One of the major tourist attractions in Vancouver is Stanley Park, so named after Lord Stanley, the 16th Earl of Derby, a British Politician and the Governor General of Canada. 

Ingeniously designed so that cyclists and walkers enjoy the park on separate paths, it spans over 1,000 acres most of which is covered by a dense forest of trees many reaching over 200 feet tall. There are some 17 miles of forest trails to explore and a seawall pathway that stretches around the park.

Pictured above is Stanley Park to the left, a marina and the skyline of the city overlooking the water – a skyline I had not expected but which dominates the city. To a Vancouver first-timer, the city seems to be jam-packed with a very ethnically diverse, young population who live in apartments but because of the comparatively mild weather are able to enjoy the outdoors.

In recognition of the Stanley Park area being the ancestral territory of the three Nations, a series of Totem Poles have been installed within the park. 

Pictured above, from left, Mike, Uncle Mike, the blogger and Ian standing in front of a series of totem poles at Brockton Point in Stanley Park.