9 Active Ways to Celebrate the Longest Day of the Year in Vancouver

liquid yoga Vancouver

Liquid yoga at The Westin Bayshore / Photo: The Westin Bayshore / Moonrider Productions

The longest day of the year can make you feel like the world is your oyster. And that’s why it’s my favourite day to get outside and enjoy what my beautiful city has to offer. Check out these active ways to celebrate the longest day of the year on June 21st!

Mt Seymour Vancouver hiking

Take in the view while hiking a Mt. Seymour | Photo: Mark Newman

Go for a hike

Get your step on and take in the sea-to-sky views. With the North Shore mountains and Squamish only short distances away from the city, hiking is very accessible from Vancouver. Popular hikes include the Grouse Grind, Squamish Chief, Mt, Seymour, and Quarry Rock. For more hikes and trails to explore on the longest day of the year, click here.

Grouse Mountain

Push your limits at the Mountain Ropes Adventure at Grouse Mountain | Photo: Grouse Mountain

Spend the day at Grouse Mountain

Just a short distance away from the city, Grouse Mountain is a perfect outdoor day trip. Start the day off with ‘Mother Nature’s Stairmaster’, and take in the view while you stretch. Grouse Mountain also has many less intense mountain-top activities available for all ages. Try out the Mountain Ropes Adventure for a workout of both your mind and body.

paddleboarding Vancouver

Stand up paddleboarding (SUP) will give your core a workout | Image via Tourism Vancouver

Stand up paddleboarding (SUP)

What better way to explore the city’s coastline than while getting an excellent core workout? Vancouver offers plenty of great areas to stand up paddleboard (SUP), with two particularly beautiful spots: the North Shore with its calm water and stunning scenery, and along the Downtown coastline exploring English Bay, Sunset Beach, and False Creek.  Click here to find paddleboard rentals and more info on SUP in Vancouver.

second beach pool

Make a splash on the longest day of the year in Vancouver’s outdor pools | Image via Vancouver Park Board

Splash in the pool

Vancouver’s municipal outdoor pools are now open, and a selection of the city’s downtown hotels also have incredible outdoor pool facilities for you to get your laps in. Both the city and hotel pools offer spectacular views of the North Shore mountains and are family-friendly.

paddleboard yoga Vancouver

Find your Summer Solstice zen with SUP yoga | Photo: Jordan Junck

SUP and Liquid Yoga

SUP Yoga combines stand up paddleboarding with yoga to encourage you to be present not only on the water but in your everyday. Tone your core, build your stability and learn in a fun environment — the water! Classes are offered around Vancouver, with the Westin Bayshore recently introducing offering Liquid Yoga to the public. Find your zen on the water.

Vancouver outdoor yoga

Take in the view with free yoga in Vancouver | Photo: Mat Collective

Free yoga at the beach

Mat Collective‘s popular (and free!) outdoor yoga classes are back in Vancouver! Encouraging fresh air and community, the classes invite local and visiting yogis and yoginis to experience and absorb the scenic beauty of Vancouver in two of its beautiful green spaces at Kits Beach and in the Main Street area. All levels are welcome and the only thing you need to bring is your mat. More info can be found here.

kayaking Vancouver

Kayaking on False Creek | Image via Tourism Vancouver

Go kayaking

Fun Fact: Sea kayaks are the smallest and most maneuverable craft on the water – a sleek, stable one-person or tandem boat whose origins can be traced to the baidarkas designed centuries ago by the North Coast indigenous people of the Alaskan Panhandle. Now that you know that, you can be confident that what you are getting yourself into is an amazing and well-crafted experience with great scenery. Check out these kayaking routes!

cycling biking Vancouver

Biking through Yaletown on the False Creek Seawall | Photo: Tourism Vancouver / Cycle City Tours

Cycle around

Vancouver’s moderate climate makes this activity available to everyone year-round. There are several options for bike rentals, including the popular Mobi Vancouver Bike Share system. And because Vancouver is cycle-savvy, the City of Vancouver has a comprehensive system of bike routes, paths, dedicated bike lanes and greenways. Check out these easy cycling routes.

walking Vancouver

Get your step on in Vancouver | Photo Credit: Yasmine Hardcastle

Get your step on

Your feet are the best way to get you around and about in Vancouver. They are free, and there are so many places to stroll around or kick it into a higher gear and go for a run. (Running tours are also available.) The Vancouver Seawall is a perfect and scenic way to experience the city at any time of day — particularly the longest day!

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