If you’re looking to have the best of both worlds, the hustle and bustle of city living paired with a large amount of beautiful lush green rain-forest-like parks, you are in the right place. There really are too many to name but I’d like to highlight some of what I consider the must-sees of Vancouver to be. I hope this will encourage you to either see a place you haven’t seen before or revisit some with a different point of view. Enjoy!

Stanley Park

A major historical site for Vancouver of approximately 1000 acres. This was the first official green space for the city, established in 1888. If all you had was enough time to drive through the park and out again, it would be worth the scenic views. Truly picturesque, the park has lots of different sites to see including the lost lagoon, beaver lake, Deadman’s Island, Siwach Rock, as well as all the views from the sea wall that wraps around the park. If you can stop for a while, it’s like being in a rainforest as you walk, jog, or bike the trails and you’ll find some enormous trees, including the Hollow Tree at 700-800 years old. It doesn’t stop there, you’ll also find a lot of beach space, a restaurant, aquarium and even an outdoor theatre. You can check out a picnic area, rent a bike, or just relax and watch the boats come in and out from one of the many park benches along the sea wall. Still need more? Aside from the sites to see in the park, the seawall leads onto Beach Ave where you will find English Bay and Denman Street which provides more beach space, a ton of restaurants and various shops too.

Jericho Beach

You might not think Jericho beach has much of a history by the look of it today but that is far from the truth. Originally set up as the grounds for a logging camp, Jericho was later taken as use for the military. This spot was known mostly for the use of flying boat hangars, sort of the old version of today’s float planes, who’s purpose was to map out the coastlines and scout for illegal activities. The location certainly speaks for itself as you look out into the ocean all the way across to West Vancouver on the other side. Jericho is certainly another great spot in Vancouver because the location allows for multiple types of activities to please everyone. You can make a whole day out of it with tons of sandy beach, green space for picnics or sporting activity and to top it off you’re just steps away from the popular Kitsilano area where they have tons of options for food, drinks, and shops close by.

Queen Elizabeth Park

At a fraction of Stanley park size, approximately 130 acres, it’s still renowned as one of the most beautifully maintained parks in the world. There are so many activities on the grounds, including pitch and putt, disc golf, lawn bowling, tennis and of course designated picnic areas to fuel up for more activity. Have some furry friends in the family? There’s also an off-leash park area. If you’re looking to be a little more mellow you can take a stroll through the floral conservatory and Quarry gardens. Interestingly, the park is also home to an Arboretum of approximately 1500 trees, some of which are over 60 years old today and they’ve made it their mission to plant every Canadian species as well as other exotic species from around the world. Whether you’re looking to be active or just find some time to stop and smell the roses, this park has something for all walks of life.

University Endowment Lands (UEL) near UBC

Driving into the UBC area can feel like you are actually checking out of Vancouver. It’s a very unique piece of property, dating back to the sale of the land for the UEL in early 1900’s. Since then it has been divided for use of the university, an almost 2000 acre regional park and to accommodate some residential and commercial buildings as well. It can often be an overlooked area of Vancouver for activity unless you live directly on or near the UBC grounds, but what a great place to spend the day for that exact reason. There really is no other university grounds like this in Canada, given the sheer size and luxury of being right on the west-coast. The Pacific Spirit Regional Park is open year-round with multiple trails to experience. There is no major elevation changes and many of the trails are dog-friendly so everyone in the family can enjoy. Of course that is not all the area has to offer, you can end the day with sunset views in the sand if you head over to Wreck Beach. Be aware that this beach is clothing-optional so in the warmer seasons you would likely be seeing more than just the sunset. Therefore you might not want to bring the kids along if you aren’t ready to have that conversation yet – just a heads up  Some other activities around UBC include the botanical gardens and Japanese tea gardens, both beautifully kept and can offer a serene place for reflection if that is your mode. The campus also offers multiple museums, art galleries and theatres to experience is you’re in the artsy mood.

Central Park

Bordering Vancouver and Burnaby at the corner of Boundary and Kingsway Ave, Central Park is a beautiful gem amongst the busy cities that surround it. It includes various trails surrounded in rainforest-like nature as well as two ponds where you can have a seat at one of the benches to enjoy the ducks and geese that often come to visit the park. There are perennial gardens to stroll through along with a pitch-and-putt and tennis courts for the more active bunch. There’s a large playground for the children in the family at the north-end of the park. This is also where you can find many picnic tables to set up a bbq or have a group get together on a sunny day. If you didn’t bring any food with you and you’re famished after walking through the park you have your pick of places to grab a bite to eat along Kingsway Ave which runs right beside the outer north side of the park. You’re also very close to Metrotown Mall – the largest mall in BC which has an assortment of restaurants and grocery stores around it.

False Creek

False Creek is another beautiful area of Vancouver. Being a community on the rise with new developments coming up at a steady pace, you will find lots to see and do in this area. Originally passed over by the first explorers to the lower mainland, it wasn’t discovered until almost 70 years after and even then it was intended for mostly industrial such as railways and saw mills. Far from it today, the area has boomed with markets and residential buildings. You can stroll down the sea wall and marvel at the liveliness of this community today. With Granville island a short walk or Aquabus ride away you can browse the farmer’s markets and other quaint little shops and then grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants on the island. Along the creek you can also find Charleston park where you can relax, sunbathe, or have a picnic. There is also an off-leash dog park for your furry friends. If you’re hanging out in the area during the summer, make sure you look up any events that may be going on, such as the the Food Cart Fest for some tasty eats. More family fun can be found at the other end of False Creek at the Science World. There are year-round family-friendly events here, and there is also an Omnimax Theatre for a good show. Since we are currently in the summer season it’s worth heading down to the area to watch some dragon boat racing too!

PNE

The fair is without a doubt, good old family fun. The young will be smiling ear to ear and even the older folk will trigger some wonderful childhood memories here. If you haven’t experienced Playland or The Fair yet, you should. You can check out the rides and try some of the classic fair games. Grab a snack from the various vendors offered on the grounds and then enjoy one of the shows. There are often musicians performing and depending on the time of year there are even events held for different occasions such as Fright Night for Halloween. Playland is open daily in the warmer months and once a year, this year starting on August 20th, The Fair comes for a couple weeks too. That means even more rides and events. They’ll have daily shows such as the Super Dogs, various night concerts, as well as some fun activities like the 5km donut dash. If you make it through that, and you are over the age of 19, you can wash those donuts down with a cold one by heading over to the Craft Beer Fest. You don’t have be a rollercoaster junkie to enjoy spending time here.