 |
Nicholson Road is part of an ongoing photo project aimed at sharing and celebrating the different communities in Metro Vancouver. Each week Vancouver Is Awesome will be featuring one of the latest, most engaging photos from the project in order to draw your attention a little bit outside of the hyper-focus that we usually have on the city of Vancouver. |
If you're like me, you've been anxiously awaiting the arrival of summer. So when the clouds finally part, and the sun starts doing what it does best, you head for the beach. And thanks to all of the lakes, rivers, and inlets surrounding us in Metro Vancouver, we've got plenty of options. Living south of the Fraser, White Rock has been my first choice since as far back as I can remember.
I've already given a brief overview of White Rock, but I never really mentioned the action down at the beach (if you haven't been, you're missing out big time).
The strip of Marine Drive along the water is nothing but classic beach town - it's lined with great restaurants and cafes (including at least 5 fish & chips joints), gelato/ice cream shops, and all sorts of retail outlets to fill in the gaps if you forgot a thing or two for your beach bag (beach wear, towels, games, shells, etc.). It's pretty great from an urbanists point of view too, because the popularity of the beach, means the strip is retail along the base, with 2, 3, sometimes 4 stories of beachfront apartments on top. Climb your way up the hill, and the density is just crazy with patios and palm trees everywhere!
Down at the beach on the other side of the tracks, there's a paved walkway that stretches from one end of the beach to the other, and plenty of grassy areas to enjoy the aforementioned fish & chips. And of course there's the White Rock Pier, built in 1915, which is without question one of the finest promenades in the region - made even better a couple years ago with the addition of those beautiful light arches.
On a warm summer night, I can hardly think of no better place to be than strolling down the White Rock Pier, hand-in-hand with a loved one (or gelato...)
More from Nicholson Road can be found HERE.
