Summer is for Outdoors!
Courtesy
Tourism Vancouver
with additional material from GayVancouver.Net
Vancouver has always been regarded as a city that enjoys the outdoors. And
really, given we have the sea on one side, the land in the middle, and mountains
on the other it isn't hard to figure out why it attracts both residents and
visitors with its call of an active lifestyle.
With summer now in full swing here are a few of
our favourite outdoor activities that take full advantage of the warmer
temperatures and reduced rainfall.
Kayaking
Vancouver's two most popular paddling
destinations are quite different from each other. The placid waters of False
Creek are flanked by Yaletown's bustling cityscape to the north and clamorous
Granville Island to the south, while the North Shore's nature-bound Deep Cove
area is the launch point for Indian Arm, a tree-lined, finger‑shaped fjord that
bends northwards for 30 kilometres (19 miles) deep into the heart of the
mountains. Local kayak rental and tour operators include
Ecomarine Ocean Kayak Centre and
Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak Centre.
Hiking
The Lower Mainland offers a cornucopia of great hiking opportunities. Popular
trekking spots include the North Shore's Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve,
complete with 50 kilometres (31 miles) of paved and gravel logging trails that
also attract cyclists and inline skaters; Deep Cove, combining small-scale urban
development with looming mountains and glassy seascapes; and the well-marked
Baden-Powell Trail, which winds through 42 kilometres (26 miles) of rocky
bluffs, snow-fed ravines and of course trees, trees, trees - it's the epitome of
West Coast natural splendour. The city's most popular hiking route is the
Grouse Grind, a steep 2.9 kilometre (1.8 mile) uphill trek through the
forest. It can take up to two hours, but you can relax with a gondola ride back
down for $5.
Rollerblading
The 10.5-kilometre (6.5-mile) Stanley Park seawall is dripping with
rollerbladers throughout the summer months - its flat, paved path circles the
entire park and offers spectacular mountain, waterfront and forest vistas with
plenty of spots to stop and take a breather. More adventurous rollerbladers are
often drawn to North Vancouver's Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve, where the
towering trees provide a spectacular backdrop for a nature-bound spin. In-line
skates can be rented throughout the city, and operators include
Bayshore Bicycles & Rollerblade Rentals and
Spokes Bicycle Rentals.
Rock Climbing
Ringed by mountains, Vancouver is an ideal
destination for rock climbers who don't want to stray too far from the city. The
local mountains offer dozens of options for climbers of all levels, while a
one-hour drive along the Sea-to-Sky Highway brings you one of Western Canada's
most popular climbing destinations. The Squamish Chief is an experienced rock
climber's dream with boundless routes to scale on its beautiful granite face.
For those less experienced, group and private lessons, indoor climbing walls and
guided climbing tours are available around the region.
Beaches
Among Vancouver's best summertime haunts,
Kitsilano Beach is the most popular spot for catching the rays. It attracts
families, locals and visitors with its wide sandy expanse and large saltwater
swimming pool. English Bay Beach, at the intersection of Denman and Davie
Streets is a busy stretch for sunbathers, volleyball players and resting
rollerbladers. For the city's best sunset, head to Stanley Park's Third Beach,
where you can pull-up a log and watch the sky turn through its end-of-day
pyrotechnics.
Tennis
Vancouver has more than 180 free public tennis
courts, provided by the Vancouver Park Board. The outdoor courts are open all
year and are run on a first-come, first-served basis, with a 30-minute maximum
time limit - but only if someone is waiting for your court. Stanley Park has 15
free courts and six that are available for an hourly rental fee. Queen Elizabeth
Park has 17 free courts. At Kitsilano Beach Park, there are 10 free courts for
public use. For other locations, visit the
Park Board website.
Scuba
Vancouver's beauty also extends below the
ocean's surface. Scuba divers plumb the frigid waters between Vancouver Island
and the mainland to view spectacular marine species like wolf eels and large
Pacific octopus, as well as a brilliant red coral found few other places in the
world. Cates Park in Deep Cove on the North Shore and Whytecliff Park near the
North Shore's Horseshoe Bay are popular diving sites. Granville Island's
See King Charters can organize group trips for those interested in
diving the area.
Boating
With its spectacular waterfront location,
boating around the Vancouver region is a highly popular activity for visitors.
Whether it's a sunset dinner cruise around the coastline off Stanley Park, a
narrated harbour cruise around the busy waterfront, a mini-tour on a tiny ferry
around False Creek or a fishing or sightseeing trek aboard a charter, the city
is a marine-lovers paradise. Operators include
Harbour Cruises,
Accent Cruises and
Cooper Boating, while local mini-ferries are run by
Aquabus Ferries and
False Creek Ferries.
