Queen Elizabeth Park

Queen Elizabeth Park covers 52 hectares on Little Mountain, about 125 metres above sea level, south of downtown Vancouver. In the early 20th century the hill was quarried for basalt to build the city's roads. The Vancouver Park Board took over the land by the end of the 1930s, and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth dedicated the park during their visit in 1939.

The old quarries are now the park's best-loved feature. The Quarry Gardens, sunken gardens designed by Bill Livingstone and unveiled in the early 1960s, fill the former pits with planting, paths and water. The park also holds what is described as Canada's first civic arboretum, developed with a donation from the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association.

At the top of the hill is the Bloedel Conservatory, opened on 6 December 1969 and paid for by a gift of $1.25 million from Prentice Bloedel. It was the country's first geodesic conservatory. The triodetic dome, designed by McKinley Underwood, is 43 metres across and 21 metres high and is made from 1,490 plexiglass bubbles held in aluminium tubing. Inside are three habitats, tropical rainforest, subtropical rainforest and desert, with around 500 exotic plants and flowers and more than 100 free-flying tropical birds, which makes it a warm escape on a grey day. Henry Moore's bronze Knife Edge Two Piece (1962 to 1965) stands near the conservatory.

The park suits a slow half-day: walk the Quarry Gardens and spend some time in the conservatory. Families and active visitors can use the pitch and putt course, tennis courts, disc golf and lawn bowling, and tai chi and jogging are also listed among the park's activities. Entry to the park is free; the conservatory charges admission and has its own opening times, so check the City of Vancouver website before you go. The conservatory is a good choice when it rains.

The conservatory came close to closing. In November 2009 the Park Board voted to shut it to save on running and repair costs, but a campaign by the Friends of the Bloedel raised funds and the board changed course early in 2010. Since then it has been run by the VanDusen Botanical Garden Association, now the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association, together with the Friends.