Smaller than it appears in photos but lots to do for little toddler kids and bigger kids. About /…read morepark benches for parents to sit on. There is also a multi purpose court for sports use. It can be busy because it's hyped up so best to go on a weekday. The metal slide is pretty fast and not suitable for little ones in the rain.

Very well maintained and beautiful playground for children! My child occasionally asks for a visit…read moreand enjoys the park!

I camped at the walk in sites at porteau cove campground. It's good that it's close to Vancouver…read moreand is a great location for viewing stars at night. However, as a campsite, it's quite noisy as there's constantly cars driving along the sea to sky highway, a nearby train, and sounds from the water. The walk in sites are very packed but the ones by the water are pretty neat. The parking lot to the day use area was full on the night of the pereseids meteor shower peak.

The boardwalk boasts an impressive backdrop of the Howe Sound, snow-capped mountains, and clear…read moreblue sky. This is the most southerly fjord in North America. With the parking lot being near the highway and free, many visitors (both people and dogs) stroll the area.  Watch out for the webby tents of caterpillars in the trees. They're a bit unsightly. Other things to do at Porteau Cove: - Scuba dive among shipwrecks, artificial reefs, sunken sculptures, and diverse marine life - Explore tide pools - Camp along the waterfront Porteau Cove was a picturesque stop along our Sea to Sky Highway road trip. I wish I could come back here to watch sunset or the stars at night. (Part 2)

We stopped here cause we wanted to see beautiful views of mountains and water and this area did not…read moredisappoint. It's really not much of a beach, but the views are absolutely spectacular. It's located behind a bunch of houses, but in such a beautiful area. If you want a little stop off and to see spectacular views, this is definitely the place to come.

I discovered Furry Creek Beach and Lookout through Google Maps while driving Sea to Sky Highway…read more It's located 20 kilometers south of Squamish, BC and 48 kilometers north of Vancouver. The beach and lookout are situated in the back section of the Furry Creek Golf and Country Club. Basically, this residential community is the host for visitors and tourists to leisurely walk the shores and take in the surroundings. To come here would definitely be getting away from the crowds of the popular attractions in the area. As I entered the community, the entrance sign stated that there's a golf course, restaurant and ALL OUTSIDE VISITORS ARE WELCOME! So, although I was feeling a little unsettled that I was entering what appeared to be a private community...the entrance sign reassured me to come in and start exploring. And btw, it's free to do this. I did park on a side street though I believe I would have been better served leaving my car at the clubhouse lot so as to not look like an intruder. Regardless...I did walk through someone's backyard (which felt a little uncomfortable, lol) and then the scenery opened up. I wasn't expecting this but there were undisturbed views of the Howe Sound waters along with the hazy looking mountains set in the distance...and this for being around 5pm in late September. Because of the sun's strong appearance for the afternoon time, I'd suggest coming here in the morning, but this is just my opinion. While here...all you have to do is walk the paved pathway at your own pace and enjoy the setting. Depending on which way you go, you will have residential homes to one side of you, but still...the atmosphere was pleasant and you don't have to work hard to capture worthwhile photographs. You can venture off the walkway and reach the waters if you care to do so. Though, I didn't see anyone swimming. There was an inlet section where a few boats had lowered their anchors. And it was at this inlet area that (from my pov) featured the biggest highlight of Furry Creek Beach...and that being the observation platform. You can sit down here at a few of the benches and soak up the surroundings. There's a flagpole raised with the Canadian flag waving from above. Also, there's a small island centered in the middle of Howe Sound that acts as the focal point to the lookout experience. I'd suggest grabbing a picture with the island, Canadian flag, Howe Sound and mountains within one photogenic moment. At the very least, take 15 minutes to appreciate the scenery. In total, I walked 1 mile of the pathway before returning towards my car. Finally, although there is so much to see and do along Sea to Sky Highway going from Vancouver to Squamish to Whistler...if you feel like getting away from the popular attractions and crowds of the area, then I'd recommend stopping for a little bit here at Furry Creek Beach and Lookout.

This park is like a scene out of a movie. It's breathtaking during winter and summer, only with…read morethe water changing to a pretty cool looking aquamarine green during the summer time. Fitzsimmons Fan Park is tucked away on the right side of Green Lake in front of Nicklaus North Golf Course. Its an easy stroll from Table 19 restaurant on the course and if you are not visiting the course, you'll need to park in the parking lot designated for Dream River Park. The main area of this park is a sandy Delta that sticks out quite far into the lake. Its a great area for those that love fishing and this park is very dog friendly. Its almost like a sandy beach in the middle of a lake and my three fur babies love getting their feet wet in the water and digging holes. I have seen many owners allows their dogs to roam around off leash so I think its ok to do that, just make sure to watch your surroundings for bears. There have been many bear sightings by others in this area and I've seen the trail leading up to the sandy delta covered in bear poop. The views behind the lake of mount currie are spectacular and even during the summer time, the peaks up there are still snow capped. It makes for amazing photos and a different contrast between beautiful blue water and sky and the snow of the mountains. It's also nice to set up a few beach chairs, have lunch and watch the seaplanes fly in from Victoria and Vancouver. Overall this is a spectacular spot to take in the lake and mountain beauty of Whistler!

Beyond the park sits a serene beach. I love feeling the crisp air against my cheeks. The only…read moresounds come from gentle waves rolling along the shores of Howe Sound and from pebbles sliding beneath my feet. Its pristine waters are cold to the touch. With the low tide, the rocky path to reach Whytecliff Island emerges - a fun mini adventure! Besides exploring the beach and island, here are other things to do at Whytecliff Park:  - Hike among several trails - Enjoy a picnic in the park - Scuba dive Whytecliff Beach & Island was our first stop along our Sea to Sky Highway road trip - a tranquil beginning. (Part 1)

Wow, this place is amazing! You get beautiful, expansive views of the area and the water from atop…read morethe cliffs, and then you can walk down to the beach to access the ocean. During low tide, you can make your way down to a nearby small rocky island and hike around. Do note that this park gets really busy. When I visited over the weekend, the carparks were all full and people were parking alongside the small road that winds up the park. As there's no footpath or pavement alongside the road, it means that you have to walk or drive carefully to avoid any crashes. There is also an interesting collection of people here, from social media influencers performing full on photoshoots (with portable outfit changing areas) to people having err...rather intimate moments, you could find interest in watching both the animals and the humans who gather here. Also, the cafe here uses AI images on their menu...For me that's minus a star in addition to the other drawbacks I mentioned.

Hidden Gem in the middle of the city. What a find! Trying to…read morestay busy by discovering new parks around me and WOW! It does not feel like you are in the city at all as soon as you get here. Forest everywhere with a little river in the middle. There is a wooden walkway that leads you right into this magical place. To get to the walkways go all the way at the end of the park (closer to 22nd) and you will see the entrance. The walkway doesn't go through the whole park. It stays in a small section but you will not regret it! Only tip would be to maybe add a trashcan at the entrance.

This trail is a fairly easy one from town and really pays off with this ridiculously beautiful…read morelake. The lake seems to also be a sanctuary for Western toads and there is a lovely underpass built for them to travel safely. It has really worked because there are little toads everywhere on this underpass. The trail around the lake is easy to take on by bike, walking, or even a stroller. The lake has great bathing platforms in various spots and must be fun for swimming for those who have not been weakened by sunny California. We did see two bears on the hill maybe 100 yards above the path and very close to Whistler Village and a lone mountain biker who wisely paused and gave it space to cross the biking path in the woods.

A short hike from Whistler Village. Try the many trails. Lovely. Perfect summer day. Bring your…read moresunscreen

If you've been to Whytecliff Park, you'd seen Whyte Islet which is very small island on the shore…read moreof Howe Sound. You'll only need a pair of runners or light hiking boots to ascend to the very top and there's no need for a boat to get on the islet during low tide, Whyte Islet Park is truly West Vancouver's hidden gem. After the climb, it's a rewarding place to relax on sunny warm day with spectacular scenery of the shores of the Howe Sound. There are over 200 species of marine life as it's Canada's first marine protected area. It's the perfect place to have a picnic! Please note that you will need to do some easy ascending and descending on rocks with no available steps or stairs if you want to see the North part of the island. On a warm sunny day, I didn't have any problems with my chukka boots, but I would not recommend visiting Whyte Islet Park when it's wet and raining.

The hike to Garibaldi Lake! This was a difficult one for me, maybe one of the tougher ones I've…read moreaccomplished and I'm saying that because I'm not the most patient of hikers. I'm more of a speed hiker that likes to get in and get out! But to access Garibaldi Lake, (the obvious main event to the park), you must take the Rubble Creek Trail. It's an 18 kilometer out and back hike (or as us Americans would say - "roundtrip")...that is a length of 11.5 miles long. And with that 11.5 miles, the path is all uphill! Everything about it is uphill until you eventually arrive at...Garibaldi Lake! So...for the folks out there who maybe don't hike often, I'd just suggest preparing for the long haul. The hike will be strenuous, but pace yourself, take breaks when necessary and before long...the reward will be worth the grind! And then, you'll be coming back for more! Another thing, I'm always motivated to capture undisturbed pictures in nature. And it's this inspiration that I use to discover what's out there. I want to reflect back on the experience and know I afforded myself ample time during the day to accomplish the sights and sceneries that make for memorable stories. Lol, it's this type of internal mentality that pushes me to strive for greater heights, so to speak, hehehe. Okay so this Rubble Creek Trail to Garibaldi Lake! You must make a reservation 2 days in advance prior to visiting. Just go to bcparks.ca and sign up for a pass. I also used this website for accessing Joffre Lakes Provincial Park situated in Mount Currie, BC. And btw, this Garibaldi Lake is located just north of Whistler, BC. One side note...the parks, lakes and hikes here in Lower British Columbia are simply fantastic! There's a laundry list of things to do. And especially when you speak to locals and they recommend hidden, under the radar places that the public eye doesn't know much about. I thought the Canadian Rockies in Alberta were stunning, but British Columbia nature is really, really scenic! Before arriving at Garibaldi Lake, I suggest taking a short side trek to Barrier Viewpoint for some quick panoramic looks. Also, along the trail you'll pass over a short bridge looking up at a waterfall. It's worthy of a photo. Finally arriving at Garibaldi Lake, at first it may not be so picturesque (even when the sun is out!) but give it a chance. Walk around and explore and you'll find colorful instances where you'll connect with those green and turquoise blue waters. Especially when you're looking back towards the entrance area of the lake, the return hike back down had some of my most fulfilling pictures of the day. It's weird, it's like the angle of the sun can play tricks on you. Be patient and hopefully magical moments will evolve! I tried to walk around the perimeter of Garibaldi Lake, but that wasn't possible. So...I had to relax a little and take my foot off the gas pedal, lol. In fact, some of my best views were simply looking out at the snowcapped mountain peaks. There's a glacier set in the distance as well. A lot of visitors brought their bathing suits with them. And although the lake is glacially fed and freezing, people were still swimming! I even joined in on the fun and took my clothes down to my underwear and hopped in the waters, lol. Granted, it was only briefly, but still, I wanted to leave no stone unturned while here! I'd also point out that since the lake is not navigable 360 degrees around, it sort of took the pressure off me to find the best picture angles. Instead, I really tried to embrace the setting and live in the moment! There's camping allowed here, but again you must make reservations for it. Btw, it's free to book your entry pass to the lake. Parking is free too. One last thing, remember...when you head back towards the entrance of Garibaldi Lake, you'll be pleasantly surprised with the lake colors illuminating from the tree line pathway. I left the lake around 3pm and suddenly, light greens and blues were evident! There are vault toilets at the lake. Interestingly, they ask you to bring your own toilet paper. Never seen that before. Overall, Garibaldi Lake was a wonderful way to enjoy a summer day in the great outdoors. I can't believe I hiked 18 kilometers. And the path through the forest makes for a quiet atmosphere in the woods. I would still rank Joffre Lakes as my favorite BC landmark, but this Garibaldi Lake has its value and major popularity among hikers. Thank you for taking time to read this.

All I have to say is be prepared.. As this is about an 18km hike, I recommend leaving early in the…read moremorning and staying over night in Whistler so you don't feel rushed. This time around when we went, due to the pandemic, we had to book a time slot the day of as they were limiting the amount of hikers. Driving there isn't the problem nor is the parking, it's the length of time but the reward at the end is worth it. I recommend bringing a small bag for liquids, snacks, bug spray, hat and towel as you could swim there but keep in mind you can't throw away your garbage at the site due to bears even though there's a camp site there. The hike isn't super steep and you won't have to climb anything (at least I didn't), you just have to be ready to walk a lot. The path is well marked so you can't get lost. I would say the average round trip if you aren't including staying at the destination to eat and take photos is roughly 4-5 hours round trip at a steady pace. Hike's are always calming and it helps clear your mind from stress and clutter. This is probably one of the best local hikes I've done so far and I would definitely recommend it to anything looking for a challenge and beautiful view. And if you want to be more adventurous, you can also extend your trip to panoramic ridge and black tusk!

I was driving on the Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler, and there are many, many lakes…read moreand parks and lookouts to stop along the way. I decided to stop at Murrin Provincial Park for a short break since the parking lot and lake was viewable from the highway. There was just a couple of cars in the parking lot. It was deep fall and the air and temperature was very cool. I absolutely loved the weather. The lake was beautiful and the water was super cold. All the leaves have fallen from the trees leaving just the branches, and it rained a little earlier leaving many, many rain droplets on the branches. It was like the tree had white Christmas lights! Very cool! There are many picnic tables around the lake. I see someone fishing on the side. There were also outdoor restrooms, which was like a more spacious and brighter port-a-potty. There are a couple of hiking trials and a bunch of rock climbing trials at this park. We didn't have too much time to go exploring, but we definitely want to when we return to Vancouver and make the drive up to Squamish.

This hike has quite the incline at times and you got to keep an eye out for roots. Overall it was…read moreenjoyable. The hike is probably better suited for medium to larger sized dogs, but our little (gymnast) Morkie was able to make it through. I recommend stopping at each viewpoint as the view is quite beautiful.