Vancouver and beach holiday in January? Are you kidding?

Jan 28

All right you all, who would’ve thought that I would be enjoying a beach holiday in Vancouver in January?

Well at least not me! Before moving to Vancouver I was really expecting even a little bit colder winter days, and not as many sunny/warm ones as we’ve had during this month. If December was grey and gloomy, has January been filled with rays of sunshine and sweating under the winter clothes, which I’ve been wearing for one reason only; it’s winter. Sure we’ve had some colder mornings, but the temperatures have been nothing compared to the degrees I got used to in Finland.

Anyhow, one week ago I was having a day off from my 9-5 job. While I was sipping my morning coffee and admiring all the people enjoying outdoors under the sun, I started to wonder if there was a beach close by so I could take myself out for a self-care date. Like every millennial, I asked myself “what Google would recommend” and after a moment I was already sitting on a bus, getting ready for lovely date by myself.

Some people might now be asking “Why didn’t you ask Instagram? Or TikTok?”. Let’s be honest here folks - those platforms take over your soul and the next thing you realize is that sun has set already. Google might predict that you will die within 24 hours no matter the symptoms, but for finding new spots it’s a gem like All Trails.

West Vancouver Ambleside Beach — Dogs are always living their best life in Vancouver

But where did I end up in? To Ambleside Beach, which is located in West Vancouver. The beach boulevard has a direct view towards Stanley Park and Lion’s Gate Bridge, making it a beautiful spot to spend a day or admire the sunset. Like every place in Vancouver, dogs were also living their best life, running around in the sand and looking even more pleased by the surroundings than us humans. As a residential area, Ambleside also has multiple restaurants and a beautiful park, but the funniest thing is that there is a big shopping mall “Park Royal” almost right next to it. So everything is extremely close by!

Okay, before all my beach lovers start packing their swimsuits and booking their flights to Vancouver, while dreaming getting that tan on while laying on the shore, I probably should note few things. First of all - the water is still freezing. Second - occasional cold winds make you pull your hoodie tighter over your head. So no Vancouver isn’t the best swimsuit spot in January, unless you love ice baths.

But as a person, who you won’t find chilling under the hot summer sun without second guessing her whole existence - it’s a perfect beach holiday for me.