Now is the time to Stroll Through UBC

UBC Museum of Anthropology Photo: Flickr Colin Knowles

Nothing energizes your body and stimulates your mind better than a good old fashioned stroll in the park, and a walking tour of the University of British Columbia campus promises to inspire and delight!  A community unto itself, UBC is an emblem of all things Vancouver – picturesque, vibrant and a symbol of our past and vision for our future.  From the lush greenery of Pacific Spirit Regional Park to the extraordinary exhibitions housed at the Museum of Anthropology, UBC has much to offer.

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Now is the time to Stroll Through UBC

Surrey Nature Centre – Gateway to Urban Wilderness

Nature Exploration Photo: C. Gillespie

Nature may be the last thing that comes to mind when you think of Surrey’s City Centre, yet nestled on the northern edge of the Fraser Highway lies a natural oasis known as Green Timbers Urban Forest.  I have a penchant for nature, and when time limits my ability to travel to the mountains, nothing thrills me more than exploring an urban forest. Featuring over 10 kilometres of nature trails, a lake, meadows, and countless wildlife viewing opportunities, Green Timbers does not disappoint! Once a destination for tourists in search of old growth trees, Green Timbers is considered the birthplace of reforestation in British Columbia and certainly one of Surrey’s natural gems.

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Surrey Nature Centre – Gateway to Urban Wilderness

Stop and Smell the Roses – UBC Rose Garden

Discover Outdoors UBC Rose Garden2

Photo: Rob Weiss

Sensory Overload.  By their very nature rose gardens are a sensory experience.  Colours, smells, textures, beauty and grace combine to make any rose garden exploration a delight.  One of Vancouver’s best kept secrets and one of my favourite rose gardens is located on the University of British Columbia campus.  Situated in the most unlikely of places, the UBC Rose Garden is found on the top of a parkade, maybe the ultimate rooftop garden?  More than a dozen different rose species, in a wide variety of colours bloom between June and September.  Imagine the splendour and fragrance! Add a brisk ocean breeze and panoramic mountain view and you have found Zen!

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Stop and Smell the Roses – UBC Rose Garden

Dazzling Damsels – Richmond Nature Park

Discover Outdoors Richmond Nature Park2

Richmond Nature Park Photo: Rob Weiss

The intersection of Highway 99 and Westminster Highway in Richmond, seems an unlikely place to connect with nature! Jumbo Jets thunder overhead and the roar of traffic is difficult to ignore, yet as I wandered along the Richmond Nature Park trails I quickly found myself leaving the frantic pace of city life behind me.  I was immersed in nature and it felt fantastic!  Surprisingly, many long time residents are unaware that this fabulous 200-acre natural oasis exists on the edge of town.  Strolling along the trails, it didn’t take long to realize that I was exploring a peat bog.  Interested in learning about this unique habitat, I paid a visit to the Nature House.  Interactive displays, and games designed for the younger crowd, told the story of the raised peat bog habitat that historically covered a large portion of Lulu Island.  In fact, 10,000 years ago visitors to the Richmond Nature Park would have been swimming in the Strait of Georgia! Today, the landscape is evolving as Pine and Birch trees begin to transform the bog into forest.

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Dazzling Damsels – Richmond Nature Park

Trailblazing on Family Day – Four Family Friendly Walks

Discover-Outdoors-Sunnyside-Acres

Photo: R. Weiss

You don’t need to embark on an expedition to the Great Bear Rainforest to gain a taste for trail blazing. Vancouver’s urban forests are the perfect place for families to connect, explore, unplug and play on the Family Day long weekend. Here are four of my favourite “green” urban treks.

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Trailblazing on Family Day – Four Family Friendly Walks