In North Vancouver, just across the Lions Gate Bridge from Stanley Park is Capilano Road. If you go north on Cap Road, as the locals call it, you can visit the
Capilano Suspension Bridge, Capilano Regional Park with its fantastic river, trails and Salmon Fish Hatchery.
If you haven't spent the whole day, keep going up the road to Cleveland Dam with its excellent trails down to the fish hatchery and its breath-taking spillway.
Finally, at the top of the road, you'll find the Grouse Mountain Skyride, a gondola that takes you to the top of Grouse Mountain where you'll find hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter.
If you're feeling fit, or budget conscious, and you visit before it snows, you can hike up the Grouse Grind, a 2.9 km trail that goes almost straight up to the top of the mountain.
The Grind is popular with locals who like to brag about how fast they can make it to the top. The fastest time ever is under 30 minutes. If you're in good shape, you can probably do it in about an hour. You can take the Skyride down for $5.00.
Once you get to the top of Grouse Mountain, there are so many things to do. See the Grouse Mountain page for a list of activities.
And if you want a really memorable descent, hitch a ride with a paraglider for a trip you'll never forget.
If you don't want to go all the way to the top of the road, and you're ready for some lunch and a little serious shopping, then head for Edgemont Village, a popular local attraction where you'll find coffee, sushi, wonderful Italian sandwiches, a wonderful children's toy store and book store. You can also buy penny candy, the best selection of artificial plants and flowers you've ever seen, quilting fabric, kitchenware and books.
To get to Edgemont Village, go north on Capilano Road. About a block before you reach Capilano Suspension Bridge, turn east (right) on Ridgewood Drive, and follow it around to Edgemont Blvd. Turn right on Edgemont Blvd, and in a block, you'll be in the heart of Edgemont Village.
You can get more information about Capilano Suspension Bridge at their website, and you can find out more about Grouse Mountain at the Grouse Mountain website. You can contact First Flight Paragliding at 604-988-1111