Home > Travel guide > Directions to Whistler, BC > Scenic drive I > part III
Directions to Whistler, BC
From Vancouver Airport and downtown Vancouver
Scenic drive to Whistler – alternative I, part III
If you haven’t read it, start with Part I of this scenic drive through Vancouver to the Whistler ski area.
“Kits Beach”
Continue northbound on McDonald.
When you reach English Bay, follow the traffic to the right.
You’re now on Cornwall Avenue (Point Grey Road).
After four blocks, Kitsilano Park (“Kits Beach”) pops up on your left.
At this beachfront park, turn left onto Arbutus Street, and try to find parking. The arbutus is a popular red-barked tree in this area.
If the weather’s warm, enjoy a swim at the Kits Beach outdoor pool. It’s the longest swimming pool in Canada, but what you'll remember most are the views of English Bay, downtown Vancouver, and the mountains beyond.
Don’t worry about the weather, though, because summer or winter, you’ll have these same views from the park itself.
Save up to 75% on 4-star Vancouver hotels!
Save up to 75% on 4-star Whistler hotels!
Burrard Bridge
Continue eastbound on Cornwall Avenue.
Stay toward the left, so that you can veer left onto the Burrard Street Bridge, after several blocks on Cornwall.
Veer left onto the Burrard Bridge (with most traffic).
While on the bridge, stay toward the right, as you’ll be turning right at the end of the bridge.
At the end of the bridge, turn right onto Pacific Street.
Drive two blocks.
Then turn right onto Howe Street.
After one block, turn right onto Beach Avenue.
English Bay Beach
Just after passing under the Burrard Bridge, you’ll see the Vancouver Aquatic Centre on your left at 1050 Beach Avenue, in a wonderful location overlooking English Bay.
Sadly, its UBC architect did not include windows so that swimmers could enjoy the views, and thus we’re left with a Soviet-style bunker—a terrible waste of this outstanding location. (Venetian blinds would have kept the sun out of swimmer’s eyes during the late afternoon.) The large indoor pool is first-rate, however, and provides a nice break if you’ve been sitting on airplanes a lot.
Driving along here, you’ll enjoy fine views of English Bay, as you travel along aptly named Sunset Beach and English Bay Beach.
Continue along English Bay.
Several blocks after Beach Avenue starts veering to the right, most traffic turns right onto Denman Street.
INSTEAD, continue along Beach Avenue, as it follows English Bay.
You’re entering Stanley Park from Beach Avenue.
You’ll enjoy one of the most beautiful parks in the world, and end your trip in Whistler Village in Part IV or in the downtown Vancouver hotel district.
Click here to go on to Part IV of your scenic drive.
Or go to:
- The fastest driving directions to Whistler from Vancouver International Airport.
- Timing your trip to Whistler, in order to avoid traffic jams.
- Scenic drive to Whistler - alternative I.
- Scenic drive to Whistler - alternative II. (under construction)
- Transportation to Whistler from Vancouver and Vancouver Airport.
- What U.S. travelers need to know about returning to Vancouver Airport.
