Bloedel Conservatory, Queen Elizabeth Park

Entering the Bloedel Conservatory is like being transported to the tropics without the plane ride. It is hot. It is humid. There is lush vegetation all around and the calls of over 100 birds not typically found flying around Vancouver fill the thick air. Splatters of cold rain fall down on the domed glass roof but inside it is all heat and colour. Fuzzy pink chenile plants brush your skin as you walk past, like giant curious caterpillars. Exotic plants and flowers with names like "Lollipop Plant" and "Pony Tail Palm" mix together to make a mini jungle complete with butterflies and koi fish swimming in the bridged pond.-Tara lowry

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Crossing the bridge, you pause to wipe the sweat from your face, and gaze at the colorful birds flitting through lush foliage. Then you spy a pair of green-wing macaws, perched on branches, grooming their colourful feathers. In the distance, you hear the loud raucous call of another tropical bird. While it may seem like you're in a jungle in far-off South America or Southeast Asia, you're actually smack dab in the middle of Vancouver. The Bloedel Conservatory sits atop Queen Elizabeth Park, and is home to several species of exotic birds as well as koi fish and numerous tropical plants. Outside, you can see the mountains of North and West Vancouver. On the slopes below grow the verdant plants that cover the park, making it a popular location for wedding photos. Hungry? Just walk 30 yards to the Seasons in the Park restaurant for food that’s eclipsed only by the view.

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