Vancouver - Surroundings

From Horseshoe Bay Hwy. 99 runs along the east side of Howe Sound, its route blasted directly out of the rock in places. The scenery here is exceptional.

Views look out over the ocean and mountains.

The Royal Hudson's Steam Train is no longer running.

About 12 km (7 mi.) from downtown Vancouver a winding 8 km (5 m.) long access road branches off TransCanada Highway 1 in West Vancouver to the Cypress Provincial Park. At the heart of the park Hollyburn Ridge (Mt Hollyburn 1325 m (4350 ft), Mt Strachan 1454 m (4772 ft)) offers magnificent views and splendid walking.

The park also features alpine skiing and was one of the key venues at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

For an outing with numerous superb views follow Marine Drive through West Vancouver (a prosperous satellite of Vancouver), past Lighthouse Park (excellent for walking), to the very attractive Horseshoe Bay (and Whythecliff Park). From the north side of the Bay ferries depart for Nanaimo (Vancouver Island), Bowen Island and Langdale.

Port Moody, now a suburb of Vancouver, lies at the head of Burrard Inlet some 20 km (12 mi.) east of the city center. For just one year it was the terminus of the Trans-Canadian Railroad - hence the Golden Spike Festival held annually at the end of July/beginning of August. Built in 1907 the restored CPR station has now been converted into the Station Museum recalling the early days of the railway era on Canada's west coast.