Pictured After their wedding ceremony in a Vancouver hotel garden, Cynthia Marquard and Darlene Stille sign the legal documents that register their union as an official marriage recognized by the government of British Columbia. Totem poles carved by Canada's First Nations people greet visitors at the entrance to Capilano Suspension Bridge.
The skyline of Vancouver says a lot about the character of this Canadian city in the Pacific Northwest. On the west side of town, a forest of tall apartment buildings meets a forest of tall Douglas fir trees, dark against the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Both buildings and forest cascade down to the sparkling waters of English Bay, which connects the Pacific Ocean to Vancouver's harbor, where freighters from the far parts of the globe come to unload their wares.
The urban and the natural mesh magnificently in Vancouver. No matter where you are in the city, it is but a short drive to nature trails, dense evergreen rain forest, and even mountain ski slopes. This is one of the features that make Vancouver a perfect vacation place for GLBT families.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
Rivers of icy glacial waters rushing down from the mountains have cut beautiful gorges in the hilly landscape of Vancouver. One of the best places to appreciate this phenomenon is at Capilano Suspension Bridge, a park within the city. Just inside the park entrance, we found a wonderful collection of totem poles made by First Nations people. 'First Nations' is the name that Canada applies to the native peoples.
Once you enter the park, the evergreen rainforest envelopes you. Had you been dropped there blindfolded, you would never guess you were within the boundaries of a major city.
The bridge is one of two main adventures in this park. Step out on the swaying structure and look down if you dare at the white water rushing over rocks and boulders below. You'll want to snap a picture or two, but that is not as simple as it might seem. Other visitors crossing the bridge make it sway and bounce. We were assured, however, that the bridge is perfectly safe.
The park also contains a tree walk. You ascend a set of stairs to a series of walkways that go from giant tree to giant tree. The wooden walkways serve two purposes: They allow visitors to glimpse life high up in the forest, and they also protect the fragile soil from the tromping of too many feet. The governments of Vancouver and of the province of British Clumbia are quite environmentally sensitive. The park is actually a regrowth of a Douglas fir forest that was clear-cut about 50 years ago. Here and there, you can still see the stumps of felled giant trees.
Grouse Mountain
Another outdoor spot that is easy to reach is Grouse Mountain. This is actually a privately owned and operated semi-wilderness area. The ascent up Grouse Mountain is via gondola car, is an adventure in and of itself.
There are both winter and summer activities on the mountain. Skiing and snowboarding are the main winter attractions. In summer, visitors can hike and enjoy an outdoor display of lumberjack feats. Then, there is a grizzly bear shelter. Two orphaned bearswho would otherwise have perished on their ownlive here in a large outdoor enclosure. If you are lucky, you might see the 600-pound cubs play wrestling together.
City Sights
One of the best ways to get an overall picture of Vancouver is by taking a city tour, which we did. Stanley Park is one of the city's centerpieces and its major recreational area. Gastown is a section of cobblestone streets and old buildings that was the original center of Vancouver. The buildings now contain boutiques, antique shops, and art galleries. Another tour stop is Granville Island, kind of like Chicago's Navy Pier in spirit. Here you will find restaurants and souvenir shops as well as an honest-to-goodness indoor market selling meats, cheese, and produce. Here we sampled a new rage called bubble tea. This is a concoction of various fruit flavorskind of like a smoothieinfused with beads of tapioca. You suck up the liquid and the 'bubbles' of tapioca through an extra wide straw.
Granville Island is located on once-industrial False Creek. This shallow, narrow waterway separates Vancouver into sections called the West End and the East End. The West End is the more fashionable end and also the site of Vancouver's booming GLBT community.
There are also walking tours available for exploring various areas of Vancouver. We took a walking tour of Vancouver's China Town, one of the largest in North America, and paid a fascinating visit to one of the only true classical Chinese gardens outside of China. A walking tour is a great way to get intimate with a neighborhood.
Because Vancouver is surrounded by water, there are, of course boat tours and dinner cruises. The most popular time to see Vancouver by water is at sunset. If you don't have time for a two- or three-hour cruise, take a water taxi ride on False Creek.
WeddingsA New Vancouver Industry
British Columbia recently joined the civilized world in making the union of gay and lesbian couples legal. The province fully recognizes same-sex marriage. Because of the beauty of its natural surroundings, Vancouver is destined to become one of the most popular wedding spots for gay and lesbian couples from the United States.
There is nothing cynical about this new business. People we met in Vancouver are warm and sincere in their efforts to make gay and lesbian weddings a truly wonderful occasion. The experience begins at the Bureau of Vital Statistics, where you go to get your license. The process is simple, efficient, and you are likely to be congratulated and wished a lifetime of happiness by the clerk.
Next, you will need a place for the ceremony and someone to officiate. You may choose to have either a civil or religious ceremony.
Various hotels and guesthouses are also geared up to handle to same-sex weddings. You can put together a simple package for just the two of you or a 'destination wedding' plan that includes out-of-town guests and banquet facilities.
Then there is the honeymoon. Vancouver is a perfect jumping-off spot for a cruise to Alaska, a train trip through the Canadian Rockies, a visit to Banmiff or Lake Louse, or a trip to the mountain resort of Whistler. But that is another story.
Your travel writer: Cynthia A. Marquard is the owner of Aqua Terra Travel, 65 E Wacker Place, Chicago IL 60601. Cynthia can help arrange your Canadian wedding. She can be reached at 312-787-2400 or 1-800-443-6869 or visit the Web site at www.aquaterratravel.com .