Getting to Know You – North Vancouver

North Vancouver has A LOT to offer with it’s natural beauty + activities!

Getting to know youuuuu, getting to know allll about youuuuu.  You guys know that song, right?  Anyway our family has totally embraced our move to the North Shore.  As a recommendation from close family friends to make a move, it’s been the best decision I’ve ever made since moving to Vancouver.  Happy tears.

In South Vancouver I felt very isolated, very alone + the industrial setting added to my melancholy from missing Los Angeles, the sun, my family + friends.  North Vancouver is super family friendly, people are friendlier, they smile a helluva lot more, it’s green + there’s much more access to things that are important to me.  Like beauty + things that are visually pleasing.  Pretty things.

It’s kind of confusing for people who aren’t familiar with Vancouver, but much of it is divided up by inlets.  There are two bridges that lead into North/West Vancouver.  The Lion’s gate bridge + Second Narrows (also known as Ironworkers Memorial Bridge).

Here are our highlights exploring around our new “neighborhood”!

LYNN CANYON PARK + SUSPENSION BRIDGE

A hop, skip + a jump from our house.  Lynn Canyon Park is a popular hiking destination on the North Shore.  Stop by the Ecology Center.  They have gifts:Educational information:A fantastic kids area:Puppets, puzzles, toy animals, story time on the first + third Friday of the month in the summer!  There’s also lots of nature based educational programs offered that I can’t wait for Langdon to be a part of when he’s older!The suspension bridge is free as opposed to the Capilano Suspension Bridge which you have to pay almost $40 for admission.  Langdon still gets sketched out crossing the bridge + always needs Jeff to carry him which freaks me out because I just envision him squirming in his dad’s arms + falling below.  I can’t even watch when they cross the bridge, I get SO NERVOUS I CAN’T EVEN HANDLE IT!The river below.  Many, many people have died at Lynn Canyon – they underestimate the power of the river’s flow + it’s undercurrent!!!  Don’t mess around at this park!!!  The same day I took these pictures a young man died by going swimming + was sucked under + became stuck underneath the rocks by the strong current!  So many horrible tragedies.Lush rainforest.Idyllic views.DEEP COVE

A cute little town tucked on the Eastern side of North Vancouver.  I’d like to do more exploring of Deep Cove this summer.  There’s lots of kayaking + water sports to enjoy.And of course it is also stunning in that Pacific Northwest kind of way.JOHN LAWSON PARK

Technically considered West Vancouver John Lawson Park is located in the mega cute, posh town of Ambleside.  I lurve Ambleside.  Sweet boutiques, yummy eats + gourmet supermarkets!  This is hands down in my opinion the best kids’ park in all of Vancouver.  Of course I don’t have pictures of the park because pictures of parks are boring.  But take my word for it.  There’s a wooden pirate ship, a train, sandbox + in the summer a spray park.  OH wait a sec!  I have a chub-a-licious pic of Lang from last summer!The park is set right along the ocean, where there is a walking path + it can’t be beat!!!!Here we are meandering closer to the ocean, finding little crabs under rocks.AMBLESIDE BEACH

Also in West Vancouver very close to John Lawson Park.  Ambleside beach is full of lovely, fluffy sand.Great for little ones for maximum sand castle building!WHYTECLIFF PARK

Last but not least – my favorite spot!!!  Whytecliff park is on the Western tip of West Vancouver before the highway starts to take you north towards Squamish + Whistler.  It’s pristine + there’s lots of walking, scrambling + little trails.I love getting Langdon outside.  I must admit that lately there hasn’t been much of that going on.The beach is rocky, so I recommend bringing water shoes for getting in the ocean.  The water at this beach is the cleanest I’ve seen in Vancouver.  You can walk to the island + climb up to the top, which I’m not about to do right now at 39 weeks pregnant!  But soon, island…..soon.Every time we’ve been to Whytecliff we’ve seen bald eagles + seals swimming!  Friends have even seen schools of porpoise!  I brought a friend from LA to Whytecliff + she said it was so beautiful she wanted to punch herself in the face.  Now that’s impressive.  I hope to visit Whytecliff often this summer – I can see it getting really crowded + parking will prove to be an issue!Well, that sums up some of our good times around North + West Vancouver!  There will be more to come, so stay tuned!!!