This popular West End beach is a favorite of swimmers and sunbathers. An international fireworks exhibit, Symphony of Fire, is held each summer, and the park hosts the Polar Bear Swim on New Year's Day. On Sunday afternoons when the weather is fair, a band plays in the gingerbread-style bandstand.

KITSILANO. Kits Beach, as it is known to the locals, is a favorite of swimmers, sunbathers, volleyball players, joggers and dog walkers. An enormous swimming pool is filled with saltwater each spring and accommodates large numbers of serious swimmers and splashers alike. Adjacent to the pool is the Kitsilano Showboat, where dance troupes and performers provide free entertainment. For more pool information, call 604-731-0011 #13;#10;(during pool season only).

This stunning piece of shoreline offers views of North Shore Mountains, Howe Sound, Stanley Park, Bowen Island, Vancouver's skyline, passing cruise ships and spectacular sunsets. Both beaches have large sandy shorelines, as well as grassy areas ideal for picnicking. Jericho Beach has windsurfing boards for rent, and Locarno is a designated "quiet beach." Lifeguards are generally on duty 11:30am-8:30pm daily from mid-May through Labour Day.

This well-maintained three-and-a-half-mile beach spans portions of the Fraser River, the Strait of Georgia, and English Bay. A unique mix of sun worshipers and beachgoers enjoys this nude beach (basic etiquette rules apply, such as no staring and no rude or lewd comments). Vendor's Row, situated in a center stretch of the beach, is home to an outdoor food court. The southern stretch features beach volleyball, boogie boards, Frisbee football, and even chess tournaments. The summer sees all sorts of fun contests and activites, including sand castle building, volleyball, fun runs, concerts, and festivals. Wreck Beach has no lifeguard on duty.