Vancouver and Whistler, BC
Our next stop was Vancouver, a west coast seaport in British Columbia. It is one of Canada’s densest, most ethnically diverse, large cities with the traffic that goes with all large metro areas. While there we visited Stanley Park.
Stanley Park is special because it is a huge 1,000-acre West Coast rainforest right next to downtown Vancouver. With 13 miles of Pacific Ocean frontage, an aquarium, totem poles, and many other things to do we could have spent days there. We visited the Totem Poles and walked along the seawall.
The totem poles at Brockton Point are BC's most visited tourist attraction. Totem poles are unique to the northwest coast of BC and lower Alaska. They are carved from western red cedar.
Totem poles are not idols, nor are they ever worshipped. They record family ancestry, legends, and important historical events using stylized animal and human symbols.
Each carving on a pole has a specific meaning. The eagle represents the kingdom of the air. The whale signifies the lordship of the sea. The wolf embodies the genius of the land, and the frog represents the transitional link connecting land and sea.
The smaller totem is a house post. Structural house posts were used to support the roof beams of traditional First Nations cedar homes. The upper figure is a thunderbird while the lower figure is a grizzly bear holding a human.
Next we had two days in Whistler and it rained almost the entire time. Two days is all I could reserve. If you want to stay at Whistler Olympic Park and RV Campground you should reserve your spot a year in advance. In the 2010 Winter Olympics this park hosted 28 events in these categories: Cross Country Skiing, Biathlon, Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined. The park is still used for competitions and training each winter.
The RV campground is located at the base of the ski jump, and of course I climbed all 538 steps to the top and in places it is as steep as a ladder. Another unique feature of the RV park is an electric fence complete with electrified pads for the roads to protect the campers from bears. We didn’t see any bears while there, but I trust they were nearby.
Our view while in Whistler.
Whistler Village is a busy, pedestrian-only alpine destination in British Columbia, found at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains best known for downhill skiing. It features stone pathways, chalet-style architecture, and over 100 shops, restaurants, and bars.
We visited for dinner and ice cream. If you do ever visit Whistler, COWS has delicious ice cream.
Unfortunately weather kept us from the gondola ride to the top of Whistler across to Blackcomb and then back down to Whistler village. If we go back that will be the first thing we do.
Whistler Village Olympic Rings
This is an inukshuk located at our campground. It served as an emblem for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games held in Vancouver and Whistler. Traditionally, inukshuk were constructed by Inuit people as directional guides, landmarks, or markers for hunting. This human-shaped figure symbolizes openness, welcoming and strength.
Alexander Falls, located about 1 mile from the campground, drops 140 feet over three sections and is about 40 feet wide at its widest point. It is an impressive falls and very easy to view with no hiking involved.
Close-up Alexander Falls
Close-up Alexander Falls
