Vancouver Beaches Self-Guided Driving Tour

What your day looks like

Your tour begins at Morton Park, at 1800 Morton Avenue. From there, you’ll hear about Old English Joe, Vancouver’s first lifeguard! Next up, you’ll pass tranquil Sunset Beach with its calm waters, variety of concessions, and grassy field. As you keep driving, you’ll come to the historic Burrard Street Bridge, the oldest in Vancouver. Hear some of the secrets behind this structure, including a hidden stairwell and the thieves who plundered it during the Great Depression. Then you’ll arrive at Kitsilano Beach Park with its scenic views and heated outdoor saltwater pool (Canada’s longest, at 137 meters!). Next on your journey, you’ll get to know another important figure, Chief August Jack Khahtsaholano. Hear about his efforts to keep Squamish traditions alive, and the many roles he filled over the years, including guide, logger, canoe builder, and medicine man! Your journey next takes you to the swanky Kitsilano neighborhood, one of Vancouver’s hippest areas and a stomping ground for some of Canada’s biggest celebs! As you keep driving, you’ll also learn why Vancouver’s such a hot filming location and hear about some popular movies and shows you might not have guessed were shot in the city. Then continue onto Jericho Beach Park. As you pass, keep your eye out for the famed “Jericho Beach Bunnies,” and learn how they came to be here! After that, you’ll proceed past Locarno Beach Park and Spanish Banks Beach Park. The latter is the most spacious in the area, stretching a mile. You’ll also discover how this beach is a kiteboarding hotspot and learn a little more about this daunting, but fun sport! Next, you’ll unearth how Vancouver became such a tech hub and find out which big names have left their mark on the city. Your drive will then take you past the University of British Columbia, where you’ll learn about the university’s relationship with the First Nations people and hear how hundreds of students and faculty fought for the Allies in World War I. The journey takes a more tranquil turn with a visit to the Nitobe Memorial Garden. Then you’ll arrive at the Greenheart TreeWalk, where visitors navigate suspended walkways through a lush green canopy. Your tour concludes here.