Page 230 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Pacific Northwest

228  V ANC OUVER

3 Capilano
Suspension
Bridge Park
3735 Capilano Rd, North Vancouver.
Tel (604) 985-7474. @ 232, 236.
g SeaBus. Open Jan–Nov: 9am–5pm
daily (extended hours mid-Mar–mid-
Oct, check website); Dec: 11am–9pm.
Closed Dec 25. & 8 May–Oct. 7
partial. 0 = ∑ capbridge.com

The first Capilano Suspension
Bridge, not much more than a
hemp rope and cedar planks,
was built in 1889 by Scotsman
George Mackay and Squamish
Capilano Suspension Bridge, not for the fearful locals August and Willie Jack.
Mackay was drawn by Capilano
1 Marine Drive 2 West Vancouver Canyon’s wild beauty and built
@ 250. Tel (604) 926-6614. Museum a cabin overlooking it. Access to
∑ westvanchamber.com the Capilano River below was
680 17th St, West Vancouver. almost impossible. It is said that
Scenic Marine Drive winds Tel (604) 925-7295. @ 251, 252. Mackay built the bridge so that
through West Vancouver and Open 11am–5pm Tue–Sat. his son, who loved fishing, could
makes for an ideal day trip. Closed public hols. & by donation. reach the river.
8 7 partial. =
Park Royal Shopping Centre, ∑ westvancouvermuseum.ca The present bridge, dating
with its 280 stores, is the area’s to 1956 and the fourth to be
major mall. The nearby seaside Small and inviting, the West constructed here, spans 450 ft
suburb of Ambleside boasts Vancouver Museum is housed (137 m). Secured by 13 tons of
a par-three golf course on in the stately former home of concrete, 230 ft (70 m) above
the Capilano Indian Reserve; Gertrude Lawson, daughter of the canyon floor, it is the longest
a popular seawall walkway; John Lawson, the first permanent such bridge in the world.
and a park over- white settler in West Visitors will be treated to spec-
looking Burrard Vancouver. The tacular views, old-growth woods,
Inlet, which includes stones of the 1938 trout ponds and a 200-ft- (61-m-)
tennis courts, a house were brought high waterfall. Other high lights
paddling center, from New Zealand as include the totem poles at the
fitness circuit, ballast on a sailing Kia’palano First Nations cultural
skateboard park, ship; others came area; Treetops Adventure, a
and waterfowl pond. from the Capilano walk through the mid-story of
At the end of the River. After Gertrude 250-year-old Douglas firs; and
Ambleside Sea Walk, died in 1989, the Cliffwalk, a series of high and
Dundarave Pier offers District of West narrow cantilevered walk ways
a wonderful view of Vancouver acquired attached to a granite cliff face.
Vancouver and the the property. The
Strait of Georgia. house was restored
Both Ambleside Atkinson Lighthouse, just and then opened in
and Dundarave off Marine Drive 1995 as a museum.
are good places The museum’s
to shop and dine. exhibits relate to West Vancouver
From here westward, Marine heritage and community
Drive clings to the rocky interests, such as local sporting
shoreline, buffered by some history and historic toys.
of Canada’s priciest real estate. West Vancouver communities
At Lighthouse Park, an easy are sometimes profiled and
walk through old-growth decorative arts are particularly
forest leads to the Atkinson well represented. The gift shop
lighthouse, built in 1912. sells arts and crafts by local artists
Horseshoe Bay welcomes and books on West Vancouver
visitors with a park, a marina, history and architecture. Events
and a First Nations art gallery. include school programs as well
Ice cream and fish and chips are as summer art and architecture Costumed guides at the Capilano
Horseshoe Bay specialties. programs for children. Suspension Bridge
For hotels and restaurants see p290 and pp302–3

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