Vancouver named one of world's best beach cities

A new survey confirms what Vancouverites have known all along-- that the city boasts of some of the best beaches around. National Geographic has awarded Vancouver one of the top 10 beach city destinations in the world.

Vancouver's diversity in beaches and views of the downtown skyline and North Shore mountains helped the city make the cut for the top 10, which also includes premier destinations like Santa Monica, California, and Sydney, Australia.

Popular beach spots include sports-oriented Kitsilano Beach, a six-minute drive from Downtown Vancouver with lots of room to play beach volleyball, basketball and tennis. A long sandy strip for sunbathing and sandcastles are some of the other reasons this beach is packed Monday through Friday. Large logs along the beach make for a great perch in the evening; the beach is just as busy during the spectacular sunset as it is during the sunshine.

At Wreck Beach , just west of the University of British Columbia, a hike down the steps is worth the view and a chance to engage in the famous clothing-optional experience. Wreck Beach is also a popular spot for vendors selling everything from homemade jewellery to clothing and snacks.

Jericho Beach at Spanish Banks is known for being more family-oriented -- still busy, but not as loud and bustling as the trendy "Kits" beach. With its shallow water, Jericho is the perfect place to practice skim-boarding, a popular beach sport around Vancouver that involves tossing a thin wooden surfboard across shallow water and then running and jumping on it, using your momentum to surf across the water.

Coming in 10th spot, Vancouver rates just below these cities:
Barcelona, Spain
Cape Town, South Africa
Honolulu, Hawaii
Nice, France
Miami Beach, Florida
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Santa Monica, California
Sydney, Australia
Tel Aviv, Israel