Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver: Exploring Art And Nature

Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Park sits at the city’s highest point, 152 meters (about 500 feet) above sea level. As such, it offers stunning views of the North Shore Mountains and beyond. It’s a go-to spot when friends are visiting our city.

Queen Elizabeth Park is Vancouver’s second most-visited park after Stanley Park and it’s easy to see why. From lush gardens and the tropical Bloedel Conservatory to tennis courts, pitch-and-putt, a wedding pavilion, and even an art installation, it’s all here.

And if you’re seeking panoramic views of Vancouver, it’s a good place it start. While tall trees now partly block the skyline, those mountain peaks are worth the trip. If you’re passing through or heading out on a cruise, this scenic spot in the heart of the city is a must.

Queen Elizabeth Park Location

• Location: Cambie Street and West 33rd Avenue | Open: 6 am to 10 pm

Queen Elizabeth Park is located at the junction of Cambie Street and West 33rd Avenue. However, there are entrances on several sides of the park, including Ontario Street and West 33rd Avenue, or along West 37th Avenue between Columbia and Mackie Streets.

Complimentary parking is limited along the edges of the park and during our visit, these spots were full. Pay parking lots are located near the center of the park by the Bloedel Conservatory and Seasons in the Park Restaurant.

Expect to pay CAD 4.25/hr or CAD 14.25/day (May 1 to Sep 30). Drivers get a one dollar break per hour in off-season.

Queen Elizabeth Park Map

The map below shows the multiple entrances to the park.

Queen Elizabeth Park Quarry Gardens

Queen Elizabeth Park’s Quarry Gardens sit within the park’s sprawling 130 acres. It features a striking mix of natural beauty and history. From one of the highest spots, visitors get stunning 360-degree views of the city.

Once a basalt quarry back in the early 1900s, this area has completely transformed. Now, you’ll find colorful flower beds, gentle waterfalls, and peaceful streams weaving through the landscape. Within the gardens, paved walkways meander over bridges, and encourage exploration.

The large quarry is a horticultural dream garden, boasting beautifully curved beddings filled with exciting flowers and perennials. While I don’t have a green thumb, I appreciated the effort that keeps this garden looking so magnificent.

Next to the Season In The Park restaurant lies the smaller quarry. It exudes oriental charm, with plenty of Asian influences, from its plant choices to the arched bridge spanning a dry creek bed.

‘Love In The Rain’ Love Locks

The Love Lock installation is a newer addition to the park and was erected in 2016 to prevent further damage to the Burrard St. Bridge where locks were historically placed.

Entitled ‘Love in the Rain,’ the steelworks of art created by Bruce Voyce, showcases four couples lovingly embracing under wire umbrellas. Since the keys are generally thrown away, this installtion includes a heart-shaped dropbox fr the padlock keys.

By dropping keys in the box, they are melted down and turned back into art installations to be installed somewhere else. What an incredible idea!

‘Love in the Rain’ is one of my favorite areas of Queen Elizabeth Park. Generally speaking, love locks have been a tradition that has spread around the world, with lovers looking for places to put a permanent lock as a symbol of their love.

During our visit, we placed our own love lock on the structure as a symbol of our ‘forever love.’ Afterward, we took some time to read the inscriptions on the locks. Furthermore, it was hard not to notice some of their unique styles and shapes.

A nearly plaque explains the artwork and encourages visitors to place locks on the four couples, not the umbrellas. However, we noticed some keys attached to the umbrellas which weakens the integrity of the art piece.

Other art installations include the Knife Edge-Two Piece by the Bloedel Conservatory dancing fountains and the bronze Photo Session. The latter is above the large quarry and begs for a selfie.

Cherry Blossoms

While the park looks lovely at any time of the year, the month of April welcomes cherry blossom season. As soon as the spring weather warms in Vancouver, it is one of the most popular times of the year for the park.

Each year, Queen Elizabeth Park hosts The Big Picnic, which may be Canada’s largest picnic celebration. Inspired by Hanami (Japan’s viewing of the cherry blossoms), visitors are invited to share in the beauty of the flowers, all while picnicking under their fragrant branches.

During the event, some of the parking lots are closed, so it’s best to plan your trip by public transit.

Celebration Pavilion

This picturesque circular venue can accommodate up to 100 people and is rentable year-round. During an event, the back walls of the Pavilion can open up to a beautiful patio. This creates the perfect setting for a summer wedding, fundraiser, or speaking event.

In spring and summer, the Pavilion provides the ideal venue for a wedding reception, while the gardens give a lush setting for photos. Pictures can also be taken inside the Bloedel Conservatory or used for small ceremonies.

Bloedel Conservatory

The Bloedel Conservatory’s name comes from Prentice Bloedel, who made his fortune in forestry in the 20th century. He donated CAD 1.25 million to build Canada’s first geodesic conservatory, which opened in 1969. Outside, the dancing fountains are welcoming on a hot day.

Since then, it has been enabling visitors to enjoy more than 120 exotic birds, and 500 exotic plants in a temperature-controlled environment year-round. In 2018, over 150,000 people visited the Bloedel Conservatory.

We visited on a chilly October day, and the first thing that hit our senses was the humidity. As a tropical ecosystem, it is necessary to maintain a consistent climate regardless of the temperature or weather. Inside, temperature remains constant at 18-22C (64-68F), and humidity is typically a moist 78%.

Inside the domed gem, a meandering paved path led us through the various areas and habitats. While the dome is not big, we could enjoy the experience at our own pace.

Immediately entering the Conservatory, we experienced sensory overload with a multitude of sounds, scents, and scenery.

I couldn’t help but listen to the chirps and fascinating sounds of the tropical birds. Sometimes handlers alows visitors to see the birds up close.

Due to the high humidity, the collection of flowers and vegetation lets off a pleasing fragrance of tropical scents. Visually, everywhere I looked, I could see a creature that I knew was not native to Vancouver or British Columbia. Overall, it was incredibly amazing and a great Vancouver rainy day activity.

Birds Of The Conservatory

Inside visitors can find cockatoos, parrots, canaries, parakeets, starlings, finches, doves, robins, pheasants, and more. Throughout the conservatory, plentiful signs provide descriptions of the birds and their various traits. I found the Chinese pheasant striking with its yellow head and vibrant red body.

For example, “Ruby” is a vibrant female who is gentle, shy, and a big groomer. She also loves to play with pinecones.” As we arrived near the end of the pathway, one of the workers held “Blanca,” who is an umbrella cockatoo, born in 1998 and described as cuddly, playful, and with a big personality.

While there, she would say “Hi” and “Bye-bye” to visitors. Very entertaining to everyone near her. Blanca was so close we could have touched her. You could tell she was accustomed to having people nearby and seemed to enjoy the attention.

Bloedel Conservatory Hours

The conservatory is open daily (except Christmas Day). During the summer (May 1 to Sept 1), it’s open from 10 am to 7 pm. In the off-season, the dome has shorter hours. While it still opens at 10 am, expect early closure of 4 pm to 5 pm, depending on the month.

Admission is inexpensive at around CAD 8 for adults and under CAD 6 for seniors and children. These prices make it an excellent attraction for budget-minded families. While it takes under an hour to walk through, every square foot provides something to see due to the optimal design.

Interestingly enough, the city of Vancouver almost lost the Conservatory in 2009 due to budget shortfalls. Local citizens rallied to join forces to save this valuable dome. Today, the VanDusen Botanical Garden and the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association jointly manage the Bloedel Conservatory.

Seasons In The Park

Positioned near the Bloedel Conservatory is The Seasons In The Park restaurant. It offers visitors fantastic food, excellent service, and spectacular views of Vancouver. With its lovely ambiance, It’s the perfect place for a romantic dinner as you watch the sunset.

The restaurant is open for brunch, lunch, and dinner. However, I’d definitely recommend a reservation. It can be booked for private functions and is often used for wedding receptions.

Bloedel Conservatory Christmas – Holiday Heights

If visiting Vancouver in December, the Bloedel Conservatory hosts a special holiday event. With lots of festive illuminations, the tropical forest transforms into a Christmas celebration of lights, complete with exotic birds!

If you plan to visit The Festival of Lights at VanDusen Gardens, remember to retain your ticket stub. Your ticket usually includes free admission to the Holiday Heights at the Bloedel Conservatory at Queen Elizabeth Gardens.

A visit to Queen Elizabeth Park and the Bloedel Observatory will take two to three hours. However, dinner at Seasons in the Park will greatly extend your day. Enjoy your visit!