LIONS BAY

Getting the best of both worlds is easy when settling down in the Lions Bay area of West Vancouver. The idyllic rural life full of community and green spaces is all around, but the travel time to the downtown area of Vancouver keeps the busy urban life still within reach. Residents of this neighbourhood get all the perks, but none of the drawback. It is truly a win-win situation.

Location

Lions Bay is one of the least populated areas around Vancouver, which makes putting down roots in this community so appealing. It is located right along the banks of Howe Sound between Squamish and Vancouver. This area used to be the ideal summer destination for city dwellers with only boat access available until people decided to stay some time in the 1960s. Now it is home to a few thousand lucky people that are leaving the serene coastal life.

Parks

The green spaces in Lions Bay are genuinely extraordinary. There are some pretty steep slopes leading down to the shore, and they provide some excellent hiking trails. Residents and visitors to the area enjoy communing with nature on the Magnesia Creek Trail and the Upper Harrison Trail. The hiking is excellent, and there are some viewpoints which make all of the exertions genuinely worth the work. The Upper Harrison has spots where it opens up and affords a glimpse at the sparkling sapphire waters dotted with island, and hikers can even catch a glimpse of a waterfall.

Lions Bay Beach Park is another area that is enjoyed by all. The park can be accessed from the Lions Bay Avenue exit for those that are travelling on the Sea to Sky Highway. In addition to the beach and cordoned swimming area, there are two playgrounds and some manicured grass that is the perfect spot for an afternoon picnic.

There are a few other parks that are worthy of exploring including the Kelvin Grove Beach Park, The Tom and David Wade Memorial Park, and the Native Plant Garden. Kelvin Grove is way down on the southern tip of the Lions Bay area, and for those travelling the Sea to Sky Highway, the exit is called Kelvin Grove. There is an off-leash dog area, beaches, picnic area, and a community garden. The real draw to the park, however, is the scuba diving opportunities. There is so much to see around the rocky reef such as grunt sculpins and cloud sponges. Some people have even glimpsed a sixgill shark or two.

The Tom and David Wade Memorial Park is a cozy little green space off of Isleview Place. It offers visitors some picnic space and a bit of serenity. The Native Plant Garden was created to help protect the biodiversity of the region, and visitors to the park can take a look at the plants that make up the floral emblem of the village: Aquilegia Formosa.

Shopping and Dining

The Lions Bay area is very residential, which means there isn’t a whole lot of shopping options in the village proper. However, there are a few spots of interest, such as the Lions Bay General Store and Cafe. Visitors to the store will find a wide array of items on offer. There are a few souvenir type items that will appeal to those travelling up and down the Sea to Sky highway. There are also snack, candy, and beer on offer. The shop is open every day of the week from 8 am to 7 pm.

For more substantial shopping needs, residents of Lions Bay will need to make their way down to the Caulfield Village Shopping Center which offers everything one could possibly need from a doctor’s office to a bread store. There is also a Safeway for getting groceries and a Starbucks for a quick cup of coffee.

Going a little further abreast, residents of Lions Bay will find a Whole Food Market about 20 minutes from the village. Whole Foods is great for those that want organic food items. There is also a decent salad bar, and the store is often sampling items.

Whole Foods may not be enough to curb the hunger cravings in which case finding a restaurant may be in order. There is always the deli at the general store to consider, but since they close at 7 pm, it doesn’t help those looking for later dinner plans. There are several restaurants to the south of Lions Bay village including the Olive & Anchor, the Snug Cafe, and the Horseshoe Bay Chinese Restaurant.

Getting to the City

Lions Bay offers quaint village life; however, sometimes there is a need to traverse the streets of the metro area. Vancouver residents used to travel to Lions Bay by boat, but now there are more efficient methods. Hitting the highway and heading into the city during non-rush hour times will have Lions Bay residents seeing downtown Vancouver in 35-45 minutes. The majority of the trip into the city is spent on Sea to Sky Hwy or BC-99.

Public transit options are available, but they will take over an hour at the best of travelling times. The bus lines needed to get to the downtown area are 257 and 262 for the shortest ride.

Lions Bay is the village life away from it all that is desired by so many, and it is an excellent spot for raising a family.