what-bc-parks-is-doing-about-the-struggle-to-find-parking-at-popular-hikes
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What BC Parks is doing about the struggle to find parking at popular hikes

ByMegan Devlin

Picture this: it’s 10:30 am on a summer Saturday, and you’ve left Vancouver for an adventure in the mountains. Once you press the brakes for traffic jams along the Sea to Sky highway, you realize every parking stall along the entire corridor must be full. There’s a sign indicating Porteau Cove isn’t accepting any more visitors, and vehicles are lined up at the entrance to Murrin Provincial Park and Brohm Lake. Over at Stawamus Chief parking, late arrivals are circling the lot, waiting for the early birds to finish their hike. Sound familiar? Metro Vancouver weekend warriors know that the hardest part of any adventure may be finding parking at the trailhead. BC Parks tells Daily Hive it’s aware of the problem and has added more parking at a select few of the most popular trailheads. But crowd control otherwise has come in the form of reservation systems — both for day-use passes and for camping. “As more people explore British Columbia’s spectacular outdoors, we’re investing in our parks to ensure we can continue to provide quality outdoor recreation experiences for everyone to enjoy,” a BC Parks spokesperson told Daily Hive. The Sea to Sky corridor, in particular, is very popular. It’s seen visitor numbers increase markedly over the last five years. BC Parks said it’s made the following parking upgrades in response: Garibaldi Rubble Creek: Parking lot upgraded to improve traffic flow in 2020 Garibaldi Diamond Head: Road to Elfin Lakes trailhead improved and widened, with about 20 parking spots added in 2021. Just this year, about 10 more spots were added to the chain-up parking area Stawamus Chief: 37 spaces added recently Alice Lake: 10 to 15 spaces added at Four Lakes Trail in 2021 But aside from those additions, BC Parks advises adventure-seekers to arrive early or plan their visit by booking a day-use pass. Part of the problem is that few of the spectacular nature opportunities near Vancouver are transit-accessible. The ParkBus non-profit service tries to bridge that gap by offering coach service to some popular destinations such as Cultus Lake, Garibaldi Provincial Park, Joffre Lakes, and Golden Ears. However, its limitations include nearly $100 for a roundtrip ticket and a single trip per day. What are your strategies for finding a spot for an outdoor adventure? Let us know in the comments.

zen-in-the-city:-11-metro-vancouver-gardens-to-relax-in-this-summer
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11 Metro Vancouver gardens to relax in this summer

ByDaniel Chai

Summer is speeding by in Metro Vancouver, and it’s a great time to get outside and make the most of it. But sometimes, the hustle and bustle of city life can be as draining as any heatwave. That’s when you need to find a green space to zen out for a while. We recommend a blissful visit to one of the region’s beautiful gardens. Many of them are free or low-cost to visit, and all will recharge your battery. Speaking of, make sure you bring a camera or your smartphone with you as you’ll be sure to snap some photos while you’re there! Gardens in Stanley Park Vancouver’s world-famous Stanley Park is a popular attraction for visitors and locals. There are numerous gardens to visit, including the expansive Ted and Mary Greig Rhododendron Garden, the iconic Stanley Park Rose Garden, the Shakespeare Garden arboretum, and the Stanley Park Rock Garden. The latter is the first public garden in the city. VanDusen Botanical Garden The 55-acre VanDusen Botanical Garden is home to more than 7,500 plant species from around the globe. There are relaxing water features and dozens of botanical collections to discover. Just be careful to not get lost in the maze. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is a Ming Dynasty-style garden home and the first of its kind to have been built outside of China. The registered museum is found in Chinatown and is a beloved destination for cultural events as well as for those seeking a moment of solitude. Gardens at Queen Elizabeth Park Pack up a picnic and take your time to enjoy the beautiful flowers at Queen Elizabeth Park. There are multiple gardens to explore, including the main Quarry Garden filled with perennials, bulbs, and annuals, and the Rose Garden created in 1967 to commemorate Canada’s Centennial. The park is also home to the country’s first civic arboretum and plenty of public art displays. Nitobe Memorial Garden The Nitobe Memorial Garden is a traditional Japanese garden covering over two acres at UBC. It was launched to honour the memory of the late Dr. Inazō Nitobe, and today, it’s part of the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research. The garden is home to a traditional Japanese stroll garden and authentic tea house and is a great place to find harmony with nature. Park & Tilford Gardens This two-acre botanical garden in North Vancouver is a tranquil oasis beside the shopping centre of the same name. Established in 1969 by George Kuhn, the CEO of Park & Tilford Distilleries, the park features eight themed, interconnected gardens. Park & Tilford Gardens also showcases a Squamish Nation totem exhibit. Bear Creek Gardens This City of Surrey gem is available to be enjoyed year-round and features annual bedding and bulb displays in the spring and summer. There are various plant groupings to discover, including rhododendrons, azaleas, and heaths. Visitors can also discover three art pieces installed at Bear Creek Gardens as part of the city’s Public Art Program. Century Garden and Millenium Garden in Burnaby Burnaby is home to two beautiful gardens in close proximity to each other that you definitely need to visit. The Century Garden, located beside the Burnaby Art Gallery at Ceperley House, is a great place to enjoy the city’s official flower, the rhododendron. Just a short stroll away is the Millenium Garden, created at Burnaby City Hall and dedicated to all of the city’s residents. Inspiration Garden in Coquitlam The public garden is filled with floral displays, fruit trees, ornamental climbers, and more at Coquitlam’s Town Centre Park. The Inspiration Garden is also a teaching garden, where visitors can learn gardening tips and gain insights into how to respect our natural environment. Darts Hill Garden Park Discover 7.5 acres of horticultural richness at Surrey’s Darts Hill Garden Park. Built by Francisca and Edwin Darts, the garden is a wonderful place for the whole family to explore. Discover Pacific Coast native plants, find unique greenery from around the globe, and watch the bees buzzing at work. Darts Hill Garden also houses an Artist In Residency Program and also offers tours when it is open. This piece was originally published in July 2022. 

english-bay-slide-returns-to-vancouver-beach-after-years-long-hiatus
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English Bay slide returns to Vancouver beach after years-long hiatus

ByMegan Devlin

A key ingredient in fun summer days at English Bay is back in place after a multi-year hiatus. The English Bay slide is floating just off the shore again after being absent since 2019. The iconic slide is a summer favourite, and often present in artistic depictions of English Bay — even while the slide itself was gone. The slide is perched atop a swimming raft and lets bathers zip down the chute to land in the water. Megan Devlin/Daily Hive The Park Board hinted earlier this year that the slide could be making a return, and now it’s finally back in the water. “After completing essential maintenance and assessing our operational capacity, we’re pleased to announce that the slide is now operational with the appropriate staffing in place,” a City of Vancouver spokesperson told Daily Hive Thursday. The slide is now open to the public, subject to the tide schedule. The English Bay slide has returned! 🌊 Make a splash on ‘The Queen Mary’ and dive into summer fun. 😎 Just remember, due to the tide schedule, the slide may close at certain times. pic.twitter.com/LRJmwViKQ0 — Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation (@ParkBoard) August 8, 2024 Slide a key attraction at English Bay for more than a century English Bay in 1946 (Don Coltman Company/Vancouver Archives) Swimmers have been braving the climb up the slide for more than 100 years, with historic photos of the beach showing some iteration of the slide in place as far back as 1915. The English Bay slide in 1915 (Vancouver Archives) Will you be going down the slide in the final few weeks of summer? Let us know in the comments.