Summer’s pretty much here. It’s time to play! For us, that means following fresh air and exercise with a pint of something tasty. There are few places you can combine outdoors activities with a local brewpub as easily as Vancouver. The variety of things you can do outside the city–even using public transport–is astounding.

Everyone knows you can climb Grouse Mountain and have beer up at the top, and that same afternoon head to Granville Island and have beer there too…that’s all good, but we thought we’d share some more off-the-beaten-track options for beer and fun in Vancouver.

1. Kayak at Deep Cove followed by Deep Cove Brewery and Distillery.

 image credit: http://www.nicekayak.com/storage/kayak-group-mountains.jpg

• Winter Tip: In lieu of kayaking, you can hike part of the Baden-Powell trail, which is open all year.
• Transport: If you don’t have a car, you can take public transport to Deep Cove as well as to the brewery on Dollarton Highway. Keep in mind, in spite of its name, the brewery is not actually in Deep Cove. You can also do the whole circuit by bike–it takes about one hour to ride to Deep Cove from downtown Vancouver.
• Drink: Try a sampler flight of their beer and spirits.

2. Hike at Lynn Canyon and Suspension Bridge followed by Bridge Brewing and/or Green Leaf Brewing.

Image credit: http://drscottamills.com/2013/07/the-healthy-1/

• Winter Tip: Open and Doable All Year.
• Transport: You can drive, ride, or take public transport to Lynn Canyon. To get from Lynn Canyon to the breweries on public transport is a little trickier, so having a car is a plus. If you’re particularly ambitious, you could combine #1 and #2. Take a bus to Deep Cove, go kayaking, then hike about 4-5 hours on the Baden-Powell Trail to Lynn Canyon and THEN get your beer!
• Drink: IPA or, sample them all!

3. Hike Stawamus Chief followed by Howe Sound Brewing

• Winter Tip: Visit Brackendale Eagles Provincial Park for ideal eagle viewing, as winter is their salmon gorging season.
• Transport: Having your own car is a bonus here, but there are a few private bus companies serving the route from Vancouver to Squamish, which is on the way to Whistler.
• Drink: Howe Sound makes some super beers. Seasonals like the Cloudburst Lemongrass IPA can be real winners, but even their regular old brown ale is one of the province’s best.

4. Hike Soames Hill followed by Persephone Brewing.

• Winter Tip: Soames Hill is short, and usually climbable all year.
• Transport: You do need a car to visit Persephone, but can take the public bus to Soames Hill directly from the Langdale ferry terminal. There’s only one bus, so don’t worry.
• Drink: Persephone grows their own hops. Drink them! The IPA, regular pale ale, and red ale are all fabulous, but so too is the stout.

5. Walk through George C. Reifel sanctuary followed by Four Winds Brewing

• Winter Tip: The sanctuary is open all year. In the spring, you can see the giant sandhill cranes.
• Transport: You need a car to visit both the birds and the brewery.
• Drink: The award-winning Brett IPA, or if you’re like me and crave hoppy pilsner, Four Winds makes the only decent one around.

Cheers!