Vancouver is a Top Beach City in the World
byAccording to a National Geographic ranking, Vancouver is the #10 best city in the world for beaches.
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Here’s why they chose us: “Canada’s most adventurous metropolis is home to ten beaches, from the family-centric Jericho to the clothing-optional Wreck Beach, many of which offer commanding views of the Vancouver skyline and majestic North Shore Mountains. Sporty types prefer Kitsilano or “Kits” a six-minute drive from downtown, for its free tennis and basketball courts, and its super-size heated saltwater pool.”
While some think our water is too chilly or cloudy, I think the main attraction here is how close the beaches are to the city. Within 10 minutes I can walk to English Bay, 15 to Second Beach, and 20 to Third Beach. Then within 10 minutes from downtown I can drive to Kits Beach, 15 to Jericho, Locarno, or Spanish Banks, and about 20 to Wreck. You can hop in for a swim on a scorching hot day if you like but there’s much more to do at our beaches.
Vancouver has many options for sea-side recreation and when you cap that off with a view of the North Shore mountains, it’s just the icing on the cake.
Our waters are active year-round with boats, kayaks, stand-up boards and more — heck we even take strolls down to the beach when it’s snowing.
Another draw (or reason for the Top Beach title) is that there are so many other options nearby. From Ambleside and Deep Cove on the North Shore, to Belcarra, Crescent Beach and White Rock.
Let’s not forget about the lakes while we’re at it. Buntzen, Sasamat, Cultus… When you live in Metro Vancouver a beach of some kind is never too far away.
As a side note, the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup takes place in September. You can register your own clean-up location or join one that is already on the map. Let’s all do our part to ensure that our beaches remain free of litter, garbage, and harmful debris.
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I love living so close to the beaches but I do have some issues with them as well:
– English Bay: Beautiful, relaxing, BUT fear of stepping on broken beer bottles in the water, we’ve seen condom wrappers in the water/shoreline, lots of muscle shells to step on too. Did you know the sand is trucked in? Yup, industrial sand is a great thing if you like to get dirty while at the beach 😉 Yes, I’v seen them truck in the sand from time to time early in the morning. It is nice that the crews are out combing the beach in the morning too.
– Sunset (around the corner from English Bay) is a nice relaxing place with little swimming areas as you watch the boats come into/outof False Creek.
– Spanish Banks – Best beach IMHO, especially when the tide is way LOW.
– Kits/Jericho – Kits was voted the place to see the most beautiful people in Canada 😉 Nonetheless too busy for myself to hang out there. The volleyball tournies are cool though.
– WreckBeach – Been told it is the BEST place to see the sunset, yet I have not been there. For those who are curious and didn’t know (how could you not) it is a nude beach.
– Fav places in WestVan: Sandy Cove, Caufield Beach and Whytecliff Park
– Buntzen, Sasamat (aka WhitePines Beach), Alouette, Rolley and Hayward all have awesome beaches to hang out at too. Good for those who dislike salt water swimming.
Hopefully this wasn’t more of a rant comment 😉
Makes me think of how fortunate we are here on the west coast. Could you imagine if there was oil washing up on our shores?
Budget City Movers will be taking part in cleaning up our shorelines. We are all very lucky to be living in the best part of Canada! My families favourite beach spot is the spanish banks when the tide is out, since that is where we’ve found the warmest waters and most sea critters.