No matter where you look, it’s hard not to notice the first signs of spring: young leafy tendrils poking up from the earth, newly blossomed branches of yellow forsythia swaying gently in the breeze or full on pink frothiness of Japanese cherry blossoms decorating parks, city streets and even in the courtyards of downtown; spring has sprung in Vancouver much earlier than in previous years and well in advance of the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival in April. For the best views of blossoms, birds, and breathtaking waterfront vistas, here’s an insider’s guide to some off-the-beaten-track locations:
- Spanish Banks along the beach: get a great view of downtown Vancouver, Georgia Strait, and seaworthy vessels of all kinds, including tankers and sailboats, as well as kite flyers and windsurfers, too! And while you’re here, you might be able to see the Rainblossom Project , a temporary art installation of several red umbrellas hung jauntily from the trees.
- Maritime Museum and Hadden Park : One of the best vantage points for viewing downtown Vancouver and the West End from across the water; it’s a favorite spot for runners, strollers, and, most recently, birdwatchers. At the entrance to the museum, look up; way, way up one hundred feet, the Centennial Totem Pole , and you might be lucky enough to spy a pair of bald eagles sunning themselves in a makeshift aerie atop the pole!
- Just minutes away from the Auberge Vancouver, walk up Burrard St to the Burrard Station where commuters catch the Sky Train and walk under a canopy of pale pink blossoms from a row of Japanese cherry trees at the height of their showy splendor!
