Blogathon Vancouver 2008: "V" is for VanDusen
byIn all my years of living in Metro Vancouver I have never made it to some of the city’s most advertised attractions. Grouse Mountain is probably the largest, followed by the Capilano Suspension Bridge, then the VanDusen Gardens.
Whitford Julian VanDusen was a lumber magnate who ended up on the board of MacMillan Bloedel until 1969. Being a philanthropist involved in things like the Vancouver Foundation, Van Dusen donated the purchase amount for the Shaughnessy Golf Course, now the VanDusen Botanical Gardens. [Vancouver History]
There are several annual festivals that take place in the gardens including special light displays at Christmas and monthly walks or family programs. Even though I’ve ignored it for so long, it’s definitely at the top of my ‘to see’ list in this town.
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If you want to see a REAL suspension bridge (and not have to pay). Go see the Lynn Valley suspension bridge. Once a across you can go left to the 30 ft. pool (about 10 min.) or you can hike down right to the twin falls bridge, (but watch out for the hike back up). Lynn Canyon is a little gem on the north shore that very few tourists have ever heard of. But compared to Capilano…well there really isn’t a comparison. Other than one was built for bus loads of tourists, the other was build by mother nature.
Next to Stanley Park, Lynn Canyon is my favorite place to visit.
V.
Many years ago, there was an event of some kind at Eric Hamber Secondary. Unsurprisingly it got boring very fast. Someone mentioned “Van Dusen?”, and with a collective shrug, off we went to the Gardens.
It’s been too long since I visited Van Dusen.