By Expedia Team, on July 21, 2013

On the Eco Trail in Vancouver

I owe my love of holistic and green living to the beautiful city of Vancouver. Almost five years of calling Canada home gave me the opportunity to discover the beauty of green, clean and eco living.

Vancouver is a city that truly wants to tread lightly on our planet; year after year this sustainable city continues to rank within the top 5 cities of the world for sustainability and lifestyle. Yet they strive to do better, and the city of Vancouver have set the monumental, yet inspiring  goal of becoming the greenest city by 2020.

Vancouver is generally the first stop for Kiwis heading off to explore the pristine beauty and rugged wilderness of Canada. Everyone knows that Expedia travellers are experience seekers, they travel with open minds, willing to embrace the local culture and create memories that will forever stay deeply etched on their heart. There’s no better way to absorb the city’s culture than to follow the green, eco trail of this serene city.

Here are just a few of my favourite spots to put green living on your map:

Nature Trails

The beauty of Vancouver is that Mother Nature is right on your hotel doorstep. Ancient forests, pristine beaches and breathtaking mountaintop vistas are all within easy reach from downtown. The first thing you must do is rent a bike and spend the day exploring the paths of Stanley Park. Cycle the 8.8km seawall and marvel at the natural beauty that surrounds you. If biking is not your thing, there’s endless walking tracks for you to adventure off on. If you want to get off the tourist map, catch the downtown bus out to Cypress Falls Hiking Trail. Within minutes you’ll enter the forest ballroom, where Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar trees sway. A little further up the track you’ll be greeted by an impressive set of waterfalls. Continue hiking and you’ll see an even larger waterfall plunging into a deep canyon. Or for something the whole family will enjoy, pack a picnic lunch and head to Lighthouse Park for a casual hike. The quaint forest path winds from the parking lot to the rocky coastline, offering impressive views of a century-old lighthouse. The Capilano Suspension Bridge is another great family activity – hanging 70m above the river, it’s part of a series of bridges high in the tree tops.