It’s finally summer in Vancouver (knock on wood) and we know everyone and their mom is trying to enjoy the beautiful weather. Head outside and enjoy it at one of these picnic hot spots or hidden gems.

Scroll through the list below and see if your favourite place for an outdoor feast is listed. If not, add it in the comments! We’re always looking for more places to take in these beautiful Vancouver days.

10 Perfect Places for a Picnic

By Vancity Buzz

It’s finally summer in Vancouver and we know everyone and their mom is trying to enjoy the beautiful weather. Enjoy it at one of these picnic hot spots or hidden gems.

• Hot Spot: Stanley Park (duh!)

  By Vancity Buzz

  Known by tourists & locals alike, this spot could be THE picnic destination. Fun fact: you can’t go wrong with a picnic in Stanley Park (except maybe on the bike & rollerblade lanes on the seawall).

• Hidden Gem: Deer Lake Park

  By Vancity Buzz

  Located in Burnaby, this spot is definitely worth the trip! Its natural beauty, many trails & isolation from the city makes it a great picnic destination! Fun fact: it’s home to many music festivals.

• Hidden Gem: Charleson Park

  By Vancity Buzz

  Off of West 6th & Oak you’ll find Charleson Park. This beautiful False Creek spot is great for picnics that involve bringing your pets! Fun fact: Charleson Park is a off-leash dog area before 10 pm.

• Hot Spot: Spanish Banks

  By Vancity Buzz

  Located along Northwest Marine Drive, Spanish Banks is made up of 3 sections: east, west, & extension (all connected to the seawall) & is great for picnics. Fun fact: Spanish Banks has free parking.

• Hidden Gem: Crab Park

  By Vancity Buzz

  Another great place to picnic with pets is Crab Park, take your dogs off leash while you enjoy the views with less of a crowd than other places. Fun fact: it opened in 1987 under a different name.

• Hot Spot: White Rock Beach

  By Vancity Buzz

  This picnic spot might be a long haul but you’ll be glad you made it. It has a great waterfront with lots to explore. Fun fact: it really is named after a big White Rock.

• Hidden Gem: Coopers Park

  By Vancity Buzz

  Off of Marinaside Crescent in Yaletown, this place is another pet friendly area to let your dogs off leash while you enjoy a picnic. Fun fact: it has a basketball court if you’re into shooting hoops!

• Hot Spot: Granville Island

  By Vancity Buzz

  Whether it’s your 1st time on Granville Island (likely not) or your 100th (closer to the truth), there is always so much to do. Fun fact: watch the buskers and birds for some lunchtime entertainment.

• Hidden Gem (for picnics): Vancouver Art Gallery

  By Vancity Buzz

  Not the most common picnic spot out there as it lacks flowers & fields. However, you get a view of the city people don’t often pay attention to. Fun fact: you often get free, live picnic music.

• Hot Spot: Queen Elizabeth Park

  By Vancity Buzz

  This gorgeous park is extremely popular for both locals and tourists. It has seasonal gardens that overlook the city & is worth a visit all year long! Fun fact: Queen Elizabeth Park spans 52 acres.

And just for fun.

10 Poor Places for a Picnic

Warning: do not picnic here! While looking for the best places for you to picnic in our fine city, we came across some terrible ones & then decided to take it to a whole new level. Here are 10 places you probably don’t want to bring your basket.

10 Poor Places for a Picnic

By Vancity Buzz

While looking for the best places for you to picnic in our fine city, we came across some terrible ones. Here are 10 places you probably don’t want to bring your basket.

• Vancouver’s bike lanes

  By Vancity Buzz

  Vancouver bikers can be territorial, let’s not bring out the worst in these environmentally friendly commuters by picnicking in their space.

• On the YVR tarmac

  By Vancity Buzz

  Although you’d get a great view of incoming and outgoing planes, please don’t picnic here…unless you are into being arrested.

• In the Rain

  By Vancity Buzz

  This one is hard to avoid… it is Vancouver after all. If you can help it, try to plan your picnics during one of the 17 sunny days of the year.

• Blood Alley

  By Vancity Buzz

  The name alone is explanation enough.

• Water Street Sidewalk

  By Vancity Buzz

  Although the "Steam" Clock is nice to look at, you’ll be surrounded by tourists. Even though they wash the sidewalk every couple of days, we don’t recommend having a picnic on this Gastown sidewalk.

• During a Canucks Riot

  By Vancity Buzz

  We don’t like to lose. It happened in 1994 & 2011, it could happen again. Pro tip: try the off season.

• The beach during the Celebration of Lights

  By Vancity Buzz

  While the beach is often a great place for a picnic, being trampled by a million people trying to catch the Celebration of Lights may not end up being the romantic dinner you were hoping for.

• Marine Drive Golf Club

  By Vancity Buzz

  Yes, we know the green on the third hole looks great, but we can’t recommend picnicking there.

• The Vancouver Landfill

  By Vancity Buzz

  The lake beside it, though much nicer, still isn’t the ideal picnic area.

• On the Canada line during rush hour

  By Vancity Buzz

  This Train is for Waterfront. Next Station: spilling food all over other passengers. Please take your lunch box off of the priority seats.

Picnic via shutterstock