Scenic & Romantic
Sunset Picnic at Second Beach
Second Beach's grassy Ceperley lawn rolls right into the sand, and the sun sets directly in front of your sandwich.
Ceperley Meadow / Second Beach, Stanley Park
More infoScenic & Romantic
Second Beach's grassy Ceperley lawn rolls right into the sand, and the sun sets directly in front of your sandwich.
Ceperley Meadow / Second Beach, Stanley Park
More infoThis is the picnic where you do almost nothing and it works anyway. Second Beach sits on the southwest shoulder of Stanley Park, its grassy Ceperley field rolling right down to the sand with English Bay dead ahead, so the sun sets in front of your sandwich whether you planned it or not. There's basically one lone picnic table, so bring your own setup and claim the lawn.
Stock the picnic before you arrive: the Denman Street strip in the West End is a five-minute walk away, Meinhardt or the delis and bakeries there will sort a baguette, cheese, olives and something cold. Lay your blanket on Ceperley Meadow (flatter, a touch of shade, and there's only one actual picnic table so bring your own setup) for the lounging portion, then carry it down onto the sand as sunset nears, because Second Beach faces due west over English Bay and the sun drops right in front of you. Concession and washrooms are steps away for the 'we forgot something' run. Don't miss timing your blanket move to about 30 minutes before sunset, when the freighters start to glow. Short on time or it's blustery? Skip the sand and just claim the lawn, the view's still there, and the seawall to Third Beach is right behind you for a five-minute post-feast stroll.
Pack a picnic, pick a spot near Ceperley or Second Beach, and let the sunset do the romantic heavy lifting while the kids run laps around the playground. The pool's seasonal, so don't promise swimming. Washrooms are year-round, which matters more than any view eventually.
Nearby Ceperley and Second Beach playgrounds. Second Beach washrooms year-round. Pool is seasonal and separate; supervise children beside water.
Official visitor informationFamily details checked 2026-10-05Been here? Share a useful detail from your visit, or ask what you want to know before going. Reader experiences are self-reported.
