Dundarave Pier West Vancouver is a picturesque waterfront community with quaint shops, cafes and restaurants and several sandy and rocky beaches. A lovely place to enjoy a walk any time of the year.
It is a short drive to Park Royal Shopping Centre and a major bus terminal for Blue Bus and North Vancouver TransLink buses. Also a short drive to Ambleside Park and the 15 block long seawall, one of Metro Vancouver’s best places for walking.
Dundarave Village
Dundarave Village, located on Marine Drive in West Vancouver, is a charming and walkable seaside community. It’s full of coffee shops, places to eat, services and more on Haywood and Bellevue Avenues, so it’s a great place to start or end your day.
This part of the West Vancouver coastline offers spectacular views of downtown Vancouver, Stanley Park, Lions Gate Bridge and more. It also has a beach that is great for swimming or playing in the water.
There are also a number of great restaurants, such as Sorrento Pizza, Vina, and Dundarave Sushi. The area is also known for its numerous artisan shops and boutiques.
The area is also home to a number of historic buildings. Some of the oldest, such as the Conservative Hall and Sager’s Maple Shop, are still in use.
Besides shopping and dining, the area is also known for its fireworks displays on Canada Day in July and during the Dundarave Festival of Lights in December. The fireworks are launched from a barge on the shore of the harbour and are sure to be an unforgettable experience!
Another place that you should visit when you’re in West Vancouver is the Dundarave Pier. This pier is located at the end of Marine Drive and has spectacular views of the ocean. It’s a popular spot for locals and tourists alike to go swimming, fishing or sunbathing.
You can also rent a kayak, paddle board or other boat and cruise around the bay. It’s a great way to see the entire coastline of West Vancouver, as well as some of the beautiful islands that surround it.
Dundarave Pier is also a great place to go for a walk and enjoy the scenery. It’s a lovely way to spend the day with your family.
If you want to take your dog with you, there are a few areas along the seawall that are canine-friendly, but other areas aren’t. It is also a good idea to bring a leash so you can control your pet while walking along the seawall.
The quaint seaside neighbourhood of Dundarave is one of West Vancouver’s oldest and most popular residential areas. The village is surrounded by parks and beaches and is a short distance from Ambleside Park and Centennial Seawalk. It is also home to several newer residential developments, including Dundarave Village Point. The 15-unit development was built in 2010.
Centennial Seawalk
West Vancouver is a thriving and vibrant seaside community packed with activities, parks, amenities and attractions. It’s also home to BC Ferries’ Horseshoe Bay Terminal, where dozens of sailings depart daily for Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, the Sunshine Coast and Washington State’s San Juan Islands.
Dundarave Pier is one of the most popular spots in West Vancouver, and if you visit during the summer it’s an ideal spot for picnicking with the family. There’s a gorgeous sandy beach in this park that’s perfect for sand play and a walking trail that connects to other beaches along the Centennial Seawalk.
This beach and pier are a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, as it offers views of the Lions Gate Bridge, English Bay and Stanley Park. It’s also an excellent place to watch the wildlife as they swim by, including harbour seals.
There are a number of restaurants located along the pier, so you can have a meal while enjoying the beautiful views of the beach and the water. You can even dine at the famed Pier 7 restaurant where you’ll be able to enjoy sweeping 180-degree views of the waterfront, the busy port, anchored tankers and Vancouver skyline.
For a more laid-back experience, you can try Mangia E Bevi, which serves classic Italian fare in an inviting brick-lined ambiance or on a relaxed patio. It’s a lovely place to take a break from the beach and the pier, so you can relax and rejuvenate yourself.
After you’ve finished your meal, don’t forget to explore the rest of the park. There’s an active playground, a wading pool and other amenities available for use during the summer.
The park is also home to a German friendship globe, which was donated by members of the German community in Greater Vancouver. The 2.5 ton globe is made from granite and floats on a thin layer of water, so you can turn it with your finger.
Another popular attraction in West Vancouver is the Centennial Seawalk, which runs 1.7 km from Ambleside to Dundarave. This walkway is paved and dotted with benches, and it’s a great way to enjoy a romantic stroll with your partner or the family.
Dundarave Beach
Dundarave Beach in West Vancouver is a popular place for swimming, walking along the seawall and relaxing on the beach. It has a playground, wading pools and is a good spot for families to enjoy. It also features a pier and a great restaurant, The Beach House, for a delicious meal with fabulous water views.
Dundarave beach is a popular year-round destination with locals and visitors alike. It’s a great place to watch the sunset or simply relax in the sun and listen to the waves crashing on the shore. You can walk or bike along the mile-long seawall or sit on a bench and just watch all of the activity happening around you.
The area is also a great spot to take photos of the beautiful sunsets that adorn the North Shore skies. The best times to catch a glimpse of these are from October through March but you can also catch them any time of the year as long as the weather is nice.
During the summer Dundarave is home to many events. One of the biggest, the Dundarave Regatta, takes place in mid August and is a fun event for kids to participate in. It has a range of events including swimming, diving and novelty races.
Another fun event is the Dundarave Festival of Lights, which takes place on three Saturdays leading up to Christmas Day. There are also fireworks shows on Canada Day in July and live entertainment on December evenings.
This is a lovely beach with calm waters and a swimming dock for community use. Lifeguards are available on weekends and holidays as well.
As a family friendly beach, Dundarave has plenty to offer, as well as being in close proximity to the lovely Dundarave Village. This quaint shopping and dining area is often overlooked by tourists, so you’ll want to check it out during your stay in the area.
The beach also has a wonderful view of the Lions Gate Bridge and English Bay. Besides swimming and strolling the seawall, there are lots of other things to do in the area including hiking trails, bike rentals, kayaking and more. There are also several great restaurants in the area, so you’re sure to find something you like!
Ambleside Park
Ambleside Park is West Vancouver’s largest recreational area, boasting a wide variety of facilities and cultural attractions. It also offers a range of activities for the whole family. You can go for a coffee, take a walk along the seawall, swim or fish, play golf, and watch your kids have fun on the beach!
The sandy beaches of Ambleside Park are a favourite among families with children, and there are lifeguards on duty in the summer. The water is warm and pristine and the views are terrific. There is a small concession stand that sells food and drinks, so you can take the opportunity to eat a quick snack while you’re enjoying your time on the beach.
It is also home to a number of annual events, including the Persian New Year Fire Festival and the West Vancouver Community Day in mid-March. You can find the schedule of upcoming events on the Ambleside Park website.
If you want to get a little more active, the Capilano River Trail starts at the north end of Ambleside Park and goes for about four miles. From there, you’ll be able to explore the river’s boulder-filled banks and enjoy the scenic vista of English Bay and Burrard Inlet.
When salmon are running in the Capilano River in September, you can often see dozens of small pleasure craft drift-fishing just offshore from Ambleside’s beaches. Upstream, residents of the Capilano Indian Reserve are often out fishing on their own land.
You can also go for a hike on the Capilano-Pacific Trail that leads through Ambleside Park and into Capilano Canyon. The trail is about three to four hours long and provides an excellent way to enjoy the beauty of the wilderness in a relaxed setting.
Ambleside Park is a popular destination for dog owners, and you can rest easy knowing that your pet will be happy with a spacious off-leash dog area at the east end of the park near the Lions Gate Bridge. This 3.52 hectare area includes beaches, grassy areas and trails for your pup to run around on.
Among many other things, David A. Grantham is a contributing author to UmassExtension West Vancouver Blo. He is a renowned expert on real estate in BC.
Born in North Vancouver, Louisiana, Dr. Grantham grew up in Lower Lonsdale. He then went on to complete his business degree at the University British Columbia. As of this writing, Grantham has completed over 100 projects, including the development of a high rise building in Vancouver.
He is a husband, father, son, brother, and friend. He was a dedicated outdoorsman and enjoyed sports such as hunting, fishing, scuba diving, and snow skiing. His wife, Alison Grantham, and their two daughters survived him. He is survived by his wife Alison Martin Grantham and two daughters.