Sunset Dinner Cruise on the Harbour

Harbour Air's floatplane throttles up across Coal Harbour, climbs over Lions Gate and Stanley Park, and lands back on the water like it weighs nothing.

The cliche that earned it. Eight free volleyball nets, a driftwood log, and English Bay going full pink.

Tiny rainbow ferries, five-minute crossing, Granville Island oysters, and a skyline that glows on the way home.

After 6pm all summer, the Grouse gondola costs $34: ride up at golden hour, watch the sun set over the city from 1,100 metres, drinks on the Altitudes patio.

Grab Denman Street takeout, claim a driftwood log, and watch the sun drop behind the North Shore mountains. Free, always.

Stanley Park's west-facing sandy cove, where everyone on the seawall cycles past while you watch the real show.

Chef Hector Laguna's plant-draped Coal Harbour room, where the world-ranked cocktails alone justify the good shirt.

A Parisian style champagne picnic on the JW Marriott Parq's 17th floor garden terrace, the only Le Picnic pop-up in North America, daily through August 31.

Movies under the stars on the North Vancouver waterfront, by donation.

Ten days of free waterfront concerts, an artisan market and wine gardens along West Vancouver's Ambleside seawall.

Coal Harbour, Stanley Park and the North Shore mountains through floor-to-ceiling glass, with a Canadian Culinary Champion kitchen to match.

English Bay's quieter cousin at the mouth of False Creek, where the ferries, the mountains, and the freighters all line up.

The one Vancouver sunset where the sand goes on forever, the crowds go home, and the sky takes its sweet time.

Canada's longest pier stretches 470 metres over Semiahmoo Bay, Mount Baker glowing across the water like it's showing off.