Iona Beach Park – Vancouver
This gorgeous + serene beach is near the Vancouver Airport y’all. What??!!
Yeah, that’s right! You literally have to drive past the airport to get to Iona Beach – a 35 minute drive from Metro Vancouver.
Iona Beach is basically a long, thin stretch of sand + grass that comes along the mouth of the Fraser River + into the Pacific. 
I would never have known about it until Jeff randomly took me here last year because I love me some bird watching + they really love to hang out around here. I totally want to be one of these guys.
You don’t? Well that’s weird. Doesn’t everybody? The gentleman on the left is Mr. Tom Gullick + he’s the first person in the world to officially see 9,000 species of bird!!! Top that!!! Booyah!!!
Okay sorry I always go off on tangents. Where were we……oh yes!!! See the little airplane in the sky?
There is drift wood o’ plenty.
Undisturbed shoreline.
Ripples in the sand.
A little driftwood shelter. So cute! I would like to summer here! Who made it? And it’s amazing to me that it’s still so intact. Oh, Canada! If it was on a Southern California beach it’d be GONE because some mean teenagers would completely destrrrrrroy it!!!
There is a lot of wood just willy nilly piled up in some areas.
Here’s a picture I took of Jeff last year:
I love the texture + colors of the weathered wood. I wanted to drag this log around with me, but then I thought better than to do something ridiculous such as that.
Iona Beach may be near the airport, but it is so tranquil + gorgeous! Bring good walking shoes because it is a long stretch of sand + your dogs will be barking! 6km or 3.728227 miles of walking on sand! My calves were aching the next day, for real homies.
Lookit this big ass tree at the shoreline! How did it get there? C’mon big ass tree, what’s your story?
There was not much for bird watching on my side of the beach, but a little shy sand piper.
As I walked, it kind of kept along beside me. It was skittering about, skitter skitter! After a while it sort of forgot I was there, stopped spazzing out + didn’t mind me around so much.
Num nums!!!!
Goodbye, friend!
Oh, thank the lord! The tip of the jetty!!! I was working up a lather, y’all! Walking in the sand is good exercise!
I was going to scramble to the tip over the granite boulders, but it was getting late in the afternoon, so I’ll give it a go next time! Yes, I wussed out.
On the other side of the jetty a little tug boat that could is hauling two gigante shipping containers. I don’t understand how that little boat can tow so much!!! Go tug boat!!
On the way back in I took the grassy trail to give my calves a break.
There’s not much ambiance or a view, so I soon found myself wanting to be closer to the ocean.
Soooooo beautiful! I’m definitely going to return to Iona Beach more often. It’s a peaceful walk, a great place to think, bring a book + reflect!
how's it going, eh? 
I miss driftwood and can totally appreciate wanting to drag a piece home with you. We don’t have driftwood here. You need to check out The Flying Beaver Pub (it’s close to Iona Beach) What’s great about this place is that all the little sea planes take off and land right in front. Just go for a pint and enjoy the awesome view. Another beach you should check out is Wreck Beach. It’s a bathing suit optional beach located on the shore line of UBC (University of BC). The stairs down (and ultimately back up) will give you a work out.
Oh cool! I will totally check out the pub! Jeff is super into watching the planes take off!!! Oooh, stair work outs. I was looking for a stair work out!!! Thanks for all these great suggestions!!!!
What a beautiful post! You’ve done it again Shelli … the newby introduces me to yet another gem here in Vancouver that I haven’t discovered. We will have to take the boys one day. Looks sooo lovely!
Yes! The boys would love running around all the crazy wood piles + climbing around the logs!!!
Beautiful! Looks like my kind of place. 🙂
And so close to downtown Vancouver!!!
great phopes, 美しいしゃしんですね。
Arigato Mama-san!!!
YAH, Nan, place 2 reflect and chill, also could
be great place 2 train 4 ur 5K or 6K, running
on the sandy beach is so relaxing as well !!!!!
again terrific photo’s, keep shooting gurl !!!!!!
cheers Mahalo, luv U miss U, dad’s
Thanks dad – I’ve been using your hand-me-down camera a lot lately!!!
This beach looks amazing!!! My hubby and I will have to check it out. We need to go be tourist in Vancouver!
I LOVE being a tourist!!! Iona Beach is great for romantic strolls!!!!
Iona was one of my favourite hiding place when I used to drive. Just zip over there and wholla… better than English Bay. BTW, congratulations on your Shine On Award.
Thanks so much! Iona Beach is in such a random spot, isn’t it?
It is. But very popular for hikers. Love the title of your post, eh?
Haha! Thanks!!!
totemo omoshiroi eh?