Enjoy Stanley Park in Vancouver, B.C

Even if you're not a hockey fan, you've probably heard of the Stanley Cup- the championship prize coveted by professional hockey players. But did you know that the man who started the tradition by donating the first trophy in 1892 has a park named after him? That's right, Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby, is the namesake of Vancouver's Stanley Park, the most visited tourist attraction in British Columbia. A prominent statue of Sir Stanley greets all who enter North America's third largest urban park, and is just one of over 20 unique monuments scattered throughout 1,000 acres.

Officially opened on September 27, 1887, Stanley Park established the city of Vancouver's first official green space. In the early 1800s this site was heavily logged, and long before that, the Burrard, Musqueam and Squamish First Nations people inhabited the peninsula. Today, though, over 15 miles of trails and paved walkways traverse the forested park, which is surrounded by water on three sides. Whether you walk for free or take the narrated trolley tour for a fee (hop off and hop back on again at 15 designated stops), don't miss these highlights:

Brockton Point Totems: The totems you see today were commissioned or loaned to the park board between 1986 and 1992. Although not originals (those were moved to museums in order to preserve them), the existing carved poles are nonetheless quite colorful and spectacular. In 2009, a new pole carved by a Squamish Nation artist was added to the site, bringing the total number of poles to nine.

Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre: The Aquarium is home to over 70,000 amazing animals such as sea otters, sea turtles, Stellar sea lions, Pacific White-Sided Dolphins, and beluga whales. Animal shows and exhibits occur throughout each day. Although not inexpensive, the behind the scenes animal encounters give you first-hand experience as to what it's like to feed and train the animals and meet their trainers.

Gardens: Canada's tallest big leaf maple and red alder trees both grow within the park, but gardeners the world over come to admire its many gardens, including 3,500 rose bushes. Walking under the rose-draped arbors when they're in full bloom smells and feels heavenly! Nestled between the Rose Garden and the forest, the Shakespeare Garden pays homage to the bard. The garden is a diverse arboretum that includes trees mentioned in his plays and poems. Near the park's golf course, you'll find 4,500 hybrid rhododendron and azalea plants. These bushes originally came from Ted & Mary Greig, renowned rhododendron hybridizers.

If you decide to join the estimated eight million people who visit Stanley Park each year, you can feel welcomed by the words of Sir Stanley during his dedication speech "... to the use and enjoyment of peoples of all colours, creeds, and customs, for all time. I name thee, Stanley Park."