By day, Vancouver’s seawall is filled with joggers, bicyclists, rollerbladers, mom and dads with strollers, dogs on leashes and plenty of sightseers taking in the view.  It’s beautiful but busy.  But there is an alternative: a stroll along the seawall at night.

After dark, the seawall is transformed.  The bustle of the day is replaced by calm and the quiet lapping of the water against the shore.  In another city, safety might be a concern.  But that’s one of the nice things about living in Vancouver.  Even at night, it’s relatively safe to walk along Coal Harbour and False Creek (I might skip the Stanley Park seawall after dark, just because it’s so secluded).

So just what can you expect to see?

I walked the False Creek seawall at night this weekend.  Out in the water, the tiny Aquabus ferries were slicing back and forth across the inlet, their green and red lights floating across the darkness.   Inside of boats moored near shore, I could overhear groups of people talking low and clinking bottles, enjoying a warm night on deck.

I followed the seawall and its warm yellow lights toward Sunset Beach, near English Bay.  There was a cool breeze blowing in from the ocean and the moon was almost full.  Big flocks of Canadian geese had settled in for the night.  Some kept guard on one foot in the sand, surrounded by clusters of baby geese that were fast asleep.  Every so often, couples walking in the opposite direction would pass by, hand in hand and talking low.

I passed the big Inukshuk standing watch on the beach and reached English Bay.  The rows of logs were visible in the dark.  Here and there I could make out the red glow from a lighter or a cigarette.  Out in the water, a row of freighters shone in the dark, waiting their turn to make their way into Vancouver Harbour.  Beyond, in black profile against the sky, rose the North Shore mountains.

The scenery is completely different from what you get during the day, but in my mind no less spectacular.

Anyone else enjoy walking the seawall at night? Please share your comments below.