Horseshoe Bay is a quaint seaside village in West Vancouver with picture-perfect scenery of Howe Sound and its surrounding islands. The village is home to a BC Ferries terminal that happens to connect the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada with Vancouver Island via ocean ferry. Horseshoe Bay is located at the western tip of West Vancouver and is also the gateway to the Sea to Sky Highway that leads to Squamish, Whistler, and into the BC interior to Pemberton and Lillooet.
Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park is a great day-use park situated in the Fraser Valley in between the cities of Chilliwack and Hope, British Columbia, Canada, and around 1.5 hours to Vancouver. It is tucked up against the massive alpine mountain range known as the Northern Cascades. It features a picnic area for families as well as a short hiking trail that leads to a gorgeous 60-meter waterfall that gets its name for the obvious reason that the cascading water resembles a brides veil
The Shuswap River in the interior of British Columbia has been the heart of the Okanagan Valley and the Shuswap region for many thousands of years and remains so to this day. It is not only the lifeblood of the two valleys but provides an abundance of recreational activities for all ages. In the right season, the river is perfect for taking a dip and has beautiful fresh, clean water with a glacial origin. In some areas, the river shimmers with a gorgeous emerald hue, like at the Shuswap Falls recreational area near Lumby, BC.
The Nanaimo River is situated south of the city of Nanaimo on the east coast of beautiful Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The river is abundant in swimming holes, small beaches, and lagoons that are perfect for a family picnic, or day trip. There are also many miles of great hiking trails going up and down the river that take you through the gorgeous lush green rainforest. The water is amazingly clear allowing you to seen right to the bottom in many spots and during the summer months can warm up to around 25C (77F).
Situated in the North East of the island of Mallorca, Spain on a gorgeous beach named Platja de Muro lies Torre d'enfilació. It features mysterious Egyptian-like obelisks that were said to have been built by the Spanish Navy just after the Spanish Guerra Civil. There 28 towers in total that were used for spotting submarines off the coast until better technologies made them obsolete. Now they are quite the neat tourist attraction, along with the hiking trails located throughout the sand dunes. The dunes are home to a unique ecosystem that has an interesting pine forest.
Lillooet is a quaint little town with dramatic mountain scenery and is located within the Fraser Canyon and Bridge River Country region of British Columbia, Canada. It is well known for its indigenous history and to this day the majority of the population is First Nations.
The Willis Palms Trail takes you to a natural oasis caused by a water spring that leaks from the earth and allows for the growth of a Palm forest. Located in the vast and dry desert of the Coachella Valley near 1000 Palms and a short drive from Palm Springs, California. Willis Palm Oasis is part of several oases in the area that the result of the San Andreas Fault line which runs directly under the park.
Lake Las Vegas, Nevada is abundant in gorgeous desert scenery and features a Mediterranean Italian themed village. Though not far from Las Vegas this beautiful oasis offers a dramatically different atmosphere than the bright lights and constant noise and instead offers a much more quiet and peaceful vacation.
Hidden Beach on Ambergris Caye, Belize is a secluded strip of several incredible coves with fine white sand and a quiet relaxing atmosphere than its more developed neighbor, Secret Beach. Hidden Beach is considered to be part of Secret Beach and though it requires a short walk through the jungle, it is definitely worth the time, especially if you want to get away from the hustle of the more popular beaches.
Secret Beach, Belize is a gorgeous representation of what the more touristy areas of today would’ve looked like years ago. Don’t be mistaken though, nowadays Secret Beach is starting to boom and crowds are starting to appear, that being said it is still possible to relax in peace and quiet. Located on gorgeous Ambergris Caye just a short drive from San Pedro.
El Matador Beach in Malibu is a dramatic slice of California coastline with an abundance of spectacular scenery. Malibu is full of incredible views and breathtaking beaches, but El Matador is one of the most popular and that is probably due to the unique rock formations and sea caves located within the park.
Natural Bridges State Beach is a 65-acre park in Santa Cruz, California is a wonderful example of how Mother Nature can manipulate even the largest of stones. The cove and beach provide a great place for wildlife lovers to spot many different types of birds, seals, otters, and even whales gracefully swimming by. There is also a trail to get some better vantage points and explore the tidepools, where you can see all kinds of ocean life like sea stars, crabs, and other interesting sea creatures.
Choose one of the many hiking trails within Santa Barbara Shores County Park, California, and explore the incredible sandy beaches or the eucalyptus forest where thousands of butterflies congregate. Santa Barbara Shores Park is not actually located in Santa Barbara but is instead located in the neighboring community of Goleta, California.
Sandy Dune is an interesting attraction along the Pacific Coast Highway in the Malibu area of California. It is essentially a build-up of beautiful powdery sand that has been carried by the wind up from the ocean below and pushed up against a mountainside. it is definitely not a main attraction of Malibu by any standards but it is a fun place to stop and hike up for some great photography looking out into the pacific ocean near Point Mugu.
Fort Ord Dunes State Park is a unique state park consisting of massive sand dunes that are situated in Monterey Bay, California. The park features remnants of the now-closed Fort Ord, which was a United States military installation. This state encompasses approximately 837 acres of land and includes four miles of windswept beaches and dunes.
Carmel Beach, California has incredible sugary white sand and an idyllic backdrop of windswept trees and whimsical fantasy-styled cottages that are typical of Carmel-by-the-Sea. This beach is the perfect spot to relax, have a family picnic, and watch the gorgeous turquoise waves crashing in a fantastic natural rhythm.
Carmel River State Beach is a gorgeous white sand beach located in the whimsical village of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. The park features the aptly named Carmel River Lagoon and Wetlands Natural Preserve and is the outflow point of the Carmel River. The lagoon is an incredible wildlife watching area and has many species of birds.
Ambleside Park features a gorgeous sandy beach in West Vancouver and a walking trail that connects to the other beaches along the West Vancouver Centennial Seawalk. Ambleside Park is a great place to spend a summer day picnicking with the family and watching the wildlife swim by, such as the harbor seals, which are common in Vancouver’s bays.
West Vancouver Centennial Seawalk is popular 1.7-km walking and biking trail that takes you alongside picturesque beaches and provides spectacular views looking out at the Burrard Inlet. The Centennial Seawalk provides visitors with the perfect spot to stop at one of the many benches and watch the summer sunset.
Jericho Beach is located west of the Kitsilano neighborhood in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is part of Jericho Beach Park, which is a popular attraction in the city of Vancouver and features food concessions, a soccer field, a baseball field, tennis courts, picnic tables, public washrooms, beach volleyball nets, as well as a peaceful pond for bird and wildlife watching.
