Living in West Vancouver is a dream for many people, especially those that love nature. It is an area with beautiful scenery, parks, and a vibrant public transportation system. You can easily access the Aquatic Centre, Horseshoe Bay, and Ambleside Beach with ease. The schools in the area are also excellent, with plenty of options for families and students. Whether you are looking for a permanent residence, a vacation home, or a weekend getaway, you will find something to suit your needs in this beautiful city.
Ambleside Beach
Ambleside Beach is a popular spot for locals and tourists to relax on the shores of the North Shore. Located east of the Lions Gate Bridge, this area of West Vancouver offers a beautiful seawall and sandy beach.
The area is also popular for its many annual festivals. These include the Harmony Arts Festival, which takes place in August in the West Vancouver waterfront. There are also outdoor movies and live music. Other events include the Ambleside Music Festival, which is held in early August.
Ambleside beach has plenty of space for swimming and surfing, and a great playground for children. During the summer months, lifeguards watch the swim area. However, the water is not as clean as other parts of the Lower Mainland.
Several fish species are common at this beach. Pink salmon are particularly common during odd years. In addition, harbor seals are often seen in the bays.
Ambleside Pier is one of the most popular fishing spots. There are several restaurants near the pier, as well as an outdoor seating area. You’ll need a saltwater fishing license if you’re going to fish.
Another option for people who want to fish is at the John Lawson Park. This park is close to the Ambleside Beach area and has a nice view of the Lions Gate Bridge.
Visitors can find a good concession stand on the east side of the beach. There are also restrooms in the park. It’s a fun place for kids to play and parents to sit and eat.
In addition to the beach, Ambleside is home to the West Vancouver Centennial Seawalk, which is a popular 1.7-km walking and biking trail. Several benches line the path, making it a great place to watch the sunset in the summer.
Horseshoe Bay
Horseshoe Bay is a scenic seaside resort community on the North Shore of Vancouver. It is the gateway to Howe Sound. The community has a BC Ferries terminal, several shops, and restaurants. There are also a number of outdoor activities available.
This picturesque village is located at the western end of the North Shore. The village is a short drive from the ferry terminal.
This coastal community is full of historic buildings. You can find several cottages that were rented by fishermen over the years. Some historians believe that these were used by the Union Steamship Company, which predated the current ferries.
A co-housing project is preserving eight of these cottages. They range in size from 400 to 700 square feet. These are being used as the backbone of the new community.
The waterfront property offers panoramic views of the sea and mountains. Several coffee shops and restaurants are located in the village.
The third busiest ferry terminal in the province, Horseshoe Bay is home to the BC Ferries system. It operates routes to both Bowen Island and the Sunshine Coast.
For those who enjoy a more active lifestyle, Horseshoe Bay is home to Whistler-Blackcomb, North America’s largest ski resort. During the winter months, it offers a gondola ride to the summit, where you can take in panoramic views of Vancouver.
In addition to skiing, the area is also home to a number of outdoor activities. In the summer, visitors can enjoy hiking at Hollyburn Mountain. Another activity is scuba diving at Whytecliff Park, Canada‘s first marine protected area.
Located next to the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal, the park provides plenty of recreational opportunities. It has tennis courts, a swimming beach, and picnic areas.
Aquatic Centre
The West Vancouver Aquatic Centre is a state-of-the-art facility offering a multitude of aquatic facilities and amenities. As the name suggests, it is located at 2121 Marine Drive in West Vancouver, British Columbia. Previously, this site served as the city’s civic centre. With a vision to transform the site into a modern, state-of-the-art recreation and wellness center, the city took a cue from its neighbours and built a landmark centre that blends the best of both worlds.
Aside from the aquatic centre, the site also features a number of other attractions. There is a state-of-the-art fitness centre, a sportsplex, and a multi-purpose arena that serves as the site’s basketball court and ice rink. In addition to the athletics facilities, the site also offers a handful of restaurants, retail outlets, and other conveniences.
It is also home to a European-style dry sauna, a six-lane lap pool, a diving tank, and a family hot tub. For the adults, the aquatic centre offers an adult-only hot tub, a spa, and a steam room. Also included is a water slide, a small kids’ pool, and other ozone-treated water amenities.
Other amenities include a fitness centre, an adaptive aquatics area, and a large outdoor patio. These are all located within the West Vancouver Community Centre, which is a social and recreational hub. You can also expect to find a few interesting architectural touches such as an atrium and a glass ceiling.
Overall, the West Vancouver Aquatic Centre is a remarkable feat of engineering. Combined with the West Vancouver Community Centre, this site is a thriving community hub that promotes health and well-being and serves as an important component of the city’s infrastructure.
Public transport system
West Vancouver has a public transport system to serve residents and tourists alike. The bus network covers a wide geographical area. Most routes terminate in Downtown Vancouver and the University of British Columbia.
Some popular bus routes include the Rapid Bus, NightBus and the 99 B-Line. All of these routes run frequently and offer an efficient service.
If you want to travel to the suburbs, the West Coast Express runs from downtown to Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Port Moody and Mission. There are five daily departures to and from the suburbs, running in the morning and in the afternoon.
Another major public transportation option in Vancouver is the SkyTrain. This automated light rapid transit system is the second longest in Canada. It offers three lines with more than 50 stations. Aside from SkyTrain, the city is also served by SeaBus.
These buses run along most of the major streets of the city. Each trip is approximately 25 minutes. They burn less fuel than most personal vehicles.
Aside from bus service, the city also has a bike share system known as Mobi. The bike share system is operated by TransLink, the regional transportation authority of Metro Vancouver. Tickets are reloadable and allow users to travel within the designated zones.
West Vancouver also has a ferry system. SeaBus runs between the city and North Vancouver. Riders can pay with cash or use a credit card. On weekdays, the ferry runs every 15 minutes. In the evenings and weekends, the service is every 30 minutes.
For more information on public transit in Vancouver, visit TransLink’s website. You can find a comprehensive rider guide, fares and details on the different modes of transit.
Schools
There are several high-ranking secondary schools in West Vancouver. The top two are St Edmund’s School and West Bay School. Both stress the new curriculum. These are International Baccalaureate (IB) schools.
Another is Collingwood Secondary. This is a private school. It has recently joined the Mission Laique Francaise network. That promotes teaching French to non-French speaking students.
South Surrey Secondary is an academically rigorous school. Students achieve IB Diploma scores in the mid-thirties. In addition, the school implements the Harkness philosophy in the senior school. Despite the rigorous academic standards, the school also has a strong athletic program. They have won eight AA rugby titles.
Rockridge Secondary School is also located in West Vancouver. They offer the Advanced Placement (AP) program in the Senior Years.
Lynn Valley is a small school. It is one of the oldest secondary schools in the city. The students study Chinese, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and several other languages. Some international students also attend.
There are also private schools in West Vancouver. A few of these schools are part of the British Columbia Ministry of Education. However, the majority of them are privately run and independent.
Parents can find out information about the schools in their area by visiting the Fraser Institute. The institute’s website has been a popular source of information for parents and educators for the last 20 years.
There are 14 elementary schools in the West Vancouver school district. There are three high schools in the district. Each campus has a gym, cafeteria, and a grass field.
The University of British Columbia is nearby. It is 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver.
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.