VANCOUVER - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 61

Vancouver Aquarium
A short walk through the forest from Klahowya Village is Canada's largest aquarium,
the Vancouver Aquarium (Avison Way., 604/659-3474, 9:30am-7pm daily in summer,
10am-5pm daily the rest of the year, adult $32, senior and student $26, child $21), the third
largest in North America. Guarding the entrance is a five-meter (16-foot) killer whale sculp-
ture by preeminent First Nations artist Bill Reid. More than 8,000 aquatic animals and 600
species are on display, representing all corners of the planet, from the oceans of the Arctic
to the rainforests of the Amazon. The Wild Coast exhibit features local marine mammals,
including sea lions, dolphins, and seals. Several other exhibits highlight regional marine
life, including Pacific Canada, the first display you'll come to through the aquarium en-
trance. Pacific Canada is of particular interest because it contains a wide variety of sea life
from the Gulf of Georgia, including the giant fish of the deep, halibut, and playful sea ot-
ters who frolic in the kelp. In the Amazon Gallery, experience a computer-generated hourly
tropical rainstorm and see numerous fascinating creatures, such as crocodiles and piranhas,
as well as bizarre misfits like the four-eyed fish. The Tropic Zone re-creates an Indone-
sian marine park, complete with colorful sea life, coral, and small reef sharks. At the far
end of the aquarium, a large pool holding beluga whales—distinctive pure-white marine
mammals—and sea lions, which can be viewed from above- or belowground, represents
Canada's Arctic. A part of the complex is also devoted to the rehabilitation of injured mar-
ine mammals, while Clownfish Cove is set aside especially for younger visitors. There's
also a packed interpretive program of talks and tours, including a 90-minute behind-the-
scenes beluga tour for $160 per person.
Getting Around the Park
Even at a casual pace, it's possible to walk the seawall in less than three hours, but it's easy
to spend a whole day detouring to the main attractions, taking in the panoramas from the
many lookouts, or just relaxing on the benches and beaches along the way. Exploring the
park by bike is easy and fun (allow one hour to ride the Seawall Promenade). At the corner
of Robson and Denman Streets, several shops rent decent bikes for under $25 for a full
day. They include Bayshore Bicycles (745 Denman St., 604/688-2453) and Spokes Bicycle
Rental (1798 W. Georgia St., 604/688-5141).
Between March and October, Stanley Park Horse-Drawn Tours (604/681-5115, adult
$32, senior and student $30, child $17) leave regularly from the information booth on a
one-hour tour in a 20-person carriage.