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Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier (North Vancouver, BC)
September 19, 2012
Day at Capilano Suspension Bridge (North Vancouver, BC)
September 20, 2012
Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier (North Vancouver, BC)
September 19, 2012
Day at Capilano Suspension Bridge (North Vancouver, BC)
September 20, 2012
 

Fishing for Rainbow Trout in Oregon


QUESTION: Where’s your favorite memory of Vancouver?

Mention @JustWanderMaya and hashtag your photo with #JustWanderWithUs


Grouse Mountain is one of the North Shore Mountains of the Pacific Ranges in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

"The wilderness paradise is located 15-minutes from downtown Vancouver, and the famous Grouse Mountain Skyride (North America’s largest aerial tram system) takes visitors on a one-mile aerial journey to the Alpine Station, 3,700 feet above sea level. Breathtaking panoramic views of the city, sea and surrounding mountains unfold, culminating with a summit altitude of 4,100 feet. Grouse Mountain was named by a visiting hiking party in 1894, after they encountered a blue grouse bird on the alpine slopes. Today, Grouse Mountain enjoys the status of Vancouver’s most visited attraction receiving over 1.2 million visitors each year." –Tourism Vancouver

Things to Do: September at Grouse Mountain

Skyride Gondola

The Skyride climbs to 1,100 metres (3,700 feet) in just 8 minutes. Departs daily, every 15 minutes 9am - 10pm.

Eye of the Wind

The Eye of the Wind is a large wind turbine – the first in the world to have an elevator accessing a viewPOD™, observation area.

Wildlife Refuge

Comprised of a five-acre mountaintop habitat that is home to two orphaned Grizzly Bears, and a three-acre Timber Wolf habitat.

Theatre In the Sky

This high-definition electronic cinema shows Animal Tracks: Baby Grizzlies, the story of Grinder and Coola and their journey.

Good Morning Vancouver

View from our balcony - Room 413 - of the Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier.

And the view right outside the hotel…

What the Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier looks like, from across the street, as we search for breakfast.

Breakfast at the Moodyville Cafe

Breakfast at Moodyville Cafe, North Shore, Lower Lonsdale, North Vancouver, B.C. – 101 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, BC V7M2E7

Off to the Lonsdale Quay Market Bus Stop. Today's goal is to visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain.

Plan A was to hop on the city bus to the Capilano Suspension Bridge first then Grouse Mountain as the bridge was the destination the bus would pass by first. But we had to go with Plan B and go to Grouse Mountain first. Why? We both hadn't been on a city bus in years and years and years. Back in Hawaii we're used to riding a trolley that'd stop at "every" trolley stop. When we saw the Capilano Suspension Bridge entrance, we got so excited... pointing and saying, "there it is!" But next thing we knew, the bus passed our stop. What happened? Dang! We forgot to pull the hanging cord or press that button to indicate to the driver that you wanted to get off. We had to just laugh at each other!!!

Purchased Ultimate Experience passes ($52.95/adult) that includes: access to the mountain via the Skyride (1-mi. journey); the Lumberjack Show; Ranger Talks at the Grizzly Bear Habitat; movies in their Theatre in the Sky; Ride 4,100 feet above sea level on the Peak Chairlift; and a visit to the iconic wind turbine - The Eye of the Wind so we can stand inside the clear-glass viewPOD at the top for 360-degree views.

Cedar Wood Chainsaw Carvings

Can't miss the Lumberjack Show. Remember, when they used to have Lumberjack Competitions on tv? I find it fun to watch. (UPDATED: July 21, 2012 – Now, you can take the sport of Log Rolling home for pool owners with Key Log Rolling)

We stood inside a wind turbine on the on The Eye of the Wind. An elevator up to the viewPOD™, 58 metres above the Peak of Vancouver. You get a lot of sun in that glass enclosed viewPOD™, to be sure to put on that sunscreen. It didn't feel like there was a/c up there but the views were worth it!

View of Mount Baker from The Eye of the Wind

There's also Mountain Ziplining ($70 - $109) down there!

Views of Vancouver Island

You can Paraglide ($229) from Grouse Mountain, too... launching from the Grouse Mountain Peak and landing in Cleveland Park for an elevation drop of 3,300 feet.

Back down the Chairlift to the Wildlife Refuge

Here we find a tour guide feeding Whiskey Jack Birds (aka Gray Jay) cashews.

Visiting the Grizzlies

Now time to check out Grinder and Coola.

On This Day in History