Kitsilano Beach Park

It was a bit chilly when we were here (Late September 2015) but the view is gorgeous. Clean, inviting, and great for cyclists.

Always beautiful.
Great place to go beaching but it does get really busy specially on summer weekends. Even the grass area gets packed with hipsters, yogis and beach bods.
There are volleyball nets, basketball and tennis courts, playground, and the kits pool. The kits pool is Vancouver’s only saltwater swimming pool and it is heated.
There are concession stands and the Boathouse Restaurant with a great view of the beach. There is a pay parking lot but also lots of street parking.
Kits beach is great because it’s so close to downtown and West 4^th shopping and dining as well but it does get really busy, so sometimes it is better off to drive abit further to Spanish Banks.

In a city like Vancouver, with such an abundance of beaches, Kits Beach just doesn’t cut it for me. It’s not nearly as nice as beaches further west to begin with and the vibe here totally turns me off. The beach is basically rammed with Kits bros and bridge and tunnel types strutting their stuff. If that’s your thing, cool, but I much prefer the laid back, more family oriented feel at Jericho Beach.

Good things– It is beautiful, there is a nice playground for the kids beside the concession, the fries at the concession are very yummy, Kits pool is right there
Not so good things– the parking fees are exorbitant, it is very, very busy on a hot day, the scene is well… not for me… attention seeking, self-​indulgent, oiled-​up twenty-something’s with their tribal tattoos and pit-bulls…I’ll pass and head on over to Spanish Banks or downtown to English Bay

When the days are nicer like it has been… this is one of the many beaches in the city that I like to go to. I love the warm sand on my toes. It is one of the beaches that is still quiet in the day but there are still plenty of patrons to give you company. Best beach for pic nics.

I was kinda caught of guard when I came here. I didn’t expect to see a great beach. Nice to see in the summer, with it being busy and packed! Parking can be hard when it is during those weekends where everyone is there!
But not a bad place to chill.

I enjoy this beach! They even have a dog beach. I take the sea wall to this location while riding my back.
Very beautiful in the summer time.

«Yeah…I like it when the girls stop by. In the summer
Do you remember, Do you remember?
…when we met. That summer?
New Kids On The block, had a bunch of hits
Chinese food makes me sick.
And I think it’s fly when girls stop by for the summer, for the summer
I like girls that wear Abercrombie and Fitch,
I’d take her if I had one wish,
But she’s been gone since that summer.
Since that summer»
Kits beach becomes the #1 hangout for Vancouverites, especially UBCers once the sun starts shining. Basically every weekday, weekend, people gather here to chillout and relax.
In my opinion, this is the best beach in B.C. in terms of having fun.
«Hip Hop Marmalade spic And span,
Met you one summer and it all began
You’re the best girl that I ever did see,
The great Larry Bird Jersey 33
When you take a sip you buzz like a hornet
Billy Shakespeare wrote a whole bunch of sonnets
Call me Willy Whistle cause I can’t speak baby
Something in your eyes went and drove me crazy
Now I can’t forget you and it makes me mad,
Left one day and never came back
Stayed all summer then went back home,
Macauly Culkin wasn’t Home Alone
Fell deep in love, but now we ain’t speaking
Michael J Fox was Alex P Keaton
When I met you I said my name was Rich
You look like a girl from Abercrombie and Fitch»
It’s also been voted one of North America’s beaches with the most attractive people. There’s definitely a thriving singles scene here, with the volleyball, frisbess games going on and bars right across the street.
It’s in a very hipster area. So though you won’t see girls actually wearing Abercrombie & Fitch, you are bound to see lots of cuties in lululemon or TNA just chillin’ out and exercising.
Of all the beaches in the area, this one has the best vibe. Spanish banks can be dead sometimes. Wreck beach attracts all the UBCers that want to get high, there’s rarely any activity done there, and way too many naked old people.
If you plan to just chill for 3 hours, and you’re from UBC just bus to kits beach don’t even bother with wreck.

Get your sun screen, sun glasses and your towel on, it’s time to grab your beach tote and hit the beach this summer.
First off you may want to come here during the week in the summer time because during the weekends it’s packed and if you don’t live in the area, you may want to bike or bus here because most of the parking around here is permit only with limited pay parking next to the Tennis courts.
Yes there is a Tennis Court and a basketball court. Both are first come first serve.
Kitsilano Beach is a summer necessity so you better hit the gym and start playing volleyball to get a spot on the beach. Or you can just walk around and people watch like I do. Plenty of eye candy in this part of town!

Who doesn’t love Kits Beach? There’s a bit of everything: grass, sand, logs, water, mountain views, a playground, a stage, restrooms, a jogging/​bike path, vendors, basketball courts and an enormous swimming pool… I’m sure the kitchen sink is in there somewhere too.
Its picturesque setting makes it one of my favorite places in Vancouver to chill out. Where else in the world can you sit at the ocean and view the city buildings with a gorgeous mountain backdrop? The people watching is great and Kits Beach comes alive at night with the city lights dancing on the water. Going there at night is good for the soul.
The wind always seems to be blowing here. Take a jacket if it’s not a warm sunny day.
It’s a very popular spot during the summer months and overcrowding is an issue. Coming from North Carolina, I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed with the «beach» aspect of things as there aren’t really any waves here and the muddy, murky-​like cold water seems stagnant. Swimming isn’t comfortable because the water is so cold. It’s just not what I’m used to and that’s the only reason it’s not a 5 star for me. Otherwise, Kits Beach has everything to offer and it’s a great place.
The grassy fields offer a perfect spread for picnics and if you’re lucky enough to stake one out, there are some picnic tables. Our daughter enjoys searching for seashells and walking down the beach while looking for treasures is one of our favorite pastimes. The playground is awesome and it keeps our daughter occupied for hours. There are many things to do on the playground. Not far away are the basketball and sand volleyball courts. In addition, there are some pull-​up bars and rings for those who would like a quick workout (by the basketball courts).
There are two vendors that I’m aware of. One is located at the pool and the other is located underneath the Boathouse Restaurant. They sell things like ice cream, Popsicles and other various «carnival» foods and snacks. The public restrooms are located underneath the Boathouse. In addition, there are mini showers for spraying off sand.
During the summer months, there are free presentations on the «showboat» (a stage above Kits pool) like musical concerts and or dancing. The swimming pool is ginormous and heated. Pool admission is reasonably priced.
There’s much to do and see at Kits Beach and I feel very fortunate to live only a short walking distance away.

Kits Lawn, everyones been here at some point… Ocean & mtn views next to the famous Kits Beach an the fresh water swimming pool, this popular stretch of grass is full of sun lovers bikinis, hairy chests & the smell of coconuts each and every sunny day… Cool breeze off the ocean and great people watching, just needs free city wifi… Cafes, bars, great restaurants so easy to just hang out here. Its hard to find a free blade of grass during but peak times.

This beach is busy, touristy, parking is hard to find. But I do like the dog beach park and the vball courts. It’s ok, Vancouver has lots of great beaches this is not my fave.

Hmm… I don’t get the hate on for Kits Beach. I for one, have absolutely zero problems with shirtless hot men getting sweaty playing volleyball on the beach. So long as I get a prime watching spot on one of the benches.
Hmm…I do hate the pay parking.

I’ve been around for a while and the patterns are the same for each generation. Kits is basically «boys» trying to be men going thru that awkward phase. When so-​called douche bumps into me and my girl, I say «sorry» and look at his dime-​a-​dozen tatty from the burbs and watch their dumb-​founded expressions ;)
Kits = Granville St on a Sat night. Been there, done that.
I still go there for sun, views, to CHILL, relax and watch the idiocy pass me by. Somebody’s gotta be a douche and it ain’t me! The «girls» that go there are as dumb as they come but I take each individual at a time and give everyone a chance. I never assume, I experience.
Yay for douchebags!
5 stars for the view
0 stars for the crowd

This beach is a great to come for a walk and watch the sunset. There is a new playground installed by the new Boathouse restaurant. The swimming pool is the longest in Vancouver and is a salt water pool. The water in the pool is cleaned in the spring after being unused over winter. There is lots of grass areas and places to set up a BBQ. There is something for everyone here. In summer it can be very busy on hot sunny days and there can be garbage around which is expected with large crowds. It is convenient if you have no car as it is close to bus routes. If you have a car or bike then Spanish banks beach might be a better choice with better views and more space with less crowds.
About the Park
This very popular park boasts clean sand beaches, beautiful views of English Bay and downtown Vancouver, the fantastic Boathouse restaurant, and wide lawns perfect for throwing a Frisbee or relaxing in the sun. The sparkling salt waters of the heated outdoor pool are especially inviting, and the pool has the distinction of being Canada’s longest at 137m.
A playground is the park’s newest feature. The city’s largest fully accessible playground is a legacy of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and one of three showcase inclusive playgrounds built in the 2010 Winter Games host communities of Vancouver, Whistler and Richmond. New play opportunities such as sand play table, rotating climber, and saucer swings have been included to ensure universal access and encourage imaginative play, sensory experiences and fun for children of all ages and abilities. A wheelchair accessible surface also allows parents and caregivers with physical disabilities access to the playground.
History
Definitely a happening place geared for the younger set (teens to thirties) with a lovely outlook spanning from open bay, to North Shore mountains to Stanley Park. There are lots of activities here with something for everyone.
This area was originally known as Greer’s Beach, named for the pioneer who unsuccessfully challenged the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) take over of his homestead here in the 1890s. Later, private citizens raised the money to purchase the beach front land back from the CPR while the Park Board leased additional lots to create this popular park.
Kitsilano Pool, Vancouver’s largest draw and fill salt water pool was opened at the water’s edge in 1931 and became an instant success. It was replaced in 1979 by an ocean side tank (about 150 meters at its outer most edge) which sports salt water and is heated. This is the park where old Engine #374, that in 1886 pulled the first transcontinental CPR train into Vancouver, resided for many decades on a piece of track on an old CPR right-​of-​way. The Engine was lovingly restored by train buffs in time for EXPO ’86. The train now resides in a plexi-​glass pavilion adjacent to the Roundhouse Community Centre.

awesome

I needed a place to go to relax my mind, to relax my body, to renew my soul… But, where to go? I decided to take a 20 minute or so walk to Kits Beach and found myself in the perfect place. I sat on the bench and let the wind blow pass my body, blowing away the worries and stress in my being. I watched as the people walked by wondering who they were and thought, «I wonder what was their story?» I watched as the waves beat upon the sands of the beach. I watched as three dogs ran along the beach playing games as they ran from the beach to the water. I watched the bird fly just above the water and splash ever so gracefully onto the water. What a relaxing couple of hours.
Note: I went on a mid-​afternoon weekday, which was far less crowded. Take a light jacket as the wind can be quite cooling…
And as always… Have Fun!!!

Kitsilano is not like any of the beaches in California or Hawaii that I have visited. But it is comparatively good for a Pacific Northwest beach. There is actually a large area with sand. I would not call any land by the water as a beach. It needs to have a lot of sand by the water.
I did not venture onto the sand though. I stayed in the grassy area of the park. In addition to the beach, there is a giant (Olympic-​sized?) pool in the park. Unfortunately, it was closed and full of seabirds nesting on top of it.
Parking is somewhat available. Was available to find a space on the street by the park. Though I think it might be more difficult to come by on warm and sunny days.
For the neighborhood it is in, I think this is a great park to have. Kitsilano seems to be a pretty eclectic area and this place fits right in. It has a great view of downtown Vancouver and the West End. Though I found it to be so-​so compared to all of the other beaches I have visited.

We threw a couple of picnic blankets down on the grass in Hadden Park just up from the beach and sat half in the sun and with the shadows of the trees protecting us from any possible sun-​burn. It was perfect!
I took a walk on the beach and enjoyed the crunching gravel and crushed shell sounds underfoot, even with the perfect weather the beach wasn’t crowded at all. I walked toward the Marine Museum and past to the dog off leash park. Twenty dogs were out there enjoying a doggy club med.
Heavenly fur-​family enjoying their freedom.
I’d come back here with a picnic anytime!
There are toilets nearby too.

The only time I really come here is to watch the fireworks during the ‘Celebration of Light’, but was finally able to come through here in the daytime to see how this beach has changed over the years. I have to say that it is not as pretty as what it used to be.
The sand is rough, almost gravel like in some areas. There seems to be more trash here now, as walking around, I noticed alot of litter, which is really unfortunate. Also the water quality, frankly was green and smelly. Maybe I was here a bad day of the summer.
Other than the above, it is a pretty nice area to walk around. The houses around here are quite unique. The restaurant on the beach (Watermark) is a nice place to go to. And there are some pretty nice restaurants just across the street, from Hapa to Local, and of course a Starbucks for your crazed coffee fix.
The parking situation is way better than going to English Bay, but be warned, the parking patrol is out, and you will be ticketed if you do not follow the signs, and after being ticketed you will be towed quite quick.

Kitilano Beach ist einer der Stadt-​Strände von Vancouver. Von dem Strand aus sieht man zur rechten einen Teil des Stanley Parks und man schaut direkt auf West Vancouver. Man kann am Strand liegen und die Ein– und Auslaufenden Schiffe beobachten. Auf dem Strand liegen überall Baumstämme zum Gegenlehnen und keine Ahnung warum, scheint so üblich zu sein in Canada. Es gibt ein Restaurant und einen Kiosk, öffentliche Toiletten und ein Schwimmbad. Man kann zwar auch im Pazifik baden, allerdings ist das Wasser teilweise ziemlich dreckig, da es in der Fahrrinne der großen Schiffe liegt.