Light Up Your Life with Stanley Park’s Bright Nights
Stanley Park Bright Nights:
Have you ever wondered what 3 million Christmas lights look like? Well wonder no more. For those of us lucky enough to call Vancouver home or are visiting here for the holiday season – Stanley Park is always the right choice. What makes it extra special is that for the whole month of December you can enjoy Bright Nights. The name is extremely fitting, as winter time boasts the shortest days of the year.
Getting To Where All The Action Is…
The best part of owning a GPS is you can just search for “Stanley Park” and it will take you right there – and on the fastest route. Parking is usually a bit pricey but it is FREE when you are parking closest to the Bright Nights entrance. As with most things in Vancouver – Bright Nights is open rain or shine. If events were held back because of the rain we wouldn’t have very many in this city!
That being said, be sure to dress appropriately, as our visit was full of mixed weather. Chris referred to it as sleet, but without the ice pellets. This winter has been a bit atypical, as it has cycled between our normal rain and snow weather as if mother nature can’t quite make her mind up. Ponchos are for sale, but to keep your money in your wallet, it’s cheaper to pack your own coat, umbrella, hat and mitts. The ground was quite muddy, so I was glad to be wearing my waterproof boots. Holiday hours run from November 28 to January 1 (with Christmas as the exception). You can wander on down anytime between 10am-11pm to take part in the festivities.
Starlight, Shine Bright
To me there is nothing that says “Christmas” quite like Christmas lights. There is just something about them that makes everything seem brighter and more alive. They honestly do make your troubles go away. It no longer mattered that we were experiencing chilly weather, getting rained on and uncomfortable or that we had to navigate through a crowd; being surrounded by such a festive atmosphere brought out the cheer in both of us. The admission was by donation with partial proceeds going to the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund, which helps burn survivors and their families. Favorite attractions were the super huge reindeer and the Polar Express. If you’re lucky you might just see Santa wandering around…
Stanley Park Train
All aboard! What visit to Stanley Park during the holidays would be complete without a ride on the Stanley Park Train. As most of the train times sold out very quickly while we were there, it is a good idea to plan ahead. Booking online is a great option or if you are more spontaneous, arrive a bit earlier so you can reserve your spot. Train prices run between $6-12 per child/person. I know I’m all grown up now, but watching the trains roll in and out of the station just made me feel like a child all over again.
Holiday Memories
We hope you can get out and explore this holiday season! If it’s not to Stanley Park (which we hope it is of course!), be sure to make your own holiday memories and create new traditions. The most important part of Christmas is being surrounded by people who love and care about you. Merry Christmas from our family to yours!
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Carolynne
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