This is a very, very popular day use park. Trying to find parking was not easy either. Because you have to pay to park and due to the aggravation of getting a spot in the first place you might want to go ahead and spend more than 20 minutes here. There are picnic tables, benches, grassy areas and restrooms so enjoy the shade of the trees with the sound of the falls in the distance.

Above: Picture of Shannon Falls from the lower viewpoint.

Above: Picture of picnic area at Shannon Falls

Horseshoe Bay is in the District of West Vancouver, one of Canada's wealthiest residential communities. Horseshoe Bay Park is very beautiful, grassy and full of trees with benches and a playground, all overlooking the British Columbia ferry docked at a terminal in the ever so quiet and calm waters of Howe Sound. It really is overwhelming to see this gigantic ferry taking on buses and semi trucks and just sitting 20 feet away is a 34 foot sailboat. The Bay is a very popular place for shopping, pubs and restaurants. There are totem poles here and a boat propeller fountain. The scenery is spectacular with the Coast Mountains and Bowen, Gambier and Anvil islands as its backdrops. Horseshoe Bay is very beautiful and highly recommended for a half day at least hang out spot. It is off the Highway 99 Sea to Sky scenic highway on marine drive exit. If doing this don't get back on the highway but instead take Marine Drive to Lions Gate Bridge all the way to Stanley Park.

Lighthouse park on Marine Drive which runs around the outside of Vancouver taking you through the neighborhoods takes you through many places to see the marinas, boats, beaches, neighborhood parks, trees, cliffs, and eateries. It is a dangerous road with many hair pin turns, and speed limits in the 15 mph range. No large rv's allowed here once again pointing to the supremacy of the Vanabode style of travel. Some campgrounds are along this road which do not open until 10 am. One had fantastic showers which we took advantage of.

Bought some fresh straight from the farm hazel nuts in Agassiz Canada and once again I was reminded of one of the true great pleasures of Vanaboding. These hazelnuts were so fresh and so full of flavor they were unlike any nut I have ever tasted. I just breathed across the nuts and could "taste them". I would rest one nut in my mouth on my tongue for five to ten minutes and without even breaking the nut I could taste the most amazing and delicious hazel nut flavor. For those eating mainly store bought foods that are irradiated, fumigated, sprayed with insecticides, picked too early so they can be shipped before they rot and worse, I beg you to get out and Vanabode and eat good for the rest of your life.

    

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