Grouse Mountain - the Peak of Vancouver - A Four-Season Destination
By Susanne Pacher

Virtually all my favourite travel spots in the world combine mountains and water and Vancouver just has it all. Located on the edge of the Pacific, surrounded by the Coastal Mountain Range, Vancouver is a scenic dream. Just about 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver you can enjoy wonderful vistas over the city all the way south to the Olympic Mountains in Washington State - Grouse Mountain is the "Peak of Vancouver" and provides the best viewpoints of the area as well as a host of year-round activities.

Having been born in the Alps, I love the mountains and my recent trip to Vancouver offered me a chance to satisfy my cravings for altitude. I had a chance to spend an entire afternoon on Grouse Mountain and described my experiences, including the Lumberjack Show and the Birds in Motion demonstration in this article. To provide more comprehensive information about Grouse Mountain and all its facilities, here is an interview with Chris Dagenais, PR & Communications Manager for Grouse Mountain:

1) Please tell us more about Grouse Mountain. Where is it located in relation to Downtown Vancouver? How do I get there? What makes it such a unique location?

Grouse Mountain is located on Vancouver's scenic North Shore, just 15 minutes from downtown. We are easily accessed via the famous Lion's Gate Bridge from Georgia Street in Vancouver and then by following signs to North Vancouver via Capilano Road. We are also accessible via public transportation from the Sea Bus Terminal. Busses 232 and 236 both come to Grouse Mountain.

We are a unique location for a host of reasons, not the least of which is that we are on the fringe of wilderness and civilization. Where else in the world can you escape into a pristine alpine wilderness just 15 minutes from a major metropolitan centre? We have captured the imaginations of locals and visitors for over 110 years with our natural beauty and exhilarating activities. These latter are a big factor in our success as well. Just consider the range of engaging pursuits: skiing, snowboarding, sleighrides, ice skating, snowshoeing, hiking, wildlife encounters, falconry demonstrations, scenic chair rides, theatre shows, ranger talks, dining, shopping, and, of course, the stunning views. Not many destinations can boast that sort of variety.