Where Vancouver June 2017 | Page 17

(Clockwise from top) Sunset at Wreck Beach. The Nitobe Memorial Garden boasts beautiful blooms. Panoramic views at the UBC Rose Garden Nature 101 Escape the city and fill your lungs with the freshest air the West Coast has to offer. Stroll, bike or ride a horse through more than 763 ha (3 sq mi) of densely packed temperate rainforest at Pacific Spirit Regional Park (page 78), where bald eagles, barred owls and woodpeckers make their homes. Looking for a dramatic backdrop for your holiday photos? UBC’s beloved rose garden sits on the northwest edge of campus, with stunning views of the Salish Sea and Coast Mountains. Revel in fantastic flora at the UBC Botanical Garden (page 79), which was originally built to educate doctors and apothecaries but has since grown into a sprawling collection of gardens featuring everything from edible crops to international alpine plants. Get a thrilling view from the top of the Greenheart TreeWalk, an aerial trail system 20 m (67 ft) above the forest floor. Find your bliss by the reflecting pond full of koi at Nitobe Memorial Garden—one of the top five Japanese gardens outside Japan—then breathe in the fragrant air of its authentic tea garden before visiting the ceremonial teahouse. Free-spirited nature lovers make their way to Trail 6, which leads down almost 500 steps to gorgeous Wreck Beach. Clothing is optional, and warm community vibes abound—stay for sunset, when everyone gathers at the water’s edge to cheer and applaud as the sun dips below the horizon. June 2017 where.ca 17