http://www.theprovince.com/Vancouver...352/story.html

As I sit here looking out my window at an industrial park, I might be a bit bitter.

1st, 2nd n English bay were heaving on sunday - dont feel too bad hun!

Skimboarding on Jericho was always great fun. Still got my board, its called Dusty now

I see that Santa Monica and Nice are considered better than Couver. I don't see it myself.

Perhaps if Couver found a way of camoflaging / hiding those pesky tankers anchored off shore, Van would be a shoe in for first place.

I just love laying on the sand looking at snow capped mountains!

Vancouver's beaches aren't that great - they are covered in dog-ends and litter. The good thing you can say about them is that they are really convenient, being as they are, right there.

Agreed. They're aren't many great beach cities around the world, but the likes of Miami, Sydney etc are miles ahead of Vancouver. The local beaches do have an appeal and the views are great, but I for one find them very dirty and polluted in the main and pretty much devoid of any cafe/bar/shopping vitality.

Personally, I'd take Van over Sydney any day.

either two of the previous posters are really messy individuals, or i have just been lucky.....?

but i cannot report having seen any litter at the beach.... or anywhere really, (unless there has been a 'mass of people the night before' type situation).

and the ocean off Santa Monica is comparably grubby to the water off of downtown and so.....

The beaches are nice to have nearby, but lets not get carried away. On there own I doubt they would even make a list of the top 1000. What makes them good is their proximity and that's really the only unique selling point they have.

If you have managed to find a spot that doesn't contain fag butts then you've been lucky. Every time I go I see plenty.

picky, picky

It did say top 10 beach cities. not beaches. I'm just sayin'

Yes, sorry. I do like the beaches really.

their proximity is nice, but their view is epic.

most sea views contain a horizon. the end.

in Couver, we get snow capped mountains!

as for the fag ends..... well perhaps i am blind, or maybe the so called 'prestine nature reserves' of the italian coastline, (complete with their permanent rafts of human detritus) have lowered my standards?

Funniest post of the year

I was surprised to see Vancouver on the list, and I can't say I ever really think of the beaches or mention them as pluses about living here.

I also can't ever recall Vancouver bigging itself up about its beaches and Vancouver has not evolved as a beach city such as Miami for instance, we are more of a "natural by setting city". Vancouver only really has beach weather for a couple of months or so.

What I will say is that they are a nice feature to the city and for me represent the natural aspects that are well integrated into the city. They are very walkable and the seawall runs by most of them and they are integrated well into the parks. the seawall is an extraordinary feature of the city and is often under appreciated.

As for major issues around litter - other than English Bay - bollocks. I always liked Locarno beach the best and on days like this it's as nice as anywhere else. the backdrop of the city, stanley park and the north shore is stunning. I have gotten years of pleasure out of the beaches here - year round if it's just walking, running or down at the off leash with the pooch.

White rock as more of the beach side feel that Brizzle mentions, and despite his jaded view of all things Vancouver, I agree with him. Vancouver has failed to truly develop its beaches.

As for Miami, lived there for 4 years - north beach and south beach have the buzz and the beachside culture - and oh yes, lost of used needles on the beach, and homeless persons and take away the beach, beach ave and colllins ave and you are left with a city that makes the DTES look like an holiday camp. I was more impressed with Vancouver than Miami.

Surprised that San Diego not on the list.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...w=1280&bih=646

And as a smoker no doubt you will fess up to dropping your butts in public

I'm personally glad to see the smoking ban in effect on beaches and parks.