The fabulous Queen Elizabeth Park and Bloedel Conservatory were first introduced to us on a city tour that we took while in Vancouver, Canada. We were to go back there another day to spend more time. These photos are a two day compilation of our visit meandering the beautifully landscaped grounds.

Our vacation trip in 1989 had started in Seattle, Washington.

My mother, niece and I had spent one day away from Seattle sightseeing in the Bavarian-styled village of Leavenworth. After leaving Seattle and having spent 2 nights at the Inn at Semiahmoo and touring the San Juan Islands, we now were going to spend a glorious five days in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Queen Elizabeth Park and the Bloedel Floral Conservatory is located at 33rd Avenue & Cambie Street.

The park consists of 130 acres ( 52.78 hectares) and sits at the highest elevation point in all of Vancouver, 501 feet above sea level. From that perspective one has panoramic views of the entire city of Vancouver with a backdrop of mountains.

What was developed into this beautiful park started out as a basalt quarry.

After a visit from King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1939, the park was renamed in honor of the queen in 1940.

Many activities can be enjoyed in the park including such things as picnics, lawn bowling, tennis, tai chi, wading in the water park surrounding the domed conservatory, disc golf, etc.

The Bloedel Conservatory consists of a lush tropical environment which includes over 100 free flying birds, Koi fish, hundreds of species of tropical plants and in addition, it also has a desert climate with plants that would be appropriate to that clime.

After the stop at Queen Elizabeth Park & Bloedel Conservatory on the introductory tour we took to acquaint ourselves with Vancouver, my mother, niece and I decided that this was one place that we wanted to come back and spend more time enjoying at a more leisurely pace.

The photos that accompany this text were taken on our second day visiting Queen Elizabeth Park and Bloedel Conservatory.

Having been inside the conservatory the first day, we spent more time walking around and sightseeing on the extensive scenic grounds of the park.

This is the second most visited park in Vancouver, Stanley Park being the first, but this Queen Elizabeth Park must be the prime spot of all for bridal pictures.

We counted at least 30 bridal parties and photographers taking photos that day!

It was fun looking at all the brides in their white dresses and colorful accompanying bridesmaid dresses adorning the scenic backdrops in the park.

It must have been quite a contest to pick out the favorite spots for capturing the photos on that day for the photographers of the brides and grooms.

Obviously the locations in the park for the best photos would have been scouted out in advance. If the same spot was chosen by more than one bride, the parties would just have had to take turns waiting for that location to open up and be available.

From what we saw, the numerous smiling faces of the many wedding parties seemed to be sharing the park amicably.

It was a happy day being recorded for those families, and it was a most pleasant interlude for us on this day in the beautiful Queen Elizabeth Park as well.

Anyone visiting Vancouver should definitely make it a point to visit Queen Elizabeth Park & Bloedel Conservatory.

Take your camera! You will not be disappointed!