Beautiful beach to take in the sunset - very picturesque with sailboats and kayaks in the bay and…read moremountains across the way. Plenty of logs and benches to sit on. I think almost anywhere downtown you walk back from here requires a steep uphill - we ended up doing the steps near the bridge and got most of it over in 3.5 flights.

Looks like they're starting to chop up the barge that got stuck here a few months ago. Take a look…read morebefore it's gone forever. Seriously it's worth checking out. This thing is huge.

we drove around stanley park after dinner and caught the sunset, hoping to catch a glimpse of a…read morehumpback whale or maybe even a pod of orcas passing through the water. no such luck this time, but honestly the park still delivered. instead, we spotted a seagull standing perfectly still with a starfish clamped proudly in its mouth like some kind of seafood trophy. it looked both deeply proud of itself and slightly terrified to move in case it dropped its prize. it's easy to understand why stanley park is considered vancouver's most famous attraction. somehow this enormous urban park manages to combine rainforest, beaches, wildlife, gardens, ocean views, and the downtown skyline all in one place without ever feeling overly busy or commercialised. the drive through the park alone is worth it. take your time, there is construction going on right now. winding roads curve beneath towering western red cedars, douglas firs, and hemlocks before suddenly opening up to sweeping coastal views. every turn feels completely different from the last. the stanley park seawall is really the centrepiece of the entire experience. wrapping around the waterfront with nearly nonstop views of english bay, burrard inlet, lions gate bridge, the north shore mountains, and the vancouver skyline, it's the kind of place where people naturally slow down. cyclists cruise past runners, dog walkers stop to admire the scenery, tourists pause every few metres for photos, and families wander along the path with ice cream in hand. prospect point was easily one of the highlights, especially near sunset with the view stretching towards lions gate bridge and the mountains beyond. brockton point lighthouse added another classic postcard view, while the sailboats gathered near the royal vancouver yacht club made the harbour glow in the evening light. along the seawall we passed the scuba diver statue resting casually on a rock beside the water, definitely a scuba diver, not a mermaid, and somehow it perfectly matches the atmosphere of the park: peaceful, slightly quirky, and unmistakably west coast. lost lagoon brought a completely different energy from the oceanfront sections of the park. surrounded by trees and calm walking paths, the water reflected the skyline while ducks, geese, and other birds drifted quietly across the surface. second beach and third beach were both full of people making the most of the evening. second beach has the famous heated outdoor pool sitting right beside the ocean, along with volleyball courts, picnic areas, and one of the best sunset spots in the park. third beach felt quieter and more tucked away, with people stretched out on driftwood logs watching the sky slowly shift colours over english bay. nearby, the teahouse sits hidden among the trees, blending naturally into the surroundings. what makes stanley park stand out is how much there is beyond the famous seawall. tucked throughout the park are forest trails, gardens, playgrounds, tennis courts, public art, wildlife viewing areas, the pitch and putt golf course, and the vancouver aquarium hidden among the trees. despite sitting beside downtown vancouver, the park rarely feels urban. within minutes you can go from skyline views and busy pathways to quiet forest roads where all you hear is wind moving through the trees and waves hitting the shoreline. it's the contrast that makes the place memorable. even without spotting whales or orcas, the evening felt unforgettable. stanley park isn't just a place you visit once for the photos, it's the kind of place you keep wanting to return to because every section of it feels slightly different from the last.

Stanley Park was at the top of my must-do list while visiting Vancouver--and it was easily one of…read moremy favorite activities. The urban park spans over 1,000 lush acres and has such a rich history. It officially opened as a public park in 1888, named after Lord Stanley, Canada's Governor General at the time. We decided to experience it in the best way possible: on two wheels. After renting bicycles near Coal Harbor, we set off along the park's famous seawall--a scenic path that loops around the entire perimeter and offers nonstop views of ocean, mountains, city, and skyline. It's the kind of ride where you find yourself stopping often because every turn reveals beautiful views. Along the way, we made stops at some of the park's most iconic landmarks. The Stanley Park Totem Poles were vibrant and deeply rooted in Indigenous culture and storytelling. We continued on to the Girl in a Wetsuit statue, and then made our way up to Prospect Point. Don't forget to take in the view of the Lions Gate Bridge stretching across the water! Further along, we stopped to admire Siwash Rock before finishing our route near A-maze-ing Laughter by English Bay. After hours of heavy rain, we got incredibly lucky--the skies cleared what felt like just for us, and we were able to enjoy the entire ride in fresh, crisp air. I was so happy seeing the beaches along the way and the tree-lined paths glowing with orange leaves as we soaked in the last bits of autumn. Best of all, we were treated to a beautiful sunset at English Bay. It felt like the perfect closing moment--peaceful, golden, and well-earned after a full loop around the park. I can't recommend visiting Stanley Park enough. Wish we had enough time to visit the teahouse, but will have to save that for next time. If you're short on time but want to see a lot, biking the seawall is absolutely the way to go. It's active, scenic, and such a memorable way to experience one of Vancouver's most beloved places.

at english bay in the west end, the shoreline opens up into a wide, easy curve where the city…read moresoftens into ocean air. the smell of the salty ocean is immediate, and the pacific keeps shifting in the light while the north shore mountains sit faint in the distance, always present but never competing with the view. the seawall runs right along the edge, and this stretch is clearly for pedestrians, no cyclists here, and the signage is clear, which keeps the pace calm and unhurried. the path winds gently between two worlds: on one side, the water with its rocky, tide washed edges, and on the other, a broad green lawn scattered with tiny white flowers and shaded by tall trees. it feels especially open here, people naturally spacing themselves out, some moving slowly along the path, others stretched out on the grass, leaning back into the sun without much urgency. a canada goose wanders through it all without a care in the world, this is its turf, cutting across the lawn or lingering near the path like it knows they're untouchable, and they are protected. just off the seawall is a-maze-ing laughter, a circle of bronze figures by yue minjun, each one a self portrait caught in exaggerated, open mouthed laughter. these are larger than life figures arranged so you can walk among them. their expressions repeat, but their bodies shift into playful poses, arms thrown back, some folded forward, and the effect is contagious. the polished bronze picks up the shifting light from the water, defined abs and all, giving them a kind of physical intensity that stands apart from the softness of the landscape, like laughter made solid. along the seawall, benches appear at intervals, all turned toward the water, many marked with small tributes to people who are gone. they're easy to miss at first, but once noticed, they add a quiet, reflective layer to the walk. out past the path, the water stretches wide, constantly moving, catching light in soft flashes while distant ships slide across the horizon. everything feels open and unforced, with sky, tide, and the mountain line holding steady in the background. the sand on the beach here isn't especially soft, or that fine, sometimes a bit pebbled. what stands out most is how close this beach is to downtown, and how naturally it lets you slow down or simply be still at english bay. english bay doesn't ask anything of you; it opens space. breathe in, soften, and let the rhythm of the water carry everything else away.

It's a nice beach with many logs serving as seats or backrests. I have never swim in it as the…read moreocean is too cold for me. I enjoy walking along it or just chilling, watching the waves roll in and out. It's also the spot for the now gone fireworks display (symphony of fire back in the days before renaming it celebration of lights in summer). Restaurants are close by and it's walking distance to Stanley park, sunset beach and Granville island. Lots of things to do here, right in the city. Parking and traffic are horrible. So take transit to get here.

A real community sport centre. It has everything you need within 2 km radius pool , gym, rinks,…read moreplayground multi purpose fields. The library

Today I went to the brand new gym inside the Minoru Centre for Active Living. Everything is brand…read morenew and staff was really helpful. The yearly pass cost $527 which includes the pool but too bad the new pool is not open until later. However, this pass does allow you to use other fitness facilities in other community centers. The gym is open from 7am to 9 pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 5pm on weekends. I wish the hours are longer but I think they will once the pool is open.

This is a hub for volleyball and indoor cycling. Volleyball BC has their offices here, and they run…read morenumerous leagues, tournaments (youth and adult), and drop-in programs. The parking lot gets icy in winter - it's uneven and on the shady side of Burnaby mountain. Overflow parking is across the Barnet highway. As of Fall 2017: There is new flooring installed to replace the old tile system. The lines are much cleaner and there are no gaps between the tiles to get stuck on or scratched while diving. The parking lot also has LED lights now and is much brighter than before.

Home of Volleyball BC headquarters and a Velodrome! The only indoor Velodrome in Western Canada and…read moreon the Pacific Northwest. The roof is an air supported structure. ( Air Bubble ) So revolving doors are in use. Bicyclists use an actual air lock! Many co-Ed volleyball leagues and tournaments are played here. Including the Coquitlam Ducks volleyball and school championships. On cold days, its freezing in here. There is plenty of free parking up the side of the hill. It is located right under SFU, off of the Barnet Hwy It's kind of crazy to see volleyball being played in the inner part of the oval while bike racers whizz around the outside. Mind you it's usually one or the other . Yes you can rent bikes here and get coaches for those interested in giving the track a go.

Had a fun time in Deep Cove. Due to high tourist season, it is best to go online to register and…read morereserve your kayaks. It will save you a lot of time when you pick up your kayak. Prices are pretty reasonable and we chose the two hour option due to our limited time during the sunset period. The staff were busy but friendly and assisted us with our kayaks. They will brief you about the kayaks, safety and where to go. Now, I would select a longer time to truly appreciate Deep Cove's natural beauty when you aren't dodging other kayaks or boats. The traffic can be somewhat chaotic in the summer time and it is main area for a lot of boaters heading out of the cove. We kayak around three islands within our two hour option, but didn't relax as much as we want. Again, the salt water, slight wind, and being in the 80's made it a wonderful but brief time.

Great place to kayak, incredible views, definitely worth a visit…read more Equipment and gear were great and in great shape. Our guides were knowledgeable and got us in and out of our kayak without us getting our feet wet. I didn't give five stars for two reasons. First, the two guides seemed a bit lax, they mostly paddled with us instead of taking lead and sweep positions, despite the fact that two out of the six of us had never kayaked before. They did look back periodically to check on everyone, but it was still strange compared to other kayak tours I've been on. Second, they didn't take pictures of us, other tours I've been on do it as a matter of course and email or post pictures to everyone. Still, this was a very worthwhile experience, and everyone enjoyed the views, the seals we saw in the water, etc., and no one had trouble keeping up despite the wind and the range of both ages and kayaking experience.

An unexpectedly cancelled meeting at the convention centre today rendered me a walk through…read moreGastown. By the time I reached the eastern edge at Alibi Room, I was going to turnaround until I saw a sign that said CRAB Park at Portside perched on the light pole at Alexander and Main. I remember reading about this area used to be called luk'luk'i by the Coast Salish peoples so I decided to take a detour see what it was like. It is a gem off the beaten path. The easiest (perhaps the only) way to get to the park is by the overpass at the north end of Main at Alexander. The overpass is also wheel-friendly. It has a huge off-leash area (though not fenced and I don't still don't understand how you can have a off-leash dog area with no fence but I don't want to digress into civic issues), a foot path along the water and even a beach! The view is absolutely gorgeous. Although you won't get a wide span view of downtown as you would from Spanish Bank, the south side of False Creek or Lonsdale Quay, the park renders you proximity to the building. The new Woodwards towers, Harbour Centre, Canada Place, Burrard Inlet and the cranes at the port are right there in front of you. When I was there during the day on a weekday around lunch time, there were only a handful of park visitors: nearby workers taking a lunch time stroll, neighbours walking their canine companions, retirees and those fortunate or unfortunate ones who do not work. It is a perfect alternative resting spot for a picnic on the weekends if you are riding your bikes but want to avoid Stanley Park crowded with tourists. I would image the view of downtown at night would be fantastic due to the proximity but I haven't been there at night. I would probably do a drive by with my car to check out how safe the park is at night before recommending anyone venturing out there on foot for a romantic walk after dinner in Gastown. It is, after all only a few blocks away from the most interesting spot in Vancouver according to Renee Zellweger (so she claimed on Regis and Kelly) - Main & Hastings.

It's a shame this beautiful park is overrun and ruined by ignorant dog owners who:…read more 1- Don't pick up dog poop 2- Think it's their God given right to unleash their out-of-control dogs with behavioural issues 3- Unleash their dogs during ON-LEASH hours. Yes, there are hours posted.... try reading!! 4- Irresponsibly ignore and don't care when their dogs are attacking other dogs 5- Are nosy with a vigilante attitude towards others when they disagree with how a dog is being trained. 6- Don't have licenses for their dogs, break the rules, act irresponsibly, and think they're perfect. 2017 edition park info. After 7 years of using this park, it's really sad that I no longer feel like it is healthy or safe because of the obnoxious, psychotic people that are ruining it. City of Vancouver: Cancel the Downtown Ambassadors program and hire somebody to check up on licenses and fine people for not picking up poop. You'll have fun $$$. Make Crab Park great again. LOL

Extremely knowledgeable. Really appreciate how they listen to you and understand how to create the…read morebest rehabilitation plan for your needs and capabilities to complete plan!

The legendary rec center where I failed yellow…read more Despite that painful memory, there swim lessons were good; they have a kiddie type pool and then the standard sized pool with diving boards and all. A weight room is also on site. Not to be missed is definately the ice skating arena! Oooh sooo fun! They have great public skates, and lesson can be taken here as well.