Seawall, English Bay

This beautiful bay is a popular West End attraction. On New Year’s Day it hosts the polar bear swim, when thousands of swimmers brave the cold waters. More popular is walking the seawall that runs beside the bay into Stanley Park, fueled with caffeine or ice cream from nearby Davie and Denman street cafés (For further details see English Bay).

Lighthouse, Lighthouse Park

Park in the convenient lot or hop off the bus and enjoy a fairly easy walk though West Vancouver’s 500-year-old forest to the boulder-lined shore, and the 1912 Point Atkinson Lighthouse. The old-growth forest was slated to be felled to provide fuel for the lighthouse and its steam fog alarm. Luckily, it was never logged. Six miles (9.5 km) of trails provide day hikes through this entirely natural park, with its native trees and plants (For further details see Lighthouse Park).

This family-friendly park has an outdoor shower and changing rooms for freshening up after a day splashing in the water. Picnics on the beach are a favorite pastime. To take advantage of Pacific breezes, rent a windsurfer. Lessons are available for beginners to advanced.

Cypress Mountain, one of the park’s several peaks, is the biggest alpine ski and snowboarding area on the North Shore. In summer, activities include mountain biking, hiking, and wilderness camping in the park’s rugged backcountry areas.

The gondola ride to the summit provides thrilling views of the city and beyond. Skiing and snowboarding are guaranteed in winter, courtesy of snowmakers. Sightseeing and lots of activities in the summer (For further details see Grouse Mountain).

“Kits” Park is connected by a tree-lined walk to the beach, favored by swimsuit-clad volleyball players and sunbathers. Busy Olympic-size Kitsilano Pool overlooks the beach.

Getting down to Wreck Beach is easy, via a steep trail leading from SW Marine Drive on the UBC campus (For further details see University of British Columbia). The hard part is the climb back up from this clothing-optional beach. Beware: ogglers on the beach are conspicuous. There are spectacular views across the Strait of Georgia toward Vancouver Island (For further details see Wreck Beach).

Drive to the top of Mount Seymour for glimpses of deer and bears, and for views of Deep Cove and Indian Arm. The park, on the eastern end of the Coast Mountain range, is popular in winter, with gentle slopes for beginners as well as challenges for more advanced skiers and snowboarders. Hiking is a summer activity. The park encompasses Mount Seymour, Mount Elsay, and Mount Bishop.

Since 1858, Beacon Hill Park has been the queen of Victoria’s open-air spaces. Wooden bridges over the stream, petting zoo, and English-style rose garden add charm to the peaceful setting. Views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca from some points in the 62-acre (25-ha) park. Visitors can walk, bird-watch, ride horses, and picnic on the beach.

The grove, located in MacMillan Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, provides an awe-inspiring look at a virgin coastal forest. Giant, ancient Douglas-fir trees share the forest with stands of hemlock and Western red cedar. Loop trails are located on either side of Hwy 4. Scenic Cameron Lake is nearby.