Ron Basford Park, Vancouver

Tucked away from the hoards of tourists in the southeastern corner of Granville Island, between Performance Works and the Granville Island Hotel, Ron Basford Park is a tiny little hill with a flag pole at the top, proudly bearing the Canadian flag. It is also the largest green space on the island, yet somewhat under-appreciated. The park is named after the prominent Canadian politician, Ron Basford, who initiated a transition of Granville Island from an industrial to a more people-friendly area, and thus earned himself the nickname "Mr. Granville Island" for his support of the island redevelopment project.

Today, when it is increasingly hard to find a quiet spot on Granville Island, this grassy area overlooking the water draws attention of those who seek to hold outdoor events, such as wedding ceremonies, etc. The park is particularly famous for its inviting amphitheater, which in the summer hosts Carousel Theatre's Teen Shakespeare performances. And if you really want to have fun, you may do some human log rolling down the hill – should watch out for the bird poop, though! During winter, the park is just as much fun for those keen on using their crazy carpet sleds and toboggans – a care should be taken not to slide down the hill which faces False Creek, though!

On a beautiful sunny day, having a picnic in this super chill area with the yummies brought over from the Granville Island Public Market may be a good idea. Otherwise, you can simply relax/de-stress and get fresh air/sunshine on one of the few benches at the foot hill, or bring yourself some coffee from Agro Cafe and gaze out at the wonderful view of the harbour, Yaletown, False Creek or the Granville Bridge nearby. This park is never crowded with tourists and the photo-opps from the man-made hill are always good.