Where to Fall in Love with Autumn Colours in Vancouver
As Vancouver moves into the autumn, its colours shift. Walking down streets and in parks, you’ll be struck by the rich red, yellow, and orange hues of the changing leaves. The crunch of foliage underfoot and the crisp air are all part of the beauty of the fall season in Canada.
Each neighbourhood tells its own story during autumn. Here are a few places in town to experience fall colours.
A temperate rainforest in the heart of downtown, Stanley Park offers an immersion in nature with trails, beaches, and picnic areas.
The Park transforms as the seasons unfold. In the fall, the 10-km walk on the Seawall, which winds around the perimeter of Stanley Park, is a tranquil experience. Along with water views, the path reveals colourful trees and leaves carpeting the grassy areas.
If you get peckish from all the tree-gazing, stop at the Teahouse during their wine hour for a wine flight and a tasting board.
The main Vancouver campus of the University of British Columbia is located on the west side of Vancouver. Nearly 60,000 students walk from class to class on tree-lined streets, chatting excitedly about their assignments and professors.
Wander along Main Mall, its most well-known pedestrian promenade. The Rose Garden is a lovely starting point, with soaring views of the mountains and water. You’ll finish your stroll at the Reconciliation Pole, an intricately carved totem pole that invites thought and learning. Large trees stand tall on either side of the wide boulevard, with a strip of deep green lawn running down its centre. In the autumn, walking down it feels like a beautiful procession through colour.
Pause your journey with a visit to the Beaty Museum of Biodiversity, a natural history museum that houses over 500 exhibits and two million specimens.
VanDusen Botanical Garden is an extensive green space that invites contemplative communion with nature. The Garden comes alive with fall colours as its many trees prepare for the coming winter.
A kaleidoscope of different hues dazzles on the Autumn Stroll, a pathway in the garden that features stately deciduous trees like bald cypress and gingko. Vandusen gave this part of the garden its name in honour of its bright leaves during the fall.
Visitors meander along it during Harvest Days, an annual event the garden holds on autumn weekends to celebrate the season. Displays, family-friendly activities, and live music get everyone involved in the joy of autumn.
The Garden Cafe is a great spot for an after-walk bite, or enjoy an elegant sit-down meal at Shaughnessy Restaurant.
John Hendry Park (commonly known as Trout Lake Park) is a green space in the Kensington-Cedar Cottage neighbourhood, but also a place for the local community to play and gather.
A 1.2-km trail encircles the central lake, allowing for a leisurely wander through the Park. Beneath trees with vibrant foliage, people play fetch with their dogs, and others relax on benches catching up with friends.
The Trout Lake Farmers Market takes place on Saturdays (9am-2pm until October 25) where friendly vendors sell local apples and homemade jams. Or, the park is a short walk from cafes such as Flourist Bakery or Kokomo Foods for a snack and a hang with regulars.
As you sit at the cafe enjoying a coffee or a smoothie, you can admire your photos of the fall colours you discovered on your walk in Vancouver.
Into
scenic
spots?
Get
ideas.