Southlands
Within 15 minutes of downtown Vancouver, at the mouth of the Fraser River, there's a serene pastoral retreat where horses and waterfowl mingle with high-tech development and historical landmarks. No other major Canadian city has country living so close by. It's not uncommon to hear the cries of blue herons, red tailed hawks and bald eagles as you clip-clop along a country road on your horse. You'll also pass opulent new homes next to old rustic dwellings, as the area is still zoned for limited agriculture.
Southlands is a unique community that offers a country lifestyle within the city, where it is said there are more horses than people. The area is predominantly acreages with multi-million-dollar mansions dominating the land. The Southlands Riding Club, formed in 1943, is a highlight of the area; its clubhouse was a former net drying hut for fishers on the Fraser, and was disassembled and carried to its present site by members on horseback.
Development in Southlands is governed by a special set of guidelines adopted by the City of Vancouver in 1987.
The area also boasts a number of public and exclusive private golf courses that have hosted major Canadian and international events in the past.
