Vancouver In a Day: Biking Stanley Park and the Seawall
Vancouver is a bike-friendly destination. From its the city cycle baths and bike paths to its 22-kilometer seawall and world-famous mountain biking trails on the North Shore, there is something in Vancouver for every level of cyclist.
If traveling around an unfamiliar cycle on a bike isn’t your thing, try booking a cycling tour with one of Vancouver’s bike companies. In this video, we partnered up with Joshua Bloomfield, the owner of Cycle City Tours(http://www.cyclevancouver.com).
Josh took me out for an intimate tour of Stanley Park forest trails and showed us some beautiful spots (like Beaver Lake) that I had never visited before, even as a local. On a bike tour, you’ll get some insight and background on what you’re seeing locally, including information on local wildlife and historical facts that you might not get from a guidebook.
If you want to explore yourself, there are a ton of bike shops to rent from in Vancouver. Spokes Bicycle Rentals (http://www.spokesbicyclerentals.com) provided our bikes in this video. Keep in mind that if Vancouver has a mandatory helmet law. Also remember to ask your rental provider for a lock, so you can stop and enjoy the sights along the way.
Vancouver’s seawall can be divided into three sections:
- Coal Harbour section: 2.2km
- Stanley Park section: 8.8km
- English Bay to Kitsilano Beach: 11km
It takes approximately an hour to bike the Stanley Park section, which is also the only portion of the seawall that is one-way. Make sure to start your trip in Coal Harbour.
A great local secret spot to check out is Musette Cafe (http://www.musettecaffe.com/). It’s located in an alley west of Burrard Street and north of Burnaby Street, close to the Burrard Bridge.
Traditionally, a mussette bag is what competitors use to carry supplies and food during a race. And just like a mussette bag, you’ll find a little bit of everything at the Mussette Cafe. Make sure to try their crêpes!
It may take some searching (there’s a reason why it’s a bike cafe!) but it’s worth the effort it takes to get there.
Article source: http://www.insidevancouver.ca/2012/06/08/vancouver-in-a-day-biking-stanley-park-and-the-seawall/
