It's a recipe for bliss: sunshine, some tasty edibles and a patch of green grass -- or a well-placed bench with a view. Summer was made for picnicking. Here are our picks for Vancouver's best sites.

 

VANIER PARK
Hang on to your hat and basket -- Vanier Park can be windy. But this wide-open space at the north end of Chestnut Street is the place to watch kites soar, thanks to picnic-friendly fields and panoramic city views.

Keep an eye out for agile kite enthusiasts who've raised the pastime to a fine art while keeping two feet on the ground and multiple lines untangled in the air. And take care that you don't become part of the show. Playful flyers have been known to let their kites swoop down close to unsuspecting heads.

Looking for more to do? Three park-side museums await: the Vancouver Maritime Museum, Vancouver Museum and H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. Vanier Park also hosts the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare festival, a Vancouver tradition; you can't miss the red-trimmed white tents. Four-legged visitors let loose in the park's off-leash areas.

Find plenty of to-go choices on nearby Cornwall Avenue, including Vera's Burger Shack, the Flying Wedge Pizza Co. and Taco Shack. Granville Island is also a short walk away -- or a scenic trip via mini-ferry from the False Creek Ferry dock by the Maritime Museum.

GEORGE WAINBORN PARK
Picnic tables, benches, grass, sun-warmed concrete steps -- the seating options are delightfully varied at this jewel of a Yaletown park. But why choose regular seating when there's a cluster of cheery yellow Adirondack chairs set before a stunning view of False Creek?

Settle in with your lunch and watch the mini-ferries, kayaks and dragon boats cruise the busy waterway, backed by houseboats and Granville Island's working cement factory. To the west, you'll see the Granville Street bridge. Behind you, glass skyscrapers.

Yummy mummies push high-end strollers along the seawall. Trick cyclists spin their tires on concrete paths. Tots shriek on the playground's swings, and dogs of all kinds dash about the green (flicking their tails at the park's on-leash requirement). A circular fountain roars and bubbles, drowning some of the city sounds.

Down by the seawall, a kinetic wind sculpture of a flying heron slowly flaps its wings (depending on the day's breezes), commemorating the return of the birds to the rejuvenated False Creek -- once a polluted industrial wasteland.

Pick up some gourmet goodies at the nearby Choices Market or Urban Fare.

SECOND BEACH IN STANLEY PARK
One look at this little arc of beach and you'll know why it's been a favourite since the 1880s.

Located on the seawall just west of Lost Lagoon and enclosed by trees, grass and softly lapping waves, Second Beach will have you thinking you've left the city for a beachside resort. But the urban amenities promise fun for everyone, particularly families. Kids love the two adventure playgrounds (one with a shiny red fire truck), sandy beach and ocean-side, heated outdoor pool with a slide. Parents love that they can kick back, enjoy the view of English Bay and let the young'uns entertain themselves for hours.

Bring a blanket to spread on the sand or grass. The concession by the pool sells ice cream and snacks, including hot dogs and that classic seaside fare, fish 'n' chips. Looking for something lighter? Try a wrap. Or pick up to-go goodies in the West End before you head into the park. A few possibilities: Vera's Burger Shack, Cupcakes or the Urban Rush.

GRANVILLE ISLAND
Once a has-been industrial park, today Granville Island is one of the city's most loved places to shop, eat and linger.

Hop on a False Creek Ferry or Aquabus to the island (or just walk on from below the south end of the Granville Street bridge) and you'll soon know why. A clever redesign in the 1970s saw warehouses renovated into eclectic spaces for restaurants, shops, studios, galleries and the vast, bustling Public Market. Picky picnickers won't have any trouble filling their baskets here -- it's a foodie's paradise.

Vendors sell artisanal cheeses, meats, pastries and BC fruits and vegetables. You'll find just-made fudge and fresh bread, local spotted prawns, Canadian bison and smoked salmon products, and more. The only problem may be deciding what you want to eat. Choose a sandwich at Kaisereck Deli, a fresh donut at Lee's, a hot plate at the Perogy Place or a pecan cinnamon bun at Terra Breads, then wander outside to the courtyard. Nearly every bench has a city-by-the-water view. Boats chug by, seabirds call overhead and people of all shapes and sizes stroll by.

If your party includes a few wee folk, the free water park off Cartwright Street on the southern side of the island promises a splashy diversion -- and a grassy spot to spread out your blanket.

 

FARTHER AFIELD
These spectacular picnic sites are worth the drive.

Queen Elizabeth Park
Cambie Street at 33rd Avenue
Cultivated gardens and spectacular Vancouver views compete with the domed Bloedel Floral Conservatory -- where 100 birds fly free -- as the biggest draws in this park.

Lighthouse Park
Marine Drive at Beacon Lane, West Vancouver
Steep winding paths, scenic rocky ledges, invigorating Vancouver vistas and trees, trees, trees. Bring good walking shoes, water and, of course, your picnic. Or, for something more fabulous, schedule a guided hike followed by a chef-prepared gourmet picnic lunch with Rockwood Adventures (starting at $85).

Spanish Bank
West of Tolmie Street on Northwest Marine Drive
This series of three beaches/parks has breathtaking city skyline and mountain views, as well as the convenience of free parking, concession stands, washrooms and picnic tables. Bring your swimsuit, a Frisbee and your dog, who will appreciate the off-leash areas of Spanish Bank West.

Picnic in the Sky
Try a flight-seeing tour over spectacular mountain scenery via West Coast Air floatplanes or Helijet International and picnic on a mountaintop or by a lake.

 

WHERE TO TOP UP YOUR PICNIC BASKET
So.Cial at Le Magasin: A custom butcher shop, deli and restaurant with delish take-away sandwiches.
Les Amis du Fromage: Unpasteurized French cheeses and more (up to 500 varieties). Pick up crackers, biscuits and salami here, too.
Meinhardt Fine Foods: Gourmet deli has a European flair and a focus on local ingredients. Beware: the brownies are addictive. Next door's Picnic café features deluxe sandwiches, layer cakes and a long, communal table.
Urban Fare: Fresh bread from France is just one of the gourmet imports chazacterizing this upscale Yaletown grocery store.
Edible British Columbia: Ask them to make you a BC-product-only picnic, or take a Granville Island market tour.