Bordered by the English Bay and Vancouver Harbor, Stanley Park is completely surrounded by water and has some of the city’s most beautiful views. This lush green forest is full of flora that is found only in the area and can be viewed from the many paths and trails that run through the park, including the Seawall, a stone wall that surrounds the park and runs along the water’s edge.

This Canadian city is teeming with beaches. One of the most popular, Kitsilano Beach (known locally as Kits Beach) is not just a beach. There’s ample green space for sunbathers and several volleyball courts on the sand. There’s also Kitsilano Pool, Vancouver’s only saltwater swimming pool.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is a beautiful, serene garden in the middle of idyllic Vancouver. The garden was built in order to construct, maintain and enhance a bridge of understanding between Chinese and Western cultures. There are colorful flowers dotted around the site, as well as lush, grassy areas and a plethora of historical artefacts on show in the on-site Ming Dynasty scholar’s room.

The Grouse Grind is one of Vancouver’s most-used hiking trails (over 150,000 people tackle it annually), not to mention one of its most intense workouts in the area. Known as Mother Nature’s StairMaster, the trail climbs 2,800ft (853m) up Grouse Mountain in fewer than 1.8mi (3km). On average, it takes 2,830 steps and around two hours to complete. Upon reaching the summit, hikers will be rewarded with beautiful views of the city before taking a gondola lift ride back down.

Queen Elizabeth Park is the city’s highest point, clocking in at 499ft (152m) above sea level. Thanks to its location south of the city, the park has some of the best views: you’ll see Vancouver’s towering skyline backdropped by the beautiful North Shore Mountains. Come by with a picnic, wander through the arboretum filled with exotic and native trees and soaring sculptures, or play a game of tennis, lawn bowling or pitch and putt.

Granville Island, perched beneath Downtown Vancouver, is one of the city’s must-visit attractions. Wander through the Public Market, bursting with fresh produce, pastries and a food court of world cuisines, and then pop over to the market’s waterfront to take in the views. Head east towards False Creek or west to Kits Beach, a sandy beach stretching out toward the English Bay.