Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
age of cross-country ski rentals, a lesson, and trail pass costs $75. Snowshoe rentals are
$20 per day. If none of this appeals, consider spending a few hours whizzing down the
slopes of the Snow Tube Park ($17 per day).
Togettotheresort,taketheTransCanadaHighway12kilometers(7.5miles)westfrom
Lions Gate Bridge and turn north on Cypress Bowl Road. If you don't feel like driving up
the mountain, catch the shuttle bus that departs hourly from Lonsdale Quay and Cypress
Mountain Sports in Park Royal Mall, West Vancouver ($23 round-trip). For a snow report,
call 604/419-7669.
Mount Seymour
Thanks to having the highest base elevation of Vancouver's three alpine resorts, the snow
at
Mount Seymour
(604/986-2261,
www.mountseymour.com
) is somewhat reliable, but
the area's relatively gentle terrain will be of interest only to beginning and intermediate
skiers and boarders. Four chairlifts serve 20 runs and a vertical rise of 365 meters (1,200
feet). The emphasis is on learning at this hill, and a line of instructors always awaits your
business.On-hillfacilitiesincludeasnowboardpark,tobogganrun,andmassivedaylodge
with rental shop. Daily lift passes are $51 for adults, $42 for seniors, and $24 for children.
You can also rent snowshoes ($20) and tramp along the resort's trail system ($9 for a day
pass),buttheSaturday-night guidedsnowshoewalk ($57)isareal treat—and notonlybe-
cause of the chocolate fondue at the end.
The resort is in Mount Seymour Provincial Park. To get there, head north off the
TransCanada Highway 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) east of the Lions Gate Bridge, following
the Mount Seymour Parkway to Mount Seymour Road.
Vancouverites love their sports—not just being involved themselves, but supporting local
teams.Withalongseasonandoutsideactivitiescurtailedbythewinterweather,icehockey
(knowninCanadasimplyas“hockey”)drawsthebiggestcrowds(althoughtheofficialna-
tional sport is lacrosse), but the city also boasts professional football, baseball, and soccer
teams.
Hockey
In 1911 the world's second (and largest) artificial ice rink opened at the north end of Den-
man Street, complete with seating for 10,000 hockey fans. The local team, then known as
the Vancouver Millionaires, played in a small professional league, and in 1915 Vancouver
