You can take a romantic stroll surrounded by bright yellow flowers are this breathtaking garden in Vancouver
It will transport you to Europe, and make for the most picturesque moment of the summer.
These beautiful flowers bloom at VanDusen Botanical Garden in June, and you won't want to miss it.
It is called the Laburnum Walk and the flowers all around are actually native to areas in Southern Europe like Italy and Greece. Thankfully you can enjoy them right in Vancouver though, thanks to the gardens.
The entire stroll will have you feeling like you've entered an enchanted fairytale world with all the wispy and bright flowers.
They might even remind you of the gorgeous lemon trees of Italy and make you feel like you've been transported there all while staying right in Vancouver.
Vandusen Botanical Garden is not only home to these stunning trees but so many other flowers as well. You will see loads of purple, pink and other vibrant flowers scattered throughout the entire stroll.
This Review article is part of a Narcity Media series. The views expressed are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
Moving to Vancouver six months ago was a huge change, and as soon as I arrived I was ready to explore everything around me. I've discovered some super fun activities to do in and around the city, and lots of them are totally free.
I got off the plane beaming with excitement for all of the fun adventures I had planned for B.C already. Moving to Vancouver from New Brunswick, it was like a whole new world with so many restaurants to choose from, hikes to do, and activities to try.
One of the first things I did in Vancouver was to track down some filming locations. My friends and I drove an hour to Squamish and not only got to do a beautiful hike — but also were in the same place where Edward married Bella.
I live in East Vancouver, which actually is not ideal for watching the sunset. I've made it my mission to find the best spots in the city to see if though.
However, I did accomplish that mission.
Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver gives you a full unobstructed view of the bright blue ocean. You can watch the sun disappear and the sky light up with red and orange.
Since the day I got home from my visit to Tofino, I have been dying to go back. I fell in love with the lush nature, kind people, and small town.
Waking up to the sound of waves crashing and walking out of my tent onto the beach was a surreal experience.
Celebrities Nightclub
One of the best parts about Vancouver is that it's actually easy to run into people you see on TV. I was watching Canada's Drag Race and got to go see one of the stars, Kendell Gender, in action at Celebrities Nightclub.
If you're in Vancouver definitely keep an eye out for cool events to attend like this, and celeb spottings!
Spring comes early in Vancouver, so it's the perfect time to go and find some views.
Some friends and I went to Tunnel Bluffs in West Vancouver, and it was hands-down my favourite hikes I've ever done. It wasn't too hard to get up, and there was a huge lookout area where we sat and soaked up some sun.
Especially for the effort required, the view is so worth the journey.
The plane rides low enough that you can see all of the little islands scattered throughout the ocean as you fly. In the distance, you can spot the incredibly tall mountains — which will take your breathe away.
Plus, it takes a total of only 30 minutes to get to Victoria.
Brace yourself though, the landing is bumpy.
White Rock
A photo of Canada's longest pier at White Rock in BC.
I stopped at White Rock on my way back from a trip to the U.S., because it's conveniently located right at the border.
Even though it was a rainy evening, I fell in love with the little beach town. It has amazing restaurants, and — to my surprise — the longest pier in Canada.
You can walk out far into the ocean, and look back at the bustling little town.
After our mini-adventure on the water, we grabbed some fish and chips and ate with a view of the ocean.
The Cold Plunge
People wearing swimming clothing as they walk to Wreck Beach in BC.
This was another one I got recommended so many times and yet still managed to impress me. We rented bikes and rode along the entire seawall at sunset — which was magical.
You could see the mountains and ocean the entire way. For one of my first tastes of Vancouver, it set the bar high.
North Vancouver Walks
A close-up photo of a dog sticking out its tongue in a wooded forest in North Vancouver.
This is not actually my dog, unfortunately, but I find any excuse I can to head out to the North Shore for a walk.
You can drive 10 minutes from the downtown North Vancouver area and suddenly feel like you're in the middle of a rainforest.
Even on rainy days, it's a go-to activity for me that never disappoints. Lynn Valley has amazing trails that range from super difficult to really easy.
The Vancouver Park Board met on Monday night and voted in favour of a proposed bylaw amendment, implementing a hefty fine of $500 for feeding urban wildlife.
After a sharp increase in coyote attacks these past months, leading to the temporary closure of Stanley Park, the community has been urged to resist feeding animals (no matter how cute) to reduce food left in parks.
Officially though, "while the BC Wildlife Act includes provisions against feeding 'dangerous wildlife', provincial enforcement resources are stretched, and the restrictions do not extend to other urban wildlife," reads a report summary provided to the board.
The new amendment would prevent visitors from feeding all wildlife, from birds and raccoons to more dangerous wildlife like coyotes. It also extends the by-law to include indirect feeding, such as leaving food out to attract animals.
This evening, our Board approved the proposed amendments to the Parks Control and Ticket Offences By-laws regarding feeding wildlife in parks. Drafts of these by-laws will return to the Board for enactment at a future meeting. 1/2
— Vancouver Park Board (@Vancouver Park Board)
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The report reads that "The Stanley Park Ecology Society, City of Vancouver, Park Board, and Provincial Conservation Officers Service receive ongoing reports of wildlife feeding in parks, including hand feeding and depositing large amounts of domestic animal or human food on the ground with the intention of feeding wildlife."
It adds that in some observed cases, the behaviour seems to be "for the purpose of taking close-up wildlife photographs."
As tempted as we might be to get that cute photo for Instagram, it's actually harming the animals directly as well as attracting danger.
"Human feeding of wildlife interferes with normal foraging, hunting, and population numbers. It is physically unhealthy for animals, and encourages food-conditioning that can lead to aggressive behavior," the report explains.
After a unanimous vote, the board now plans to meet again next week to discuss enforcement options.
If you're looking for a way to beat the heat in B.C. this month, parks in Vancouver are now offering a boozy alternative to staying cool with water.
The City of Vancouver is starting a pilot project that allows the use of alcohol in certain parts of 22 of Vancouver's most popular parks, beginning on July 12 and ending on October 11.
The full list of parks participating in the project is as follows:
Collingwood Park
David Lam Park
Fraser River Park
Granville Park
Harbour Green Park
John Hendry (Trout Lake) Park
Kitsilano Beach Park / Hadden Park
Langara Park
Locarno Beach Park
Maple Grove Park
Memorial South Park
Memorial West Park
New Brighton Park
Pandora Park
Queen Elizabeth Park
Quilchena Park
Riverfront Park
Robson Park
Rupert Park
Stanley Park
Vanier Park
Volunteer Park
The City of Vancouver has a website for the pilot project that shows you exactly where you can and cannot drink while hanging out in the park, with certain areas — like playgrounds — blocked off.
Created to allow more people to interact outside and avoid high-risk gatherings indoors, the City is reminding people to drink responsibly, be respectful of other park-goers and clean up after themselves if they do decide to participate in some outdoor boozing.
*This article's cover image is for illustrative purposes only.
