Top Rated Parks to Visit in North Vancouver

"Take the bus from the café directly to Stanley Park for a bike ride (or walk) along the famous Seawall. I’m a huge fan of large city parks and Stanley Park is no exception. There’s so much to do inside the park itself that you could easily spend an entire day here. Don’t miss the First Nations totem poles, the Hollow Tree, Brockton Point Lighthouse, and the breathtaking views from Prospect Point."

"North of Vancouver's CBD is Stanley Park, a vast area of green that's almost an island. As well as fun outdoor activities and beautiful scenery, the park offers an opportunity to understand the First Nations people, the original inhabitants of Vancouver."

"One of the last relatively unchanged areas of dune and wetland along the Kapiti Coast, this undulating 650-hectare beachside park offers swimming, walking, cycling and picnicking opportunities, as well as a tram museum and horse riding outfit. There are three entrances: off Wellington Rd in Paekakariki, at MacKay's Crossing on SH1, and off the Esplanade in Raumati to the north."

"Built in on a former quarry 500 feet above sea level, the 130-acre Queen Elizabeth Park is the highest vantage point in Vancouver, with extraordinary views that extend to the North Shore Mountains and beyond. But there’s more to Queen E, as locals call it, than just the vistas. With manicured lawns and impeccably groomed flowering plant beds, the gardens are the main draw."

"Queen Elizabeth Park is Vancouver’s highest point, clocking in at 410ft (125m) above sea level. Thanks to its central location, the park has some of the best views of the city’s impressive skyline, with a stunning backdrop of the North Vancouver mountains. The park is a popular picnic spot, with plenty of green space to relax with family or friends."

"The vast and verdant VanDusen Botanical Garden is just ten minutes’ drive to the south of the center. It has lots of pretty paths and ponds and stunning scenery wherever you look. First opened to the public in 1975, the gorgeous garden now has countless different sections, including a maze, meditation garden, Rhododendron Walk, Korean Pavilion and sino-Himalayan area."

"VanDusen Botanical Garden is close to Queen Elizabeth Park in suburban Vancouver. Although it doesn’t offer views of the park, VanDusen is a large garden filled with various plants and flowers that transforms into a light-filled wonderland during the holidays. These recommendations were updated on June 10, 2020 to keep your travel plans fresh."

"Be sure to also check out the Vancouver Aquarium, the famous Stanley Park, and the VanDusen Botanical Gardens. 20 Day 2: take a ferry over to Vancouver Island"

"Roam around the Bloedal Conservatory, a temperature-controlled domed paradise that's home to more than 120 free-flying exotic birds, 500 exotic plants and thousands of flowers Shop at Nordstrom, North America's best-loved department store"

"Located in the western part of Vancouver, the Pacific Spirit Regional Park separates the city from the University of British Columbia. The park is full of various trails, perfect for spending the mornings running or cycling through the forest or having afternoon picnics on the beaches. Pacific Spirit Regional Park, 5495 Chancellor Blvd, Vancouver, BC V6T 1E4, Canada"

"Near the sprawling campus of the University of British Columbia (UBC), Pacific Spirit Regional Park is known as a hiker’s paradise for its 34mi (54km) of hiking trails. Many welcome cyclists, runners, dogs, and horseback riders. If you decide to walk, it takes about three hours to get from one end to the other."

"Surrounding one of Vancouver’s top attractions, Science World, this park is great for small travelers. After exploring the universe in the indoor spaces of the science museum, head outdoors to play on one of the city’s best playgrounds."

"If you have kids in tow, head to one of Vancouver’s splash-tastic free water parks. Granville Island Water Park, Vancouver's biggest and best water park, is conveniently located near Granville Island's Kids Market, which means you'll have the perfect lure for enticing your sprogs away from the toy shops. There's also a large pond nearby that's often filled with friendly ducks and geese."

"The Granville Island Water And Amusement Park is one of the great amusement parks in Vancouver. The best part is, the entry to this park is absolutely free."

"Situated off Commercial Drive in the heart of East Van, this park has long had a permanent pot cloud over it. Accept it or head to nearby Victoria Park where you can watch Italian old-timers play bocce. Don’t limit yourself to the park itself."

"Located just south of Vancouver, Iona Beach Regional Park is the home of one of the most romantic walks in Vancouver. Iona Jetty is a 4-kilometre long jetty that juts out into the Straight of Georgia, right into the Pacific Ocean. The walk is flat and you can often see wildlife and interesting sea creatures."

"This one’s a small space, but, hey, it’s an island without the crowds you’d find on Granville Island. Watch the boat traffic navigate the Fraser River, forage on wild blackberries when in season and stroll the path just north of the park where you might encounter horses or, at the very least, um,...evidence of them. A good alternative for the similar views is the dog-friendly Fraser River Park."

"Lined with logs for the sun spectators, this is the place to reflect on the day and take a few photos of some of the most vibrant sunsets you’ll probably ever see in your life. Sunset Beach Park is also home to an interesting art piece called Engagement, a 30 foot sculpture of two wedding rings. These were created by world famous artist Dennis Oppenheim, as part of the Vancouver Biennale."

"Sunset Beach is a popular destination, especially in the summer, but the green space behind the beach is equally as popular with locals looking for a place to play a game of soccer, meet friends and soak up the sunshine. Grab a drink from the concession stand and spread out on the grass - on a very hot day you might see someone bringing a slip N slide for everyone to slide down the hill."

"Sunset Beach Park does not put its name to shame, and the stunning sunsets you’ll see here while chatting with a friend over a few bites or brews will be worth the wait. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Kritsada Akkhapracha (@fedexfc)"

"More popular by the name “Kits” this is one of the best beaches in Vancouver, Canada and the people in Vancouver often refer to it as their version of the famous ‘Venice Beach’. Known to be as one of the most glamorous beaches in Vancouver the Kitsilano Beach is home to the longest and the only saltwater pool in Vancouver and offers spectacular views of the city, mountains and the ocean. Not just that but you will find a grassy area and can be a part of some really exciting outdoor activities."

"Overlooking the waters of English Bay in Vancouver, Kitsilano Beach is a popular, often crowded sandy beach at the north end of Yew Street. Edged by a broad seawall, it is home to the saltwater Kitsilano Pool, the longest pool in Canada, which is operated by the Vancouver Park Board and open from May to… read more »"

"A post shared by Vegard Aaserud Tønnessen (@v_tonnessen) on Jun 3, 2018 at 9:18am PDT. Location: Cornwall Avenue at the North end of Yew Street. Kitsilano Beach, AKA Kits Beach, is arguably one of the city’s best social beaches."

"Moltaqa Restaurant offers a romantic, Moroccan escape in Gastown with a menu of healthy and flavourful Moroccan fare. The ambiance takes you to Marrakesh with beautiful mosaic tiles, overhanging lanterns and vibrant artwork. The focus of Moltaqa is healthy, flavourful, halal Moroccan cuisine with aromatic spices."

"Pick up a package of almond tuiles from St. Germain Bakery, a Chinese bakery at Oakridge that you should not pass by without stopping. Excellent with tea, they have a sandy, crumbly texture that makes them perfect for you, and a sweet nutty taste that kids will love. Unit 137, Oakridge Centre, 650 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver"

"Founded with an origin in French baking techniques, Bakery Sate comes out of left field for its application of a custard-like filling for its almond croissants. Depending on your preference of an almond filling being a paste or custard, this entry might be ranked higher or lower based on that merit. This, paired with the fact that the croissant is double baked means that the gradient between in the interior and the crust is a long and gentle progression and the almond cookie on top has a wonderful chew to it."