BristolUK

British seaside resorts where everything is compact and includes a pub at the harbourside; balcony or terrace overlooking the sea; benches on the sea front.

The Mediterranean or Greek Islands, similarly compact places, restaurants at the water's edge, promenade, a bit of interesting architecture. Palma. Rhodes Town.

Lakeside places like Bowness on Windermere or those picturesque towns on Como and Garda. Or Annecy.

Bar/Cafe lined Marinas like Marbella, Saint-Tropez, Portofino, Kos Town...

Dawlish or even Bourton on the bloody water.

Is there anywhere like this in Canada? Somewhere to spend a few days relaxing with a view, but still within civilisation, an expanse of water, easy to get to (without a car), somewhere with everything you want within a couple of hundred yards walk?

I had thought the boardwalk on the waterfront in Halifax but it looks too much like docks except for a very short stretch. Google streetview and images I can't see any part of Vancouver that looks vaguely like European seaside towns, not even a Lyme Regis.

I know at various parts around Lake Ontario you could believe you were looking out over the sea but I'm not seeing anywhere there with a couple of hotels and a bar/pub/restaurant selection.

Is there anywhere that fits the bill?

scrubbedexpat091

Victoria, BC?

I can't say you would have to look at photos and see if it fits what your looking for.

dbd33

That place south of Vancouver where JonboyE lives/lived, White something, is just like Eastbourne. It's cheaper to go to the real Eastbourne, mind.

Partially discharged

https://www.breakersonthelake.ca/rooms.html This is in Cobourg. You can walk to pubs, a 'high street' an LCBO, activities at the beach. Train to Cobourg from Toronto, Ottawa or Montreal and then a 5 minute taxi.

If not Cobourg then Kingston or Brockville may fit the bill.

scrubbedexpat091

White Rock.

Engineer_abroad

Partially discharged

Dieppe, NB

Piff Poff

Niagara on the Lake? Collingwood?

BristolUK

I think I did a 'streetview' drive along their once. It looked very nice but I don't recall anything but houses and a nice view.

I'll look again.

The view's fine enough but for the next few hundred yards it's just houses, a school and apartment buildings and then you get to the Marina with a car park and more apartment buildings/condos.

Cobourg was a potential move once and I'd also looked at other places on the lake. Lots of good places to live but I don't recall anything that looked as appealing as a Bowness, Annecy, Lucerne and all the rest for just a lazy few days of doing nothing except gazing at water, eating and drinking.

I looked at Brockville from the beer thread the other day.

BristolUK

Looks great. Don't see too many amenities though and I'm not sure that fits easy to get to.

bats

Prince Edward County. Try Picton, .Bloomfield, Wellington

BristolUK

Niagara always looks nice in the pictures. Not sure it's compact enough?

Get up, ideally look at water, have breakfast even if just toast and coffee. Stroll somewhere, sit in comfort looking at water while reading newspaper, a book, chat with companion. Stroll somewhere for lunch ideally with a view, nice drink. Maybe a boat trip later. Walk back to accommodation. Use wi-fi.

Out for the evening, dinner and a couple of pints. Day two repeat day one but maybe eating at different places to the previous day, perhaps there are some boats to look at later, people watching.

That's the sort of thing I'm looking for.

Might have to go to Eastbourne Nice again.

daveincolchester

Amherstburg ON if you can be satisfied with just a river

Piff Poff

You can definitely do that at Niagara on the lake. We did just yesterday, parked up on the road by one of the many hotels, walked up and down the street whete there are many places to eat and drink, then wandered down to the lakeshore where there are more hotels and bed and breakfasts.

dbd33

East end Toronto. The area called the Beach. Airbnb between Queen and the lake. Boardwalk along the lake goes a good long way and has benches, coffee and ice cream stands. Queen St. has umpteen cafes, bars, restaurants, book shops and pubs; one's called the Lion, Lion on the Beach, geddit?. There's even a library. The tram goes downtown and from there you can walk to the island ferry or, if a more tourist boat trip is wanted, lots are available at a wide range of prices. If you wanted you could take a water taxi home. If you want a boat trip you can walk to then some negotiation at the ABYC will doubtless get you a ride though it'll probably involve pulling strings.

I lived in the Beach when my daughter moved to Kits. She described Kits as "like the Beach only with a real beach" so that's another option.

Lausanne's better, of course, but you asked for Canada.