A Vancouver Retreat

I needed an escape from the hoopla of Olympic fever. I hate to be lame, but there is only so much drunkeness I can endure. Instead I was craving something tranquil - think beaches and forested parks. It wasn't difficult to find. Vancouver is teeming with green space, and encircling the city is the coveted seawall which in moments can whisk you from the congestion of the city to the solitude of Stanley Park.

For comparison, New York's Central Park is 843 acres, London's Hyde Park is 350 acres, and stacking in at a whopping 1,000 acres, Stanley Park breaks all the rules. Between lakes, gardens, playgrounds, trails, beaches, and yes, even a restaurant or two, you could spend days exploring this vast wilderness. To top it off Stanley Park also plays host to the Vancouver Aquarium, a water park, a miniature train, and a petting zoo. It is every child's dream destination.

Just south of Stanley Park is Sunset Beach, where as the name implies, sunsets are a speciality. This rocky beach was crowded with locals who found the unusually warm February weather perfect for sunbathing and beach combing.

I somehow managed to visit a portion of Stanley Park each day I was in Vancouver, and on the last day I walked the entirety of the six mile loop surrounding it. Halfway around there was no turning back. My feet were killing me from the dozens of miles I had logged the days before, but somehow, I persevered.

I had walked many a mile, but the night was still young. The Olympics celebrations were in full throttle and the city was alive with energy. Caffeine in hand, I made my way back into the chaos of downtown, where I was ready for anything.