Things to do in Vancouver B.C. Canada : Grouse Mountain

Having a mountain 15 minutes away from downtown is pretty cool. And Grouse Mountain is one of the cooler mountains to have around.

There are two seasons on Grouse Mountain, winter, and other. During the winter, you can go skiing, snowboarding, and all the other snow activities you can think of. Ski, snowboard, or snowshoe on one of their many groomed trails. Skate on the outdoor pond, or take a ride in a snow sleigh. It is all fun and games in winter.

In the summer there is no snow, so the Grouse Mountain people had to come up with something else for people to do.

One of the things to do is take the tram. That is the only way to get to the top of the mountain. The tram runs year-round. And the view is amazing. The trams actually move pretty quickly and whisk you to the top in no time at all. On the way up, you pass two of the large poles and it cause the tram to sway slightly resulting in a fun little scare.

At the top, are plenty of place to eat and relax. They also have some interesting exhibits and shows to entertain visitors. There is only one entrance fee to pay so you might as well take advantage of all the mountain has to offer.

The most exciting was the grizzly bear exhibit. This large area is home to two grizzly cubs that were orphaned in their youth. You can watch them as they run, play, fight, swim, and do bear things. If you want to see the bears, it is best to go on an overcast day. I have heard they are shy on sunny days and tend to stay inside. When we were there, they were running around, play fighting, and putting on a show. It was really something special.

You can learn all about the bears and how they are trying to get them to adapt to the wild in a special movie in the Theatre. Two movies are shown every 45 minutes or so, and both are very interesting.

After the bears, the most popular exhibit is the lumberjack show. Every so often about three lumberjacks put on a show demonstrating and educating the audience on the life and work for lumberjacks. They actually put on a staged lumberjack contest which includes chopping trees, throwing axes, and log rolling.

The other show is the wild bird show. Watch as the birds native to the area swoop, craw, and hunt out in the open. Being so high on the mountain with its great views, the birds really look wonderful flying and demonstrating their skills.

At the bottom where the tram station is, they have a wolf exhibit where you can see the wolves living in their habitat just like the bears at the top.

And if you are still looking for more great views, take a ride on the chairlift. They run it both ways in summer and the rise down the mountain gives a great view or Vancouver and the ocean.

If you are in Vancouver, you must check out Grouse Mountain. Plan to spend at least half a day. While you are in the city, at night, look up and you will see lights suspended in air. They will seem to be floating. No they are not ghosts. They are the lights at the top of Grouse Mountain.