Spring is the perfect time of year to explore Vancouver and its surroundings. The weather is getting warmer and the city is bursting with flowers, tulips, cherry blossoms and more! Here are some spring activities in Vancouver that you’ll love:
Image courtesy of Stephanie Seto
See the cherry blossoms
If you’re interested in seeing some cherry blossoms while they’re still around (they only last about two weeks), check out one of these parks:
- Waterfront park and the Lower Lonsdale area
- Queen Elizabeth Park – located downtown at Cambie & 12th Avenue East near Science World
- Pacific Spirit Regional Park – located at West49th Avenue & Balaclava Street
- VanDusen Botanical Garden – located on Southlands Drive at South Boulevard
Take a walk through Stanley Park
looking for something active? Go for a walk or rent a bike from one of the many rental shops in Stanley Park. With warmer weather headed our way a day spent exploring Stanley Park sounds incredible! Plus, there are beautiful cherry blossoms lining the park – an absolute must-see.
See the tulips in VanDusen Gardens
If you’re looking for some of the best tulips in Vancouver, head to VanDusen Gardens. The official flower of Vancouver, tulips are a symbol of spring and beauty. They only bloom for about three weeks so make sure you don’t miss out on this opportunity!
Get working on your own garden
Planting a garden as soon as the weather heats up has to be one of my favourite calming home activities. This weekend I plan on getting my ducks in a row so that I can begin planting my vegetable garden. If you like the idea if getting your very own veggie garden up and running, here’s what you need to do:
- Select your gardening spot, ideally a sun soaked area.
- Prepare the soil – use a spading fork or shovel to dig and loosen the soil and break up large chunks of dirt. Rake your garden area and remove grass, weeds, rocks, roots and other debris.
- Pick out your vegetables – beets, lettuce, kale, cucumbers, peas, radishes, cherry tomatoes and green beans are some of the easiest vegetables for beginners to grow.
- Plant your veggies – when you’re ready to dig, use a garden trowel to make holes for your plants. Make the holes at least two times deeper and wider than the container the plant is in. Most plants should be spaced 2 to 3 feet apart, so they’ll have room to grow and get plenty of sunlight and air circulation. Put your plants in the holes and cover them with soil. Don’t bury them any deeper than they were in their containers. Gently press the soil down around them. Water your plants to settle them in.
And voila – your garden is complete!
Head out for a hike
In need of an activity that will exert a bit more energy? I highly recommend exploring local hikes on the North Shore. Personally, some of my favourite hikes are:
- Lynn Canyon
- Quarry Rock
- Whytecliff Park
- Dog Mountain
- The Chief
If you’d like to explore more hiking trails, click here!
I hope you have a chance to enjoy these spring activities over the next few weeks!