When the temperatures get high on Vancouver’s North Shore, so too does the adventure. Cool down among the trees of shaded old growth forests, or complete the perfect beach day at Ambleside with a dip in the pristine Pacific Ocean, both playgrounds just steps from your doorstep wherever you stay on the North Shore. Hike to mountain lakes for a swim with a view at Whyte Lake along the Trans Canada Trail in West Vancouver or Cabin Lake at the top of Cypress Mountain. Play Like a Local in the ocean breeze as you bike along the Spirit Trail’s artful urban path, or paddle through the breathtaking natural splendour of Deep Cove. You needn’t even leave the city to find some refreshment: The Shipyards’ famous waterfront skating rink transforms into the city’s biggest, splashiest spray park in the summertime, with ice cream, iced coffees and cold beer never out of reach.
With all the summer adventure to be had you’ll need some fuel to keep up. Fortunately, there’s a burgeoning culinary scene on Vancouver’s North Shore that is more than up to the task of keeping you satiated and satisfied at award winning restaurants. From Japanese at Nishiki to Italian at Bufala in Edgemont Village, and to West Coast favourites by the water at JOEY in The Shipyards District, North Shore chefs take ingredients from our abundant oceans and local farmlands and turn them into culinary magic. Love it Like a Local at hidden gems, Honey Doughnuts in Deep Cove and The Tomahawk Restaurant, a museum as much as a restaurant with its fascinating collection of local Skwxwúmesh artwork. Or for when you just can’t decide on one option, take in many from local producers at the Quay Market and Food Hall. Wash it all down with local craft beer in the highly-walkable Shipyards Brewery District.
Summer is a time to come together on Vancouver’s North Shore. Festivals, both indoors and out feature local and international talent, all in celebration of West Coast life and the many traditions and cultures that call the North Shore home. The Shipyards Night Market goes every Friday night until September and sees live entertainment, a bevvy of food trucks and an outdoor artisans market all next to some of the best sunset-catching spots in the city. The Harmony Arts Festival in August is a party by the seaside where music, performance, cinema and visual art mingle with culinary events all along the shore of Ambleside Beach. Learn like a Local at the annual Coho Festival in September, presented by the Coho Society in “Celebration of Nature’s Annual Miracle of Salmon Returning to North Shore Rivers and Streams” and featuring a sustainable barbeque dinner, kids park and traditional Squamish Nation ceremonies.
Looking for a place to stay that’s central to both city and nature? Book a hotel stay on Vancouver’s North Shore. You’ll be within minutes of top outdoor attractions and activities, and just a 12-minute seabus ride away from downtown Vancouver.
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