If you follow me, you know that my most recent posts were about gardens. Well, no surprises there ! Since COVID-19, searching for gardens has been my past time. And no surprises, I made it to the largest one in Canada - the Royal Botanical Gardens.

Ontario’s Royal Botanical Gardens is Canada’s largest botanical garden. Designated as a National Historic Site, the garden covers over 2400 acres of wetland, field, forest & escarpment ecosystems across the two cities of Burlington and Hamilton. Not to mention, the Gardens are a registered charitable organization. 

The scale of the gardens is palpable even at the entrance when you are provided a map. We weren't able to see all of it, but did see some parts. 

The main building, which is known as the RBG Centre, is the place to start! An interesting fact is that a third of the building’s materials were sourced locally and almost 100% of the demolition/construction waste was diverted from the landfill. 

At the main entrance, there is also a gift store and restaurant at the indoor center. A number of halls can be seen throughout the building, and they are used for presentations or events, it seems. We went past these halls to make a visit to the main Hendrie Park.

As soon as you exit the center, you arrive at the gorgeous Hendrie Park, which has a number of things to see.

Within the park, is a wood paved walkway known as the Story Walk. It reminded me a lot of my time in Korea, where most of the trails were wood paved.

After roaming the park, which also has a great teahouse, one can go check out the Mediterranean Garden and the succulent section

We had already spent a few hours doing this, so we knew we wont be able to see all of the garden. The next thing on our bucket list was the rock garden, which was nothing short of spectacular, though reminded me of Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Park.

One of the things I really enjoy in BC is making pit stops at some of the smaller municipalities of the province, that have held on to charm and culture, and aren't inundated with Walmarts and Superstores. One of these places is Hope, BC, in the Fraser Valley, east of Chilliwack. I spent my birthday weekend here, exploring the town, as well as its most renowned attraction: the Othello Tunnels.

The Othello Tunnels are basically a series of old train tunnels and bridges cutting through granite rock, that pass over the Coquihalla River. The tunnels and the trails around it are part of the Coquihalla Provincial Park.

A little bit about the history of the tunnels. Well, in the early 1900's, the Canadian Pacific Railway decided to connect the southern coast of British Columbia with the region that is known as the Kootenays, and decided to do it by carving out a path through a gorge, known as the Coquihalla Gorge. This route today does not have the railway tracks, but has been restored as part of the Kettle Valley Railway Trail, which is a popular cycling route that follows the old train routes over trestles and through tunnels and is noted for it's gradual change in elevation. This is the same trail that goes all the way into the Okanagan.

In any case, when you do make your way to the Othello tunnels, you realize what a challenge it would be to build a railway there. The provincial park has a unique topography, with sheer rock cliffs and rushing water below. One can only imagine 100-years ago with limited engineering equipment, what a feat this would be.

There is a clear route from Hope to the tunnels. There is limited parking at the main parking site, so we parked a little before, along the side of the road like many others. From there, we took the trail into the tunnels. It is a stroller friendly trail, so be smart and bring a stroller if you are with a little one. The trail is a short, flat 3.5km return route, but is easier if you aren't carrying a 30 pound toddler.

The former railroad bed is flat and an easy walk for families of all ages. Not far along, the first tunnel can be seen ahead as you follow the trail into the dark tunnel. 

The trail briefly exits the tunnel before entering tunnel #2.

After walking through tunnel #4, the Othello Tunnels route abruptly ends, although the trail keeps going all the way to the town of Hope. At the end of the tunnels is the turnaround point where visitors walk back through the same tunnels, returning to the parking lot.

One other piece of history, due to the canyon's rugged look, the park has made several appearances in popular films over the years. The most notable was Rambo First Blood where the cliff above Tunnel #2 was used in the spectacular cliff jump scene. Other movies that filmed scenes around Othello Tunnels include Fire With Fire, The Adventures of Yellow Dog, and Shoot To Kill.

If you didn't already know, the tunnels are free and are an amazing attraction. Note that there is no water fountain in the park, so make sure to carry a lot. 

I can't believe I didn't write about Stanley Park, which is the most iconic place in Vancouver and is the one place which has everything: beach, forest, playground and touristy things to do!

Stanley Park is more than a thousand acres, which means that this post is unlikely going to be able to cover all that there is to do there. The park is so large that it makes up the northwestern half of Vancouver's downtown Peninsula, which is surrounded by waters of Burrard Inlet and English Bay. 

A Brief History: 

Stanley Park has a long history. The land was originally used by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years before British Columbia was colonized. For many years after colonization, the future park with its abundant resources would also be home to non-Indigenous settlers. The land was later turned into Vancouver's first park when the city incorporated in 1886. It was named after Lord Stanley, the 16th Earl of Derby, a British politician who had recently been appointed Governor General. It was originally known as Coal Peninsula and was set aside for military fortifications to guard the entrance to Vancouver harbour. In 1886 Vancouver city council successfully sought a lease of the park which was granted for $1 per year. In September 1888 Lord Stanley opened the park in his name.

Some of the top sites and attractions in the park, from east to west, include:

The Seawall: The Vancouver Seawall is basically the walkway that perimeters the park. It took several decades to complete. The idea for the seawall came from the park board superintendent, W. S. Rawlings. Since then, the seawall has been extended and  is currently 22 kilometres (14 mi) from end to end, making it the world's longest uninterrupted waterfront walkway. The Stanley Park portion is just under half of the entire length, because the seawall starts at Canada Place in the downtown core, runs around Stanley Park, along English Bay, around False Creek, and finally to Kitsilano Beach. From there, a trail continues 600 metres to the west, connecting to an additional 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) of beaches and pathways which terminate at the mouth of the Fraser River.

Brockton Point and lighthouse – Brockton Point is the eastern most point of the park. there is a lighthouse here, designed by Thomas Hayton Mawson, that was built in 1914 to replace one built in 1890. There is also the 9 O'Clock Gun, which fires every day at 9 pm. Closeby is the Brockton Oval, which is a field used for athletics. Near Brockton Point is a well-known statue called the Girl in a Wetsuit, which was created by Elek Imredy and placed in 1972.

HMCS Discovery Building – This is the No public access but can be seen from land near Brockton Point.

Lumberman's Arch – This is a children's play area with a water spray park, and picnic area. Right near this area, nestled within the forest is also Beaver Lake, which as the name suggests, is a lake of beavers!

Malkin Bowl – Former mayor W.H. Malkin built a "shell" stage modelled after the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in honour of his late wife in 1934. On July 8, 1934, Malkin Bowl hosts its first concert, a free performance by the Vancouver Symphony that draws 15,000 people. It was rebuilt after a fire in 1982. Located in front of the Stanley Park Pavilion.

Stanley Park Pavilion – This is an area where there are a number of sights, including the Stanley's Park Bar & Grill. The pavilion itself was built in 1911-12.

Miniature railway – A diminutive steam train that pulls passenger cars on a circuit through the woods first opened in the 1940s. A new train and track opened in 1964, which is near the pavilion. It is roughly $7 for adults, and between $3-$5 per child depending on their age. They also host birthdays here.

Horse-drawn carts - This is a cute attraction, where you are allowed a one hour carriage ride through the eastern part of the park. There are stables for the horses, and the horses themselves are gorgeous. The ride is slow and safe, so great for kids. It is pricey, but there are coupons and deals always to make this more affordable. We recently took it and had a blast ! Mind you, this is a paid and pricey attraction, so best to wait until you do find a good deal.

Rose Garden – This is a beautiful rose garden near the Stanley Park Pavilion. As the name suggests, it is primarily a rose garden, but its also a beautiful place to sit and take in the sights. 

Totem poles  – Near Brockton point are the totem poles, which are the most visited tourist attraction in British Columbia. Many of the original poles were moved to museums in order to preserve them. Several replicas were commissioned or loaned to the park board between 1986 and 1992. Located at Brockton Point.

Ceperley Meadow – Children's play area and picnic area directly behind Second Beach. There's also a gazebo which you can book for hosting birthdays! We did our daughter's first birthday there!

Lost Lagoon  - This is a large lagoon in the park, which includes lots of wildlife and beavers. There is a the Lost Lagoon Nature House, located on the south shore, which is run by the Stanley Park Ecology Society.

Prospect Point – This is a great lookout point, and the highest point in the park. It is very close to the Lions Gate bridge, which is near the A lookout at the highest point in the park. Located by the Lions Gate Bridge, which leads you to the North Shore.

Second and Third Beaches. These beaches are along the seawall, with second beach just past English Bay and Third Beach, a little further away from second beach. There is also a drum circle that takes place at the Third Beach. There is also a concession at Second Beach, with really nice fries and KOMBUCHA!

Ted and Mary Greig Rhododendron Garden – While the shrubs were donated in 1965, the garden was not dedicated until 1989. The rhododendrons are planted in a roughly circular form around the pitch and putt golf course near Lost Lagoon. Best time of year to visit is March-May. The peak is usually early May.

Two Spirits Sculpture – Slightly hidden, this sculpture is found just west of the crossroads of trails that enter into Stanley Park from the swimming pool located at Second Beach. The sculpture was created in the mid-1990s and depicts the silhouetted head of an aboriginal person against its own image. The sculpture was chiseled into a stump that remains from one the large trees in the area.

While these are just some of the sights, the park is full of trails and other hidden gyms, and you can easily spend a complete day here!

Among the many beautiful gardens in BC, is the Darts Hill Garden Park, a 22.5 acre private estate located just a little off White Rock in South Surrey. Though the estate itself is fairly large, only a smaller part is the garden which is accessible to the public. 

The lady, Ms. Francisca Dart was an avid gardener, and it was her vision and 60 years of dedication and work that resulted in the variety of plants seen today. Francisca transformed what was originally a logged area of land into an award-winning orchard, filled with apple, pear, apricot and walnut trees. After seeing an exhibit by the Alpine Garden Club of BC at the Pacific National Exhibition, she joined organizations devoted to horticulture, including the Royal Horticulture Society, where she received the seeds of many rare and unusual plants, shrubs and trees, transforming the landscape into what is now Darts Hill. 

After bequeathing Darts Hill to the city – and losing her husband the following year – Francisca continued to live on the acreage and oversee the garden until just last month, when she moved to a retirement facility.

The main horticulturist who manages is the garden is Randal Atkinson, who is also the chair of the board at Darts Hill. The horticulturist has been involved with the board at Darts Hill for five years, but spent many years prior to that visiting the lush garden looking at the rare plants inhabiting more than seven acres. During those visits, he learned about the history of the garden and the people behind it.

It probably has taken an army to keep up the Darts Hill Garden Park, where almost all the plants are labelled and categorized, including some lichen. Not only that but you see some interesting items, such as this random totem. 

Presently there is still a private residence on the property and the garden remains semi-private, opening only on designated days. Based on my experience, it is open usually on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with an admission of $5. You can go on the website to see their open days.

Definitely worth a visit. This can be combined with a trip to the Surrey Museum.