Top Things to do in Vancouver Coast and Mountains
Top Hotels in Vancouver Coast and Mountains
The 10 Best Bodies of Water in Vancouver Coast and Mountains, Vancouver Coast and Mountains
Discover the best top things to do in Vancouver Coast and Mountains, British Columbia including Wedgemount Lake, Widgeon Slough, Buntzen Lake, Lost Lake, Brohm Lake, Garibaldi Provincial Park, English Bay, False Creek, Harrison Lake & Hot Springs, White Pine Beach.
Restaurants in Vancouver Coast and Mountains
1. Wedgemount Lake
2. Widgeon Slough
3. Buntzen Lake
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 41 reviews
Reviewed By rockerbiff - Vancouver, Canada
been here many times, during the week is your best bet. It can get very busy on summer weekends. Lovely all year round. Lake Placid movie [with many others] was filmed here
4. Lost Lake
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,777 reviews
A 15-minute shuttle ride from Whistler, this lake is perfect for those who want to take a break from the slopes and jog, walk or picnic by its peaceful shores.
Reviewed By liketOtravel00742 - London, United Kingdom
A pretty little lake that is close to Whistler Village and easily accessible on foot, by bike or using the municipality's free summer shuttle, which runs from the Gateway Loop by the Whistler gondola every 15 minutes. There's a beach, a doggie beach further along, a dock around the far side of the lake, and an easy to walk loop of a couple of kilometres. There are toilets, a place to top up a water bottle, and sometimes a food truck in on site. On a hot day, it does get very busy. So be warned. And the water really isn't all that warm. That's it! Enjoy.
5. Brohm Lake
6. Garibaldi Provincial Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 175 reviews
Garibaldi Provincial Park is a favorite destination of outdoor enthusiasts: it offers a range of hiking opportunities from lush alpine meadows, wildlife viewing opportunities, alpine flowers blooming in lush meadows, and hikes ranging from a few hours to a few days using map and compass. Garibaldi Park has an interesting geological background as it was created by volcanic action which created the formation of many of the parks peaks; the Black Tusk, Price Mountain, The Table, Mount Garibaldi, the CinderCone and the Glacier Pikes just to name a few. Lava from Clinker Peak is responsible for the creation of The Barrier. Behind this natural dam 300 metre deep Garibaldi Lake was formed.
Reviewed By claudiavX9698QE
Fantastic experience! Great views. Alpine flowers in full bloom. Only disappointment was finding discarded noodles in the stream. Encourage people to please learn about how to properly discard food waste! Information is provided by Parks Canada upon making reservation.
7. English Bay
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,795 reviews
Beautiful vibrant beach that comes alive when it's sunny and warm out. Various activities such as scuba diving, kayaking and others.
Reviewed By PookyCake - Victoria, Canada
I was initially a little hesitant to write reviews for “English Bay” and “English Bay Beach,” thinking of both as one and the same, but I suppose on a technical level they’re different. For example, one could say that the latter is but a small component of the former. A beach versus the general area. It’s kind of like “Inner Harbour” and “Victoria Pier” in, well, Victoria. The Victoria Pier is but a small segment of the beautiful Inner Harbour. Thus, this review won’t focus so much on the beach (that’s a separate review) and instead will comment upon the general area known as English Bay. What we know as English Bay basically consists of the south side of Burrard Inlet, extending from Point Grey to Prospect Point. Vancouver’s Best Places puts this within the context of nice, flowery language when they say English Bay is “the body of water where the shores of Vancouver meet the Pacific Ocean.” Beautiful! But did you ever wonder where “English Bay” gets its name? Well, the name harkens back to the days of the British Empire and celebrates the “meeting” of captains Vancouver, Galiano and Valdes in the area (1792). I’m actually surprised there’s been no social movement, or discussion at the city level (that I’m aware of, anyway), to have the “colonial” name changed to something more reflective of this place and space. But then, time has to take its time ;) Even though English Bay is very much an urban setting, it remains one of my favourite places in the city. With its picturesque views, palm trees, lovely beach and desirable amenities, there’s plenty to keep you coming back for more. Indeed, as part of Vancouver’s West End (see my earlier review), it is home to a literal mosaic of people and restaurants – cultural diversity at its best. For my part, I’ll readily admit that English Bay Beach, while lovely, has never really been my focus whenever I’ve visited this area. Instead, I’ve been more interested in the shops and restaurants. There’s Cactus Club on the beach; Three Quarters Full in bustling Denman Place Mall; the newly opened and fantastically named Chicken World; good eats in the historic Sylvia Hotel and a whole host of others. I’m still sad that the Boathouse Restaurant – their flagship location at the time – closed up shop in the Fall of 2018. Many a beautiful sunset, meal and memory were had there. Beyond good eats, English Bay has much culture and art to offer us. As you walk along the Seawall from Stanley Park, you’ll inevitably come upon the Expo ’86 Inukshuk and, a short distance further, Oppenheim’s interesting “Engagement” sculpture. Just across the street from English Bay Beach, in Morton Park, you’ll come across Minjun’s “A-maze-ing Laughter” sculpture which is sure to make you smile . . . before you “awake” to its more serious message and undertone. For much of November, you can also experience the lovely Lumiere at night. The installations help to provide moments of “light” in these challenging times. My personal favourite from this year’s exhibit was the “Eugenia” tree. I’m sure “Davie” the grizzly would’ve been impressive, but he wasn’t lit during the two evenings I visited (boo). There’s also the Celebration of Light fireworks in July and August . . . In short, English Bay is so much more than a popular beach. It’s a place rife with history and culture. In many respects, I’d say it demonstrates – along with the West End – some of Vancouver’s best qualities.
8. False Creek
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,062 reviews
Peaceful harbor and dock, perfect for boating.
Reviewed By PookyCake - Victoria, Canada
The area now known as False Creek had been in use by First Nations for thousands of years before George Richards stumbled across it and gave it its false name. Like most things colonial settlers had done in the days of exploration (“error”), Richards mistook the south side of Burrard Inlet for a creek and, upon realizing his blunder, gave it the name “False Creek.” I love how, in history, those who make “discoveries” often do it by error and then receive much praise and gold stars for their efforts. Columbus gets lost at sea and “discovers” a new continent; George Richards mistakes an inlet for a creek and influences much of Vancouver. The irony! Ah, well. Such is life, I suppose. In any event, False Creek is a lovely area of Vancouver and is a far cry from what it was even 20 years ago. From the 1950s and throughout the 1990s, this area of the city was very much an industrial heartland. Sawmills, cement mixing silos and commercial boat operations were very much the orders of the day. As time progressed, and the city of Vancouver began diversifying its economy – shifting from the primary to the tertiary sector – False Creek entered a state of physical decline and, in general, wasn’t an area you’d be keen on visiting. Memory informs me that the 1980s and 1990s were particularly poignant in this regard despite the brief interlude of Expo ‘86. Come the new millennium, however, city Council saw an opportunity for urban development and the forthcoming Winter Olympics accelerated this process. Now, False Creek is one of Vancouver’s most prized urban areas renowned for its spatial planning, picturesque waterway, parks, trendy eateries and pubs. In short, it is now a place you should want to visit. Nowadays “Beautiful part of Vancouver” is a common sentiment. Because much of False Creek is still relatively new, with most buildings having gone up in the last ten years, the area exudes a sense of vitality, youth and life. I think part of this is a result of the rather eclectic group of neighbourhoods that call False Creek home. Because of the various and varying times in which they went up, they use different architectural styles, which speak to both time of construction and economic/social focus. Consider Olympic Village Square, for example, and the Plaza of Nations – both very different but both of False Creek. I think it’s wonderful and it gives this area of Vancouver a very distinct character from that of, say, downtown, or the West End (see my earlier review of the latter on this site). For those visiting the area, there are a few key attractions sure to please: Granville Island, Science World, the Parq Casino, and the False Creek Seawall come to mind. I’ve written at length on most of these attractions, so will keep my comments here somewhat brief. First, Granville Island is a truly amazing place and very much represents some of the best of Vancouver with its mix of the arts, fresh produce, seafood, live performances and trendy (but delicious) restaurants. As you walk around this major area of False Creek, you’ll even see evidence of its past as an industrial heartland: Ocean Concrete still operates here and their painted silos – GIANTS – command some attention! Second, Science World, which was opened in celebration of Expo ’86, is a great place for kids and adults alike. Children are sure to enjoy the ever-changing exhibits while all members of the family will be amazed at the OMNIMAX screen. Third, the Parq casino . . . well, who doesn’t enjoy a bit of light gambling now and then? The Parq is also home to Honey Salt and the Victor, both of which are pretty fantastic restaurants. Finally, the False Creek Seawall represents some of the best walking, jogging and cycling space in all of Vancouver. With picturesque views of False Creek along much of this route, you can get in many a selfie and enjoy the city’s natural beauty. Interestingly, social convention has lumped this seawall in with the larger “Vancouver Seawall” even though they’re technically different. False Creek, then, is a fairly large area. While those with a lot of time on their hands may be able to walk both south and north ends, most of us lack the luxury of time. No worries, though, because you can traverse the “creek” via the Aquabus or False Creek Ferries, both of which provide exceptional and timely service to various points of interest along False Creek (see my earlier review of Aquabus on this site). For me, the ferries are the only way to go because they allow you to travel the calm waters at an economic and fair price; plus, they afford unique views of the cityscape. I’d be remiss if I failed to mention some of the coveted greenspace of False Creek. The area is home to a number of parks. The David Lam Park, Sutcliffe Park and Hinge Park immediately come to mind. The latter is especially noteworthy because it nods to history and functions as a sort of art project. In short, the Hinge Park is about a 10-minute walk from the Olympic Village CanadaLine station and grabs your attention exactly because it looks so out of place: It is both wetland and industrial area. The old rusted pipes hint at False Creek’s past while concomitantly acknowledging the impact of urban development upon the environment. Talk about deep! Walk about 10 or so minutes more to Olympic Village Square and see more abstract art in the form of THE BIRDS (see my earlier review on this site). False Creek can be deep both literally and figuratively! Whether you’re looking for a good outdoor landscape to exercise, or just want to play tourist, False Creek is a nice neighbourhood to visit. It’s diverse just like the city that surrounds it, and this makes it all the more attractive. After you’ve finished exploring the area, have a bite to eat at Granville Island (The Keg and Tony’s Fish & Chips are both great), or check out the new Hon’s Wonton House at Olympic Village!
9. Harrison Lake & Hot Springs
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 569 reviews
Reviewed By travelengnancy - Vancouver, Canada
This is a great spot for a city break! Bring the family, friends, partner, and you'll find something to do! The Lake has a shallow lagoon area for the kids to play. Harrison Watersports has a waterpark, bbq boat rentals, bumper boats, etc. Killers Cove Boat Rentals has kayaks, pedal boats, boats, etc. for rent. You can spend hours here on a sunny day. Bring a mat, sunscreen, hat, etc. There is very little shade. Parking is $9 for a maximum of 3 hours. Signs are posted for social distancing and beach rules (no tents, specific bbq guidelines). Lots of options for food and drink nearby with, restaurants, cafes, 1 supermarket, and liquor store a few blocks away. Public bathrooms, outdoor gym, public pool (currently close due to Covid19) is in the middle. The west side has the lagoon, rentals and waterpark The east side has the playground, volleyball nets, BBQ and picnic tables etc. There is a nice walkway along the lakefront. There are several hotels on the lakefront. We could see kite surfers, seadoos, paddle boards, etc., so lots of water sport options here.
10. White Pine Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 125 reviews
Reviewed By TeresaBCN29 - Barcelona, Spain
Compared to other lakes, this is the warmest! Close to Vancouver, amenities (washroom, change room, Concession, tables, etc) . Different spots around the lake to stay and swim. Go early or afternoon by 2 o'clock to find parking.
