Page 4 of 7 Second Beach to Beach at Guilford

	Second Beach Straight ahead of us is the ocean - you are probably getting pleasant whiffs of the salt-water already! Cross Stanley Park Drive and you'll see the Second Beach concession on the right and the pool just beyond. This busy swimming pool is a recent addition to the Park, opened in 1995 to replace the last of Vancouver's 'draw and fill' pools (a pool that is filled at high tide and replaced weekly), previously at this same location. Perhaps a quick swim is in order at this point if it's a roasty day...otherwise, bear left at the beach and continue on the seawall path with the beach on your right. Stay on the lower path nearer the water and take a nice stroll around part of Stanley Park's perimeter.
	As you walk, follow the horizon with your eyes to the right and you'll see the North Shore mountains; in between are the usual myriad of freighters waiting for a space in Vancouver's bustling port; straight ahead we can see the University of B.C. at the point plus the expansive stretches of the south shore beaches. Soon you should be able to see English Bay beach ahead on the path in the distance. Our lazy seawall saunter will take us to a point near the Bay beach before the path opens out, where, on the left will be a paved path cutting up through the bushes (often there are some artists selling paintings on the rocks at the right). Take this path to the upper trail, bearing right at the top and over to the bust of an honourable Vancouver politician.

Bust of David Oppenheimer At the entrance to Stanley Park at Beach Avenue there is a bust of David Oppenheimer who was the second mayor of Vancouver (1888-1891). Oppenheimer is considered by many to have been one of Vancouver's finest mayors. It is not hard to see why when you hear of his achievements and Vancouver's advancements during his time in office. During his relatively short reign, he established the first transportation system with the introduction of streetcars in 1890 initiated street paving established the Parks Board and he officially opened Stanley Park. opened Cambie Street Bridge and the first Granville Bridge developed a lighting company (which is now B.C. Hydro) plus Vancouver's first civic water supply and schools were built On top of it all, David Oppenheimer served as mayor without pay and donated his own land for schools and parks...what a guy!

Let's move on and continue up this divided rollerblade/bike path (it's OK to walk here too)... take the path across Beach Avenue just ahead and follow it between the building on the right and the bushes on the left - don't worry, we'll get back to the beach shortly! The first street you'll reach is Pendrell. Keep on the path - you'll notice the well-known Stanley Park tennis courts just beyond on the left. Walk down past the alleyway on your right until you get to the next cul-de-sac which is Comox Street. Turn right onto Comox - you'll immediately see, or rather 'hear' why this is a popular area of the West End to live in. The peace and quiet combined with easy access to the Park explain the lack of vacancies generally available in the surrounding units. We'll stay on Comox as we drift across Chilco.  The second building on the right of this block, at number 1968, is the beautiful 'English Bay Inn,' a well-groomed bed and breakfast built in 1910. This craftsman-style bungalow is the only example of such a style in the West End and is a fine feature of this street. Continue to Guilford and turn right. Take this street all the way down, across Pendrell again, and approach Beach Ave. As we near, the historic Sylvia Hotel, at 1154 Guilford, looms up in all its glory on the left.

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