English Bay

English Bay is Vancouver's playground. Rimmed by miles of beautiful parks, beaches and trails, English Bay has something for everyone.

The South Shore of English Bay

The long, sandy beaches of Spanish Banks park are great for swimmers, skimboarders and clam diggers. Toward the east, Locarno Park, Jericho Park and Kitsilano Park are frequented by people who like basketball, beach volleyball, picnicking, and swimming. The sea breezes off Jericho Beach attract recreational sailors and windsurfers throughout the summer.

All of these parks offer spectacular views of English Bay and the mountains beyond it. They are also close to some of the finest restaurants in Vancouver.

Just east of Kitsilano Park, Vanier Park is home to some of Vancouver's more important museums. The Vancouver Museum, the Maritime Museum and the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre are all located within easy walking distance of each other.

From Vanier Park, you can either walk or take the AquaBus to nearby Granville Island. On Granville Island, you will find many charming shops and restaurants, as well as street entertainers. People in Vancouver love Granville Island's unique character. When a franchise restaurant was recently proposed for Granville Island, a protest from the community quickly ended the project.

Of the many Parks around English Bay, Stanley Park is by far the largest. A wide variety of attractions in a beautiful natural setting make this truly one of the best city parks in the world. While visiting Stanley Park, be sure to see the Vancouver Aquarium.

Shipping Through English Bay

Vancouver has Canada's largest and North America's second largest port in terms of foreign trade. Each year, 73 million tonnes of cargo travel through English Bay. The value of the cargo moving through English Bay totals CAD$29 billion. This is more than any other port on the West Coast of the Americas.

Over 300 cruise ships bring more than one million passengers through English Bay every year. These ships normally dock at the Pan Pacific hotel in downtown Vancouver.

The North Shore of English Bay

A spectacular drive across Lions Gate Bridge from Stanley Park will lead you to Ambleside Park in West Vancouver. Ambleside offers a great unobstructed view of English Bay, as well as swimming, beach volleyball, and soccer. You can rent kayaks and canoes from the Ambleside Paddling Centre.

Just down the picturesque road from Ambleside is Lighthouse Park. There, a trail through the old growth rainforest leads to the seaside.

Bowen Island - English Bay's Best Kept Secret

With a population of only 2500 people, Bowen Island is often overlooked by many Vancouver residents, as well as tourists. The quaint beauty of this 20-square-mile island, however, definitely justifies the 20-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay.

On Bowen Island, you will have plenty of opportunities to see wildlife such as deer, eagles, grouse, herons, and mink. You will also enjoy some scenic views of Vancouver and English Bay.

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