Capilano Canyon Lights, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Sunday, December 8, 2019, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Despite living in Northwest Washington for over 40 years, it wasn’t until 2019 that I finally visited the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge. I should have done it earlier!
Capilano Suspension Bridge was originally built in 1889 by George Grant MacKay, who was a civil engineer and Vancouver park commissioner at the time. It was made from cedar planks and hemp rope, and spans 460 feet across the canyon at a height of 230 feet above the Capilano River. The bridge was completely rebuilt in 1956, with more modern building methods.
The park is privately owned and features several above the ground bridges and walkways. The Treetops Adventure, which is seven footbridges suspended from old growth Douglas Fir trees through the park, at heights up to 98 feet above the ground, can be a bit intimidating as the bridges bounce when you walk on them. Cliffwalk is a cantilevered walkway that is suspended from the granite cliff that hangs over the Capilano Canyon.
Capilano is also known for the Capilano Canyon Lights, a Christmas light display that runs throughout the park from the end of November through January each year. There are so many beautiful light displays and it is amazing to visit!
The day I visited, we did a little Christmas shopping at the mall, then headed to The Pink Pearl Chinese restaurant for dim sum in Vancouver. I had never had dim sum before, and it was such a cool experience, with carts that travel around the restaurant with all sorts of tasty delicacies. We ate until we were stuffed!
Then we headed over to Capilano. The evening threatened rain, but fortunately we only had a few sprinkles while we were there. The park was lit up with every type of light imaginable, and we spent a few hours wandering over the bridge, through the Treetops Adventure and onto the Cliffwalk. Some of the bridges and walkways definitely tested me and my fear of heights, but I’m proud to say I walked on every single one! The lights were stunning, and the experience consists of lots of oohing and ahhing as you turn this way and that, trying to see everything.
We went on a Sunday evening, and it was busy, but people were courteous and everyone politely waited their turn at the more popular bridges and walkways. Of course, any trip isn’t complete without getting some souvenirs at the gift shop. I got some postcards and some decorative tea tins. It was an evening that I won’t soon forget!
Wine and History Visited 