Second Beach & Third Beach

Second Beach is an ever-busy, family-friendly area on Stanley Park’s western side, with a large, grassy playground, a greasy-spoon snack bar that also serves ice cream, and the Stanley Park Pitch & Putt golf course. It’s also close to Creperly Meadows, where free outdoor movie screenings often take place in summer. Its main attraction, though, is the seasonal outdoor swimming pool that sits on the waterfront overlooking the gently rippling waves. But if you’re craving a more relaxing hangout, head to Third Beach. A lovely sandy expanse with plenty of large logs to sit against, this is possibly Vancouver’s best sunset-viewing spot, where the sky often comes alive with pyrotechnic color – hence the locals who drop by on summer evenings with their picnic baskets.