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Monday, November 12, 2012

THRILL TOURISM / OR TRAVELS WITH A WUSSY

The Teahouse at Stanley Park, Vancouver,  British Columbia


SCARY TO ME—Putting my hand in front of my eyes in terror doesn’t mean I have to book a Russian-made passenger jet bound for Damascus, Syria.  There are plenty of eye-widening experiences in the most tame and often scenic places in the world.
For example, see below.

ACROPHOBIC’S NIGHTMARE—Easy for the tourist brochures to say the scenic Capilano Suspension Bridge is safe because millions of visitors have used it since 1889 without incident.  And, travel agent’s be damned there’s nothing serene about dangling over West Coast rainforest from 230 feet!  That’s like dangling from a 23 story building in a window washers trolley.  Fun?  No, thanks. 

But millions of others disagree. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is one of Vancouver, British Columbia’s most popular tourist attractions. The reason is simple, there are so many things to see and do! Just minutes from the bustle of downtown Vancouver, the attractions at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park offers a unique mix of adventure, history and culture making this Vancouver tourist attraction a complete British Columbia experience and an essential on your list of things to do in Vancouver, BC.

Originally built in 1889, Capilano Suspension Bridge stretches 450 feet (137m) across and 230 feet (70m) above Capilano River. Since then much has been added to the 27-acre park. Cliffwalk is the park’s newest attraction – a cantilevered walkway clinging to the granite cliff high above Capilano Canyon. Treetops Adventure, seven suspension bridges through the evergreens taking you up to 100 feet (30m) above the forest floor, offers a unique squirrel’s eye perspective of the forest. Guided nature tours, the Kids’ Rainforest Explorer program and the Living Forest exhibit enhance this unique rainforest encounter. Enjoy seasonal musical entertainment and First Nations culture. Take photos at the Totem Park and with the Capilano Tramps. Top it off with a visit to the gift shop full of quality merchandise from all over Canada and great homemade fudge! It’s all in a day’s fun at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park.

No, thanks.  Others may find the above lots of fun, I find it chilling.  Instead I will head for tea in Vancouver’s Stanley Park, where an outdoor table is waiting for me.  There at the Tearoom at Stanley Park the only danger might be a local sparrow diving on my scone. Ommmmm.

Suspension bridge survival tactic: Act debonaire in the face of doom. Have your cell phone handy as if you’re making reservations for tea. Even if the clowns behind you start swaying the bridge keep putting on step at a time forward.  This too shall pass.

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park: http://www.capbridge.com/

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