Flat Stanley Visits

A couple of weeks ago Shaun and Kristal came by and we all packed into their van for a trip into Vancouver and a walk on the seawall.

I could not help but snap some pics from the backseat I was sitting in, as we drove through the heart of Vancouver, getting close to our destination.

Stanley Park is the third largest urban park in North America, taking up 1000 acres of green space on a peninsula that borders downtown Vancouver.  The park, also known as Vancouver's playground, is about as old as the city itself and offers beautiful picnic areas, a playground, several beaches, a water park, an aquarium, a nice restaurant and coffee shops, a nature house and more . . . for millions of people year round.

The main reason for our trip this weekend was to take our friend, Flat Stanley on a tour. Flat Stanley came to us via mail from a schoolboy in Virginia. Stanley is a character from a children's book written by Jeff Brown . As the story goes, a bulletin board falls on him and flattens him, but he survives and makes the best of his altered state, soon entering locked rooms by sliding under the door. Today school children are sending him across the continent or even around the world, so he can come back and tell them about places he has been.

When I was asked about hosting him, I said, "Sure, and we'll take him to see Stanley Park!" This was a surprise to my friend, not knowing that there really was such a park. In the meantime I have learned that Stanley Park was named in 1889 after Lord Stanley, Governor General of Canada at the time. 
I also found it interesting that the Stanley Cup Playoffs happening in hockey right now are named after the same person.



We unloaded the kids' bikes and they eagerly got on them as we joined others on the seawall.




The seawall stretches out for about 5.5 miles, running around the perimeter of the park. There is not a spot on it that does not offer some significant or majestic view.

The skyline across the harbor always amazes me!

We continued on our walk but, as we got further away from the city, I decided Flat Stanley needed to pose for a photo right then and there.



Koen, was always ready with a smile too.

We took a small detour off the path to see the totem poles, which are a favorite attraction. They are a form of BC's First Nations artwork that tell a family's story and mark important events.

Before too long, the kids tired of their wheels and we decided it was time to check out the playground.



We enjoyed the rays far into the afternoon and then we headed to White Spot for dinner, where they still serve kids meals in pirate ship packs. It was a perfect Vancouver day.