Queen Elizabeth Park

Queen Elizabeth Park Review

At the highest point in the city, showcasing 360-degree views of downtown, this 52-hectare (130-acre) park has lavish sunken gardens (in a former stone quarry), a rose garden, and an abundance of grassy picnicking spots. Other park facilities include 20 tennis courts, pitch and putt (an 18-hole putting green), and a restaurant. On summer evenings there's free outdoor dancing on the Plaza—everything from Scottish country dance to salsa, for all ages and levels. In the Bloedel Floral Conservatory you can see tropical and desert plants and 100 species of free-flying tropical birds in a glass geodesic dome—the perfect place to be on a rainy day. To reach the park by public transportation, take a Cambie Bus 15 from the corner of Robson and Burrard streets downtown to 33rd Avenue; it should take about 20 minutes. Hop on board the SkyTrain for an even faster trip although the stop requires a six-block walk. Park activities make for a great family excursion as well as being a gardener's delight, and unlike Stanley Park with its acres of rain forest, Queen Elizabeth's floral showcases are the focal point for bridal parties galore—particularly on Saturday afternoons.