Hello! My name is Adele and this is my pup Whiskey. We are the team behind @mywhiskeygirl on Instagram where we love sharing our adventures and try and inspire more people to get outside and take their dog with them. Presently, we’re living in North Vancouver and are addicted to the accessible outdoors and dog-friendly city.
Where else do you have such close access to the ocean, world-class dog-friendly trails and mountains, and dog-friendly hotel, attractions, and parks? We find the North Shore the perfect balance between the city life with all the amenities, and gateway to true wilderness and vast forests and mountains. To continue keeping our city dog-friendly, let’s keep in mind to pick up after our pups and be kind dog ambassadors to others!
We would love to share our favourite places with you:
“Did you know that the Seabus is dog-friendly? While the buses and Skytrain are not dog-friendly (outside of small dogs in carriers), the Seabus provides a rolling crate should you want to take your pup on the 12-minute journey from Waterfront Station downtown, to Lonsdale Quay (limited crates available, first come first gets). We love using this to get downtown during rush hour and meeting friends for lunch break. A tip that has Whiskey pulling into the station is that we always bring treats for the journey and she sees the Seabus as a treat dispenser.”
“This is my favourite intermediate hike and what I consider the most variety of terrain in such an easily accessible area. It’s also my favourite to bring friends as there are 3 peaks with lots of smallish plateaus all with amazing views so it really doesn’t matter how far we end up going before heading back. Hike-able in all seasons, it can be noted the flies can be pretty brutal in the spring (but fewer people!), the end of summer has the best wild blueberries in town, and the winter invites backcountry skiers and boarders to take advantage of a large amount of snowfall sharing the trails with snowshoers alike. As always, stay safe, properly equipped, keep your dog under control, and recognize this is avalanche territory, bear country, and stay away from the mountains in bad visibility and weather.”
“I should mention, this is a bakery for humans, although Whiskey would beg to differ as she wiggles happily recognizing the bakery when we pull up in the mornings. Bad Dog Bakery takes its name from a bread-stealing rescue pup- only reason to love it more! The bakery mills its’ own flour on-site and is well worth the extra it costs for fresh artisan organic loaves (I’m salivating as I write this!). With varieties that constantly change, my favourites include rosemary, pecan and fig, sesame, and baguettes. We also normally scarf down a cinnamon roll and a chocolate brioche bun before we get out of the parking lot, and yes, Whiskey gets a bite too!”
“The lower Lynn Valley trail system becomes the dog-friendly Inter River park, where we meet up with other doggy friends and meander around the river for a quick dip in the summer. With loads of parking, wide flat trails, forested rocky sections, and open spaces as well as river access this is our favourite go-to for a 1-2 hour walk. When running with Whiskey, we just extend the trail by running northbound which takes us into the Lynn suspension bridge, twin falls, and eventually Lynn Headwaters (some of this path is dogs on leash). As with all North Shore parks, keep an eye on your pup as there are coyotes, and bears (further up) sighted here.”
“I first crossed this suspension bridge as a child when it didn’t have a dedicated parking lot, free shuttle, Canyon Lights, Cliffwalk or Treetop bridges. I remember the 450 foot walk high across the Capilano River and was more than a little amazed how much fun a seemingly never-ending wooden bridge could be! Thankfully even though Capilano Suspension Bridge is now a photogenic tourist attraction, it’s also dog-friendly and confident dogs are even allowed on our favourite part- the Treetops Adventure! A series of seven small suspension bridges allow visitors to walk elevated amongst huge Douglas-fir trees. We’ve been here enough times that Whiskey loves the bridges and will happily pull towards them.”
“It’s pretty astounding how amazing the dog parks are in the North Shore. With views overlooking the Lions Gate Bridge and Stanley Park, it’s the perfect place to watch the sunrise and sunset with panoramic views, rocky sandy beaches, a paved pathway, and lots of grassy areas where off-leash pups can roam and say hi. Come here during low tide and the park acreage increases dramatically. It makes me so happy to see dog parks in such magical places, to see wags and butt-sniffs completely oblivious to the humans that are so happy they can share a beach sunset with their best friend IN THE MIDDLE OF A CITY. How can you not love this place?”
“We love the new dog-friendly Seaside Hotel that looks over the harbour to the downtown Vancouver skyline. With a spa and tasty new restaurant, steps away from the Seabus (a 12 min ride to downtown) and centred in the new Shipyards District in Lonsdale, there’s not much to find at fault. We love the high-tech touches and the soft coastal décor and Whiskey loves how friendly they are to pups that prefer the royal treatment.”
“I love that one of my favourite trails is just a quick drive from home, visible on clear days from the city, and wild as wild can be! The complete 29km length isn’t very scary until you look at the elevation gain/losses (1830m gain/ 2600m descent if started from Cypress) plus there’s a lot of options to do a couple of extra peaks along the way if you are truly energetic. Best tackled as an advanced overnighter, the trail is technical, no tent pads are provided, water can be scarce, and weather can be severe, with avalanche terrain in the winter/spring months. For that less hardcore, there are multiple sections of this hike that can be completed as day hikes. St Mark’s Summit is a popular route as well as Lions, while Unnecessary Mtn, Deeks Lake, and Brunswick Mountain are a little less crowded. If you are attempting the trail with a dog, make sure your pup is well used to the terrain and bring booties should their paws get worn down by the rough rock. Start with shorter sections of the trail until you are confident of your skills before attempting the full trail. Oh, and did I mention there are countless jaw-dropping mountains, views, and vistas?”
“Looking for the best mix of quality cafe, local goods, and dog-friendly location? Grab a coffee or artisanal latte at the End of the Line before heading on your Lynn hike, then pop by on the way out and pick up a piece of local art, honey, or North Shore hoodie (we did!). I can’t tell you the number of times we welcomed a hot drink so close to the trailheads after a rainy walk or an ice cream after a summer run.”
“Deep Cove is a community within a community. If you haven’t tried a Honey’s doughnut, all their celeb fans would tell you, you’re totally missing out! The cove is encircled by a couple of parks, one including the popular trail leading to Quarry Rock lookout and the start of the Baden Powell, a 48km dog-friendly hike that stretches the length of the North Shore. We have spent many a summer day launching kayaks and SUPs from Deep Cove Kayak which are all dog-friendly. We also love the local stores for shopping (most welcome dogs) and just adore the area for its sense of community.”
Find out more about dog-friendly stays on the North Shore for you and your furry pal and follow @mywhiskeygirl for more updates from Adele and Whiskey!
