Vancouver Beaches: A Self-Guided Coastal Drive Tour

Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

Begin by downloading the Action Tour Guide app. This all-in-one tool acts as your personal tour guide, narrated tour, and map.

Upon launching the app, your tour begins at Morton Park, at 1800 Morton Avenue. From there, you’ll meet Old English Joe, Vancouver’s first lifeguard! Learn about his efforts to keep kids safe and unearth why the city refused to recognize his bravery for so long!

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. This is Canada’s longest, at 137 meters!

Next on your journey, you’ll meet 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, particularly popular among young professionals. Here you’ll learn about the big names who’ve lived here, like Ryan Reynolds.

As you keep driving, you’ll also learn why Vancouver’s such a hot filming location and hear about some popular movies and shows shot in the city, such as Twilight and Final Destination.

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. As you keep moving, you’ll learn of the university’s relationship with the First Nations people and hear how hundreds of students and faculty fought for the British in World War I.

The journey takes a more tranquil turn with a visit to the Nitobe Memorial Garden. Here, you’ll hear the story of its namesake. Learn how he sought to promote a better of understanding of Japanese culture in the West.

Then swing past the Greenheart TreeWalk, where visitors navigate suspended walkways and canopies up to 20 meters high, while taking in views of the city’s majestic trees!

The journey comes to an end at the University of British Columbia’s Botanical Gardens.