Top 10 Vancouver Picnic Hotspots

10. Hastings Park

Hastings Park is located directly beside Vancouver’s amusement park, Playland. This makes Hastings Park a popular lunchtime hangout as Playland patrons can come here for a break from the rides. Prospective picnickers should note, Hastings Park is occupied every year by the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) for the month of August.

9. Kitsilano Beach

Cool summer breezes and a mixture of tall trees make Kitsilano Beach a great place to spend a day. Unlike most beaches where there is only sand and water, Kitsilano Beach, or simply “Kits,” has a large grass area which extends across the length of the beach. This is great for picnickers wanting the cool beach breezes, but not the sand In their sandwich.

8. English Bay

English Bay is located in downtown Vancouver and is a popular hotspot for locals and visitors alike. Its shores extend into Sunset Beach while there is a large shaded grassy area towards the entrance of Stanley Park. English Bay is a popular place to picnic as it is connected to the Seawall which circles Stanley Park.

7. Jericho Beach Park

Located on the west side of Vancouver, this beach/park is most popular with kite and wind-surfers as waters here are generally more turbulent. Jericho Beach Park made our list due to its large picnic-able area and semi-secluded location.

6. Stanley Park

Stanley Park is Vancouver’s oldest and largest park. The east area of the Park is open and was designed for picnicking as there are picnic tables everywhere. This part of the park also features a totem pole display and offers views of downtown Vancouver. Another popular place to picnic is in the areas surrounding Lost Lagoon.

5. Vancouver Art Gallery

Located directly inside Vancouver’s downtown core, the Vancouver Art Gallery is an inter-urban picnic hotspot. Swing by the corner of Howe and West Georgia for a bite; even if you didn’t pack a lunch, there is a hotdog vendor available on site. The Vancouver Art Gallery is also the home of the 2010 Olympic countdown clock.

4. Charleson Park

Showcasing much of Vancouver’s beauty, Charleson Park is a popular picnic stop-off for those travelling along the Seawall. The park is located along False Creek in between Granville Island and the Cambie Street Bridge. Additionally, the pond here always seems to attract Canadian Geese making for great interactions and photo opportunities.

3. Vanier Park

Located right next to the Burrard Street Bridge, Vanier Park is home to Vancouver’s Space Centre and Museum. Views of both False Creek and the Burrard Inlet are readily available to prospective picnickers. Every year during the HSBC Celebration of Light, Vanier Park becomes a picnic central. Picnickers from all across Vancouver flock here as it is generally less crowded than the shores of English Bay.

2. Queen Elizabeth Park

Unlike most of the parks on our list, Queen Elizabeth Park is located away from the downtown core. Here, prospective picnickers will find a multitude of settings to lay their blankets. The duck pond however, is typically the most popular spot to picnic as there is lots of shaded flat land available. Queen Elizabeth Park also features one of Vancouver’s most extravagant garden displays and is rarely crowded.

1. Tatlow Park

Tatlow Park can be found in the Kitsilano area at the intersection of West 3rd Avenue and Point Grey Road. This park features large trees, meandering streams and plenty of uncrowded space to lay a picnic blanket. The reason it ranks number one on our list though is because it’s somewhat of a hidden gem. You won’t see a huge contingent of tourists here, as it’s located just off the water (but there is beach access from the park via a pathway). This is also a beautiful place to watch the sunset.