Playback: Vancouver

1. Vancouver Will Turn Your Head

Jericho Beach
Despite having spent five years living in Vancouver, the city?s stunning mountain and ocean backdrop still astounds me every time I go back. Jericho Beach, on Vancouver?s West Side, makes the perfect picnic spot.

2. Take It Outside

Coal Harbour
If they?re not climbing the arduous Grouse Grind trail, mountain biking some fierce forested path, or enthusiastically kayaking the Howe Sound, Vancouverites take advantage of the city?s bevy of parks and public spaces.

3. North Shore Leave

Vancouver?s North Shore Mountains
The Sea Wall runs five miles round the downtown peninsula, home to 1,000-acre Stanley Park, the impressive Vancouver Aquarium, and magnificent North Shore Mountains views.

4. Sitting On the Dock of...False Creek

False Creek and downtown Vancouver
Boat-fresh fish is offloaded at False Creek Fisherman?s Docks beside Granville Island, home of the locally and tourist-adored Granville Island Market. Devour the day?s catch at Go Fish, a funky, bright-blue takeaway shack mere feet from the water.

5. Arts and Appetizers

Vancouver Art Gallery
Explore the works of Canadian artistic luminaries Emily Carr and the Group of Seven at Vancouver Art Gallery, then bask in the summer sun on the patio of the delectable, gay-run Gallery Caf?, a fine perch for people-watching.

6. Bear With It

Vancouver Pride Festival at Sunset Beach
Vancouver Pride parade is on August 2, 2009. The parade sashays along Robson Street, Denman Street, and Beach Avenue, culminating with an upbeat festival on Sunset Beach.