Vancouver’s 9 Top Spots to Get Fresh Air!

The famous Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is located in North Vancouver. The suspension bridge, which was built in 1889, is 137 m long. When the wind passes over the valley, the suspension bridge sways, making a sound like human laughter.

The attractions of the Suspension Bridge Park include the Cliff Walk and the Treetops Adventure. You can absorb the natural atmosphere of the wild forest and every breath of oxygen you take is a bonus.

This 52 ha green space is planted with almost every Canadian species of tree, and marks the city’s highest point at 150 m in altitude with a viewing platform where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city surrounded by mountains.

The evergreen plants and the carpet of flowers make this a popular location for wedding photo shoots, while the refurbished baseball stadium is a great place for summer afternoon sports.

Kitsilano Beach faces out onto English Bay, and its wide sandy beach provides an excellent venue for outdoor activities such as frisbee throwing and beach volleyball. It also has a small playground, volleyball court, green space and other facilities. A great place for chilling out.

If you fancy getting wet, you can learn to row a boat with the locals, or try Kitsilano’s outdoor saltwater swimming pool. The evenings are a time to sit and enjoy the glorious sunsets over the bay.

English Bay Beach, also known as First Beach, located in the beautiful west end of downtown, is full of a party atmosphere during the summer months. A favorite sunbathing area for the locals enjoying sunshine and warm sea breezes. Volleyball, street performers and vendors selling handicrafts make for a lively gathering place.

The beach is the scene of the annual peace march, and in winter hosts the Polar Bear Swim, while the summer fireworks festival draws even bigger crowds to share the joy.

Burnaby Mountain Park is located next to Simon Fraser University SFU. From the top end of the park, you can survey Burnaby city to the south, take in downtown Vancouver, Stanley Park and the Lions Gate Bridge to the west, as well as the depths of Burrard Inlet and snow-capped mountains to the north.

Watching the lights come on in the afterglow of the sunset, you won’t want to leave this peaceful place far from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Lynn Canyon Park is hidden in a dense old forest, and features the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge, which is like a free version of the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Although smaller in scale, the view from the bridge of the rushing river 50 m below is breathtaking.

The park has several hiking trails, as well as swim holes and picnic spots for tourists, and offers regular lectures and activities for the children during the summer.

Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver covers 75 ha. The park is home to virgin forests, with local Douglas Firs, Western Hemlocks and Western Red Cedars - all native to this area, some of are up to 500 years old. A 13 km network of hiking trails weaves throughout the forests.

Atkinson Point Lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouses on the west coast of Canada. It is located on a well-protected rocky promontory, buffeted by the wind and waves of the blue bay. You can mount the park’s boulders to enjoy this magnificent scene.

Wreck Beach stretches for nearly 7 km and is located at the western end of the University of British Columbia. It is an authorized nude beach that can be reached by steep stone steps hidden in the woods, a place where you feel cut off from the rest of the world.

It livens up on summer weekends, with students coming to sit in a circle with guitars, surfers coming to practice, and tourists walking naked on the beach to express support for freedom.

Built in 1971, the VanDusen Botanical Garden is planted with flowers and trees from all over the world. There are themed gardens featuring landscapes from different countries, five tranquil lakes and an Elizabethan hedge maze, making it one of the top ten botanical gardens in the world.

The park changes with the seasons, and in winter it hosts a grand Festival of Lights, with twinkling colored lights entwined around the dormant plants bringing a feeling of winter warmth.