One of the tranquil ponds at VanDusen Botanical Garden. Photo: Destination BC/Grant Harder
You don’t have to go far to escape the hustle and bustle of Vancouver. You can find urban oases like gardens, parks, spas, ad more throughout the city to unwind and embrace the tranquillity of nature.
Central Library Rooftop Gardens
The eighth and ninth floors of Vancouver’s Colosseum-shaped Central Library feature rooftop gardens that allow you to experience serenity in the heart of downtown. The gardens are open anytime the library is open, and are free to visit. If you want quiet, head to the Phillips, Hager and North Garden on the ninth floor to relax on a bench and enjoy the drought-resistant garden. Or bring a healthy salad from nearby Tractor Foods to the eighth-floor terraces to eat with a view of the city.
Enjoying the rooftop garden at the Central Library. Photo: Roelen Photography/Pixabay
Forest Bathing in Stanley Park
The popular Seawall path around the outside of Stanley Park gets all the attention, leaving the forested interior quiet for relaxed walks and forest bathing. A web of trails crisscross the park’s interior, passing towering trees and groves of ferns. Explore on your own or sign up for a guided forest bathing session along with cultural teachings with Indigenous-owned Talaysay Tours. For a healthy pick-me-up, stop at Oakberry on Denman on your way out of the park for an acai bowl.
Walking in the forest with Talaysay Tours. Photo: Destination Vancouver/Kindred & Scout
Aqua Lounge Spa at Parq Vancouver
If you book a treatment at Spa by JW or a hotel stay at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, you also get access to the rooftop Aqua Lounge. Day passes for the public are also available by request. Located on the 17th floor, this outdoor oasis features a hydrotherapy tub with stress-relieving jets as well as chaise lounges that invite you to stay awhile. After the spa, head to MeeT in Yaletown a few blocks away for a delicious vegan meal on their wrap-around patio.
Photo: Spa by JW Aqua Lounge
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Designed in Ming Dynasty style, the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is a peaceful botanical escape in the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown. It’s a great place to wind down as you walk the garden paths or sit in quiet contemplation. You can also sign up for the public tea ceremony to enjoy the ritual of tea preparation and tasting.
Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Photo: Tourism Vancouver / Destination Canada (CTC)
Circle Wellness
If you need a reset, book a self-guided spa circuit at Circle Wellness on Granville Island. The private experience includes an open-air shower, a soak in an outdoor cedar tub, a sauna, and a cold water plunge pool. The spa uses natural materials like stone and wood and is open to the sky to connect you with nature without leaving the city. After your spa circuit, head to Fraser Valley Juice inside the Granville Island Public Market for freshly squeezed juice or a smoothie.
The cedar soaking tubs at Circle Wellness are open to the sky. Photo: Circle Wellness
Yoga in the Park
If you need to chill out, book an outdoor yoga class with Mat Collective. This local yoga studio holds classes outdoors in parks. In the spirit of community, most classes are free or low-cost, but you do need to register in advance and classes book up fast. The Sunsetter Sunday classes at English Bay include yoga and a beverage from Stanley Park Brewing to enjoy as you take in the sunset.
An outdoor yoga class in Kitsilano. Photo: Mat Collective.
VanDusen Botanical Garden
The sprawling VanDusen Botanical Garden is an island of green in the middle of Vancouver. The 22-hectare garden contains over 7500 plant species and features several dozen areas with plants grouped by ecosystem or region. If you want tranquillity, head to the Stone Garden and Fern Dell on the western side of the garden where you can find a bench to sit back and take it all in. If you get hungry, pick up a picnic basket from The Garden Cafe. Or book a patio table with a garden view at The Shaughnessy Restaurant to enjoy dishes made with ingredients from the garden.
Laburnum Walk. Photo: Destination Vancouver/VanDusen Botanical Garden