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West
Vancouver
The District of West Vancouver is located across Burrard Inlet from
Vancouver and is a neighbour of the District
of North Vancouver with the border being the Capilano River.
Residential
Areas
West Vancouver includes the residential areas of Park Royal, Ambleside
Village, British Properties, Dundarave Village, Caulfeild and Horseshoe
Bay. The district's northern border ends at Sunset Marina on the
'Sea to Sky' Hwy 99 just south of Lions Bay. Most areas tend to
have a local business, shopping and meeting centres all displaying
a unique character.
Park
Royal Shopping Centre
If you happen to like shopping, West Vancouver has a good selection
of stores especially if you enjoy excellent quality. One favourite
is in the Park Royal Shopping Centre just across the Lions
Gate Bridge from Vancouver. Park Royal Shopping Centre features
both a north and south mall and a new outdoor shopping concept called
The Village at Park Royal.
Ambleside
Village
Located west of Park Royal on Marine Drive is a quaint area called
Ambleside Village. Here you can find artists' shops, unique stores
and small restaurants. Situated nearby are high-rise apartment buildings
that surround the Ambleside Village especially along Bellevue Avenue
where you can find some classical art-deco apartments dating back
from the 1960's intermixed with modern structures.
Ambleside
Park
Then, for sunbathers and swimmers, there is an excellent beach at
Ambleside Park. Located adjacent to Park Royal and next to Ambleside
Village, Ambleside Park features soccer fields, a beach area and
a beautiful walkway. A forested trail starts from the south mall
at Park Royal and meanders next to the Capilano River, then runs
under the CN Railway Bridge to the mouth of the Capilano River at
Ambleside Park.
Centennial
Seawalk
One decision that West Vancouver thankfully thought of in the early
1900's was the construction of the Centennial Seawalk that goes
along the waterfront. Starting at Ambleside Beach and going past
John Lawson Park at 17th, then going all the way to the Dundarave
Pier and the Beach House Restaurant at the foot of 25th Street in
Dundarave Village.
Public
Parking
You can find public parking at John Lawson Park as well as at Ambleside
Park where the Sea Walk takes you back to the waterfront along Ambleside
Beach. West Vancouverites have a fantastic walkway with some great
southerly views to the entrance of Vancouver Harbour. The Sea Walk
parallels the former BC Railway now the CN Railway and Bellevue
Avenue.
Dundarave
Village
At the northern end of the Sea Walk on Marine Drive you come to
another distinct shopping area called the Dundarave Village. Here
you can find more art galleries, grocery stores, small unique restaurants
and the Dundarave Pier. For coffee shops, Dundarave Village has
a Starbucks
and a local Vancouver favourite called Delaney's Coffee House.
Caulfeild
Village
There is also another area called Upper Caulfeild, which is off
the Sea to Sky Hwy 99 with another retail area called Caulfeild
Village. For other shopping areas there is the quaint seaside village
of Horseshoe Bay where you find Whytecliff Park and the BC Ferries
Terminal.
Caulfeild
Beach
One hidden gem for sunbathing is the shore just down the hill from
Caulfeild Village off Marine Drive. Comprised of weathered rocks
that have been made smooth from the pounding ocean, the beach area
is accessed by using the Caulfeild Trail that hugs the shoreline
offering a small sandy beach for families to private sun-soaked
boulders with tremendous easterly views of the Lions Gate Bridge
and downtown Vancouver.
Lighthouse
Park
Another favourite park in West Vancouver is Lighthouse Park. Situated
on Marine Drive just past Caulfield Lighthouse Park is a grove of
old-growth forest next to the coastline along Port Atkinson. Commanding
a view across to Point Grey is one of Canada's remaining operational
lighthouses. Lighthouse Park provides numerous trails throughout
the park with various fitness levels available.
Horseshoe
Bay
If you are at Horseshoe Bay taking BC Ferries to Nanaimo,
Bowen Island or Langdale Terminal
near Gibsons, rather than taking the ferry
right away, try visiting this community. In Horseshoe Bay there
are restaurants, the Troller Pub, great views and just an excellent
atmosphere. If you want to fish there is Sewell's Marina for boat
rentals and local advice.
Whytecliff
Park
Horseshoe Bay is also home to Whytecliff Park, an area that has
some great scuba diving opportunities. The beach area at Whytecliff
also features a small island just situated offshore. At low tide
you can walk over to the island where the view, sunbathing and wildlife
viewing potential is really good.
Gleneagles
Public Golf Course
There is also a public golf course called Gleneagles situated at
Horseshoe Bay offering a 9-hole course that pretty well every kid
from the North Shore has played. One other public place is at Ambleside
where you will find a par-3 along the oceanside next to the Capilano
River.
Views
from Cypress Bowl
For an excellent view of the Lower Mainland and Georgia Strait,
the road up to Cypress
Provincial Park has to offer some of the best views in Vancouver.
On a clear day you will be able to see Nanaimo in the west all the
way to Simon Fraser University in the east. Just remember that sometimes
the traffic can be busy so please watch for the other drivers as
you travel from Hwy 99.
Cypress
Mountain Resort
For skiing and snowboarding areas, continue up from the viewpoint
to the top and Cypress Mountain Resort. During the summer time,
Cypress Bowl Provincial Park has some excellent hiking, especially
on sections of the Baden Powell Trail. You can either hike towards
the summit of 1,217 metre (3,993 feet) high Black Mountain eventually
down to Horseshoe Bay or west towards Cleveland Dam.
Capilano
River Regional Park
Situated on the eastern border of West Vancouver is Capilano River
Regional Park. Although the main entry point is off Capilano Road
in the District of North Vancouver, a trail enters the park from
British Properties. From just off Stevens Drive or Rabbit Lane you
can make your way into the park to hiking and biking trails that
go to Cleveland Dam then across Capilano River into the east side
of the park.
Troll's
Restaurant
If you are catching a ferry at Horseshoe Bay and not in a hurry,
the original Troll's Restaurant is located here. Right on Bay Street,
Troll's Restaurant is very famous for fish & chips, is right
across from the BC Ferries Terminal, and has beautiful views of
the waterfront at Horseshoe Bay Park.
Information
on West Vancouver
Marinas
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