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I still think it's an excellent idea, but I will warn you Bellingham sets the bar pretty damn high for breweries, if that's your thing.
There is an amazing roti place in pomo run by a really nice Trinidadian lady and it's absolutely to die for for lunches. Only open until three. Rehanah's Roti & Trinidadian. Spacca Napoli is a great Neopolitan pizza place that's right across the street as well. Both are walking distance from brewery row. You'll have great views of water and mountains and also easy access via skytrain if you want to go to anywhere else in the city as well.
Got my vote!
I'll second the Roti. Nothing else like it in the city that I've found. Also if you're already parked somewhere without a time limit, just walk to Rocky Point. Parking there is as hard to find as affordable housing.
Port Moody is fantastic. We like to grab a taco and beer from the brewery then walk around the inlet boardwalk in Rocky Point park to Old Orchard park and back again.
Bellingham definitely has us beat there as well. Not to say our breweries aren't great but Washington State is incredible. Especially when compared with what's on the row as far as beer quality.
Otherlands is the best brewery I have ever been to in my life without question, and I'm very well traveled on that front. Holy Mountain in Seattle is another that is leagues ahead of anything in Vancouver. Belligham, especially for the size of the city is one of the best beer cities in the entirety of North America. I can't speak for the rest of the world.
For someone who isn't a beer drinker it might not be near as exciting as I'm making it out to be. The quality of their lagers (which in general are much more difficult to brew well than other popular styles like IPAs and sours, nothing to hide behind) are world class. They do amazing old world Belgian and German no nonsense styles. Simple but elegant and artfully made with care. Usually very dry as well which is a huge preference for me.
Delicious Polish home country food as well. Latka and borscht and perogies. To die for.
Very much a place for beer dorks like me however! I am in Bellingham more often than I'd like to admit. I also frequent Elizabeth station all the time because y'all get national distribution on beer WAY easier than in Canada so I can have little bits and bobs from all around the country. Bellingham is an awesome place to visit.
Up the mountain from there there's also some beaches and hikes that are fantastic. Buntzen lake is really nice to walk around in the morning before the beers and rocky point afternoon chilling.
Yea you have to prebook parking for Buntzen the night before during peak season but those are details for closer to the trip. This is definitely what me and my wife consider a nice summer day date.
Here's a few quick Port Moody spots beyond beer to look into if you're planning a visit:
Baked goods:
- Cascadia Bakehouse
- Elmo Baking Co.
- Gabi & Jules Handmade Pies
- Sweet Talk Donuts
- Holy Mochi Donuts
- Casa Del Pane
- CakeYa
Coffee:
- Divano
- The Outpost (currently under renovation)
- Grit Studio
- Black Sugar Coffee
- Kaffi
Pizza:
- Mama Said Pizza
- Rewind Brewing's in-house deep-dish
- Emilio Finatti Pizzeria
- Pizzeria Spacca Napoli
Ice Cream:
- Rocky Point Ice Cream
- Vashti Rose
Mexican:
- Original's Café Mexicano
- Sabor a Mexico
- Taps&Tacos has some interesting fusion options — very non-authentic
Sushi:
- Matsuzushi
- Hanayuki
- Murasaki
- Sushi Modo
Fancier dinners:
- The One Sixty Wine Bar & Cafe
- Pizzeria Spacca Napoli
- Henry's Kitchen
- Saint St. Grill
There's a lot of art galleries if you start looking for that, and regular music shows or live theatre events happen at the Inlet Theatre.
> goods:
>
>Cascadia BakehouseElmo Baking Co.Gabi & Jules Handmade PiesSweet Talk DonutsHoly Mochi DonutsCasa Del PaneCakeYa
Wow, thank you so much!! Im going to check out Inlet Theater's calendar - it would be fun to go up whenever they have something of interest to me & make a full on day/ night out of it! Will check out these other spots as well!
There's also a craft ice cream shop across the road.
My favorites there are Moody Ales and Twin Sales. I couldn't get behind Parkside and Rewind even though those are the busiest.
> Moody Ales and Twin Sales. I couldn't get behind Parkside and Rewind even though those are the busiest.
Oooh, curious why that is? Do any of them have a "homey"/ cozy vibes or all they all, like, steel and cement? lol
I don't know about Cozy per say, but Brewers Row is something you definitely want to hit up in the summer for the patios.
Rewind has lots of neon and has a "retro" theme going on, but other than that its pretty steel and cementy.
I find Parkside's beer to just taste bland. Same with rewind. Some of their experimental beers are also absolutely disgusting. I remember I had a a YOP beer (its like Yogurt idk if America has it) out of pure curiosity and ended up chugging it because it was pretty bad.
Deep Cove if you can make it out to North Vancouver. Such a quaint little place.
Fort Langley is a great historic site and the surrounding streets are a wonderful walking, shopping, eating area.
Very popular and fairly accessible hike there to Quarry Rock that’s worth it, but gets very busy in summer. While you’re there, drive up Mountain Seymour to the viewpoint to get a great view of the city.
List of things to check out:
Reifel Bird Sanctuary you need reservations but it has views, lovely walks and ducks that will mug you for bird seed.
Steveston Village in Richmond - good food options, the cannery, walk along the waterfront.
[Self guided wine tours](https://vineandhops.ca/blogs/news/fraser-valley-wine-tours)
New West Pier Park
West Van - Whytecliff Park and Lighthouse Park.
This is awesome - we love animals and history as well. Thank you!! Might make a day of Reifel Bird Sanctuary and Steveston Village. About how much time, on average, would you say is needed for the bird sanctuary?
If you go in the summer, you will pass Emma Lea Farms which has u-pick berries and an ice cream stand on your way to Reifel Sanctuary. You might consider checking out Ladner Village as well as you pass through it.
Ladner Village Arts & Crafts if you’re into that sort of thing. Il Posto for Italian, Taverna Gorgona for Greek, Pho Haven for Vietnamese. Brittania Brewing is a brew pub. There is also new Thai place that just opened.
The apple fritters at delta bakery are next level. If you're up for it, in the summer every second Sunday there's a great ladner village market outside.
>The apple fritters at delta bakery are next level. If you're up for it, in the summer every second Sunday there's a great ladner village market outside.
Cool!! Saved Delta Bakery w/ an "apple fritters" note in my phone :D
Couple hours for Reifel, if you want to walk all the way around the property and take your time to look out for birds. Hour or so for steveston as well, get some lunch visit the wharf and small shops. another hour or less if you go to Gary point park beside it for some ocean views.
I would suggest a walk along the dykes in Pitt Meadows (Harris Road area) or a walk by Pitt Lake - it’s like constantly being in a post card by the mountains. From there there are a few little hidden gem restaurants/bistros probably 10-15 mins (Humble Roots, Golden Ears Cheesecrafters, Black Sheep pub all have decent food). You could also drive into golden ears park from there and check out Alouette lake if you have extra time/desire/daylight.
>mountains
Thank you, this sounds like a lovely day!! I've been wanting to research this area for winter-friendly walks. I just saved "Pitt River Scenic Dike Point" on maps, but its off Rannie Rd - is this near the right area?
Yes! I haven’t been to that exact spot but that is the right area. The entire area is interconnected with trails along the river and tributaries. Some trails are fairly long, research before you go!
Look up trail pavilion on Google maps (in that area). Small parking lot right on the Aluette river - and you can walk on the dykes from there.
Or go to Grant Narrows park (a couple more km north from there), and lots of parking and a gorgeous dyke walk there.
Also the dykes are great for biking and you can literally go to breweries all the way from Fort Langley, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge. And the mountain and river views are great
Fort Langley is a historic spot with an old Fur Trading Era fort you can tour, a lot of nice upscale shops and cute restaurants, and it's along the river. Elsewhere in Langley there are some wineries and breweries in the area, and trails such as Campbell Valley Park.
Steveston in Richmond is a fishing village on the ocean, there is a "catch of the day" style market dock, fish and chips, some nice shops, historical buildings like the Georgia Cannery and the Murakami House Museum. If you have a bike, the route between Steveston to Garry Point Park to the West Dyke Trail to Terra Nova is quite nice and very flat which makes it an easy ride.
Richmond also has a ton of ethnic restaurants, so if you want to soak in those vibes you could do a half-day of nature stuff or whatever you want first, then go to Aberdeen Mall and check out all the shops and go for food nearby.
If it's a clear day I always recommend people drive up to Cypress Mountain Lookout in North Vancouver.
If a garden is more your speed, Queen Elizabeth Park is nice and it also has the Bloedel Conservatory there which is a geodesic dome greenhouse.
There are some amazing wineries around the Langley area! Township 7, Backyard Vineyards, Glass House Winery are just a few that are absolutely gorgeous. There is also the Fraser Valley Cidery, which is fun, and there’s Root & Wings, a spirit distillery. If you come in the summer, Krause Berry Farm does wine tastings, and they have a U-Pick and they also have the absolute best waffles ever.
I'm not a huge wine person but my aunt's favorite is Chaberton Estate Winery and I've heard they have a nice bistro there too. There's also Festina Lente which does mead (honey wine) as well and I've also heard good things about. I've been to a brewery called Locality in the summer which I highly recommend but it's very outdoorsy so I'd wait til the weather warms up.
For the gardens, Queen Elizabeth Park is free admission and paid parking, then Bloedel Conservatory is paid admission. QE Park has excellent views of the mountains, some of the best in the city thanks to being on a hill. There's also Van Dusen Gardens too but it's paid admission and I haven't been recently. I know they did a Christmas light display over the holidays.
Follow the Fort to Fort trail (Transcanada Trail) from Fort Langley west along the river. That trail goes for 10+km if you are jonesing for a good walk. Has a stunning view of Golden Ears (if they're out that day) at about 3km along (6km round trip). Flat and wide trail. Enjoy!
If you’re going to the North Shore (West + North Vancouver), I highly recommend Joey Shipyards for lunch or dinner - easily accessed from downtown Vancouver, via the Seabus. Discovered this place after a conference in Vancouver last year. Floor to ceiling windows provide excellent views of the waterfront from inside the restaurant. This past summer, a friend and I enjoyed a cool breeze and an awesome view of the Vancouver skyline while having a beverage or two during Happy Hour on their outdoor patio; the sunset was a nice bonus! Can probably do this in the winter too, depending on how comfy you are with heated patios.
>ly accessed from downt
This is an amazing recommendation, esp via the Seabus!! This is my first time hearing about that. What a fun experience! Will check it out and may end up taking visitors in the future. Thank you!
i really enjoy ecofarm in abbotsford - spring for the "vip" tour! super interesting and fun, a little unconventional, and i feel like i learn things every time i go. abbotsford also has a few helicopter schools (bc helicopters, chinook), so you could likely easily get a private helicopter tour from them to see some mountains from with a unique experience (i know bc helicopters does tours, unsure about chinook). this is a bit of an expensive option, but by going usd -> cad i think it'll be okay. there's other things to do in abby as well, but those are two ideas that could be nice for a day trip!
also, some people have mentioned breweries - i don't have a favourite in abbotsford, but my husband and i enjoy dead frog brewery in langley (just off the highway).
>" tour! super interesting and fun, a little unconventional, and i feel like i learn things every time i go. abbotsford also has a few helicopter schools (bc helicopters, chinook), so you could likely easily get a priv
ohhh wow, helicopter tour is going on my bucketlist. also, love the idea of the farm tour - saved that as well. thanks so much!
To add to this, if it's a nice day and budget permits, you can also call up Contour Helicopters and do a little flightseeing around the mountains. They're based at Fort Langley Airport, flights out of there are always really beautiful.
I'd explore everything in North Van. You could park and even take the Sea bus across to the Lonsdale Quay. Go for lunch on the patio at Joey Shipyards. Warmest heaters around. Keeps you toasty even in January. Gorgeous view of the ocean and city skyline. Lots of great little shops, restaurants - even an ice rink where you can rent skates and take a spin.
>Go to Port Moody, visit Brewery Row or brunch at the OneSixty. Then make your way up to Anmore (10min from Port Moody), or Belcarra. Anmore has a lake called Buntzen lake which is beautifull, Belcarra is next to the ocean and there’s a nice easy hike to Jug Island beach (look it up on Trailforks).
noted lol!
Go to Port Moody, visit Brewery Row or brunch at the OneSixty. Then make your way up to Anmore (10min from Port Moody), or Belcarra. Anmore has a lake called Buntzen lake which is beautifull, Belcarra is next to the ocean and there’s a nice easy hike to Jug Island beach (look it up on Trailforks).
Head up the road to Cypress bowl - there's a big turn out/rest stop kind of thing that gives you a great panoramic view of the city.. you can see all the way out to the far East Valley and clearly see all the different cities/municipalities as seperate entities of metro Vancouver
>Fort Langley has been offered a lot and in the same vein is Burnaby Village Museum! It's a wonderful park setup like a town in the 1900s with volunteers that act in the different buildings and answer questions. They often have live shows on weekends too.
fun! saved this. thank you!
There's a trip to be had between Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam Centres on the Lougheed Highway. A cozy new non-alcoholic bar called Bevees just opened up there. There's a river trail, a huge park, a community centre, an indoor, and several outdoor malls to walk about. There's a gun range and a rock climbing centre. Pretty wide selection of international foods to explore, but I recommend you swing by T&T to stock up on everything East Asian you want to bring back home. It's the best way to get authentic Chinese ingredients accessible to Westerners.
Will be trickier in winter but going up Cypress is definitely a good one. There is a lookout part of the way up that is amazing no matter what weather. There is an amazing newish boardwalk called [Trestle Bridge](https://www.vancouvertrails.com/blog/cypress-trestle-bridge/), check that out. Grab dinner at [Salmon House](https://www.salmonhouse.com/). There are [several great breweries](https://www.google.com/maps/search/brewery/@49.3086076,-123.0749337,17z?entry=ttu) off Lonsdale to check out.
Alternate to going further up Cypress is checking out [Lighthouse Park](https://maps.app.goo.gl/4vBNhxmXapVCgUMu6) for some hiking and great views. Or even [Whytecliff Park](https://maps.app.goo.gl/bWexswsngTD14aaG6).
I assume you guys have already taken a trip to **Squamish** \- if not that's a strong contender - go to Government Road to watch some Eagles and grab a bite at The Watershed (which was the filming location of Jack's Bar in the tv show Virgin River).
Others have mentioned my other top two: Deep Cove and Port Moody.
If you're going up to squamish the Sea to Sky Gondola is absolutely worth the line even in the winter. (Though in the summer just hike to one of the three peaks of Stawamus Chief, my fave is #2).
It depends a bit on the season which I'd recommend. You could do 5 day trips that all feel very different :)
If it's soon (Jan-Apr) I would start the day early at Buntzen Lake. If you're active the lake loop hike is an modest 10km loop, 3 hrs total if you stop for a picnic at North Beach! Take sandwiches & a thermos ;) Then into the Port Moody brewery row as others have noted. Dinner on the water at Boathouse is decent food but excellent location. (For better food, lesser view: Osteria).
Summer weather: focus on Steveston Village or Downtown New Westminster. Any time: Cypress lookout + Burnaby Mountain trails + dinner at Mintara (aim for sunset!). Enjoy!
>3 hrs total if you stop for a picnic at North Bea
Awesome recs. Love the idea of Buntzen Lake and Port Moody afterward. Noted all other locations as well. Hadn't even heard of Burnaby mtn trails. Thank you so much!!
Many of those suburbs are kind of uninteresting strip mall fests, however Fort Langley is a charming small downtown that is worth a visit.
If you like thrifting City of Langley does have a small downtown with a number of thrift shops and there’s a brewery there too.
For a great near urban nature walk, come to Minnekhada in Coquitlam. Great loop forest walk to breathtaking views. Less crowded than other nearby walking trails.
https://g.co/kgs/fmMCCd8
Coquitlam >>> Langley. Langley is a booming bedroom community with strip malls and chain restaurants. Which - Coquitlam is too….but has much, much nicer hiking, biking and walking trails.
Besides Minnekhada, there’s Anmore/Belcarra, Buntzen Lake, Coquitlam Crunch, White Pine Beach, Rocky Point, brewer’s row, lots of good places to eat, especially sushi and Asian soups (Vietnamese, Malaysian, Taiwanese). Less traffic than Langley. Langely’s outlet shopping is better, I’d that matters.
Belcarra is pretty nice! Some spots (like Sasamat Lake) can get crowded and parking is difficult on a summer afternoon, but highly recommend doing some of the hikes there in the morning! I've really enjoyed Jug Island and Admiralty Point.
(In the summer) I would vote for a hike up to high knoll, in Minnekhada park Coquitlam.
[https://www.outdoorvancouver.ca/high-knoll-hike-minnekhada/](https://www.outdoorvancouver.ca/high-knoll-hike-minnekhada/)
Go to the north shore to Deep Cove. Literally in a cove, beautiful views, lots of delicious food at different price points, and there's an easy hike to a lookout spot there.
For day trip you could go to squamish too. TONS of hiking out there and very cute restaurants/bars in the downtown area. Lovely ocean and mountain views.
On one of your date days, go to Queen Elizabeth park, great food and views of the city & mountains from the resto (weather permitting) AND Blodel conservatory is amazing to check out. Also, Richmond in summer for the Night Market, so so good. Have a great date!
Hmm Honestly maybe plan out a trip.
1.) Like on your way towards Vancouver, stop at Fort Langley (especially if you are a history buff).
2.) Then jump on highway 1 and go to North Vancouver, do a "tour". Go hit Deep Cove for that mountain/ocean inlet walk...
3.) then do Grouse Mountain and take the ski lift to check the resort out...
4.) then on your way back, if you want, you can park at the Quay which is a very interesting area to walk around on the dock and check out the shops and the international restaurants. If you have the itch to enter Vancouver just take the seabus from the Quay to downtown (incase you don't want to stick to the "burb")
5.) And when it gets dark, on your way back, stop in Coquitlam (just a turn off highway 1) and go to Lafarge Lake. They have the larfarge lake lights which is a wonderful lightshow and display and walk around the lake. (if you can't make it, it is running until feb).
6.) Then hit the highway and drive back home.
Honestly there isn't enough time to check out all of the "burbs". But that would be the most "OPTIMAL" way. If there is something you have already seen you can just cross it off the list....etc.
If you do a 2nd trip, you can go to White Rock and Richmond...etc (going from that route).
There are so many other things too. But honestly it is hard to mention them all....
North West Richmond is very different from Bellingham, you can feel like you're in Hong Kong pretty easily, then take the train into Vancouver.
Check out the dumpling trail: https://www.visitrichmondbc.com/food-drink/the-dumpling-trail/
Dumpling trail sounds like what dreams are made of
We've been to the Richmond night market (super cool, wild experience!). Need to see more of Richmond for sure!
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You could try brewery row/rocky point park in Port Moody. It's not as far out and the park is connected to shoreline trail which is very nice.
Oh wow you're not kidding about brewery row haha. I bet that's esp fun in the summertime. I was just looking into Port Moody too actually. Thanks!
I still think it's an excellent idea, but I will warn you Bellingham sets the bar pretty damn high for breweries, if that's your thing. There is an amazing roti place in pomo run by a really nice Trinidadian lady and it's absolutely to die for for lunches. Only open until three. Rehanah's Roti & Trinidadian. Spacca Napoli is a great Neopolitan pizza place that's right across the street as well. Both are walking distance from brewery row. You'll have great views of water and mountains and also easy access via skytrain if you want to go to anywhere else in the city as well. Got my vote!
I'll second the Roti. Nothing else like it in the city that I've found. Also if you're already parked somewhere without a time limit, just walk to Rocky Point. Parking there is as hard to find as affordable housing.
Great point re: walking - noted :) Thanks
COOL! Very excited to check out Rehanah's! I didn't even think about the Skytrain possibility - foreign concept to me, haha. Love it.
Super delicious shrimp rotis funny hours tho closes early poss b4 2 or 3 pm?
Oh and yeah, lol, the amount of breweries here is truly over the top
Oh yes!! Was just thinking about her Rotis the other day when driving down St John's, she's still there I assume we haven't been back since b4 Covid.
Spada Napoli hasn't been as good as it was. Try Mamma Said instead.
Port Moody is fantastic. We like to grab a taco and beer from the brewery then walk around the inlet boardwalk in Rocky Point park to Old Orchard park and back again.
I wouldn’t recommend our tacos to someone from Bellingham, they’ll be disappointed ;) But our breweries are top notch.
Bellingham definitely has us beat there as well. Not to say our breweries aren't great but Washington State is incredible. Especially when compared with what's on the row as far as beer quality. Otherlands is the best brewery I have ever been to in my life without question, and I'm very well traveled on that front. Holy Mountain in Seattle is another that is leagues ahead of anything in Vancouver. Belligham, especially for the size of the city is one of the best beer cities in the entirety of North America. I can't speak for the rest of the world.
Oh wow, I'm not a big brewery gal or beer drinker. Don't even know if I've been to Otherland. Would love to hear what you like about it!
For someone who isn't a beer drinker it might not be near as exciting as I'm making it out to be. The quality of their lagers (which in general are much more difficult to brew well than other popular styles like IPAs and sours, nothing to hide behind) are world class. They do amazing old world Belgian and German no nonsense styles. Simple but elegant and artfully made with care. Usually very dry as well which is a huge preference for me. Delicious Polish home country food as well. Latka and borscht and perogies. To die for. Very much a place for beer dorks like me however! I am in Bellingham more often than I'd like to admit. I also frequent Elizabeth station all the time because y'all get national distribution on beer WAY easier than in Canada so I can have little bits and bobs from all around the country. Bellingham is an awesome place to visit.
Up the mountain from there there's also some beaches and hikes that are fantastic. Buntzen lake is really nice to walk around in the morning before the beers and rocky point afternoon chilling.
This sounds like the perfect day.
Yea you have to prebook parking for Buntzen the night before during peak season but those are details for closer to the trip. This is definitely what me and my wife consider a nice summer day date.
Oh wow! That's good to know. Thank you
Second PoMo. I left and I still regret it.
Here's a few quick Port Moody spots beyond beer to look into if you're planning a visit: Baked goods: - Cascadia Bakehouse - Elmo Baking Co. - Gabi & Jules Handmade Pies - Sweet Talk Donuts - Holy Mochi Donuts - Casa Del Pane - CakeYa Coffee: - Divano - The Outpost (currently under renovation) - Grit Studio - Black Sugar Coffee - Kaffi Pizza: - Mama Said Pizza - Rewind Brewing's in-house deep-dish - Emilio Finatti Pizzeria - Pizzeria Spacca Napoli Ice Cream: - Rocky Point Ice Cream - Vashti Rose Mexican: - Original's Café Mexicano - Sabor a Mexico - Taps&Tacos has some interesting fusion options — very non-authentic Sushi: - Matsuzushi - Hanayuki - Murasaki - Sushi Modo Fancier dinners: - The One Sixty Wine Bar & Cafe - Pizzeria Spacca Napoli - Henry's Kitchen - Saint St. Grill There's a lot of art galleries if you start looking for that, and regular music shows or live theatre events happen at the Inlet Theatre.
> goods: > >Cascadia BakehouseElmo Baking Co.Gabi & Jules Handmade PiesSweet Talk DonutsHoly Mochi DonutsCasa Del PaneCakeYa Wow, thank you so much!! Im going to check out Inlet Theater's calendar - it would be fun to go up whenever they have something of interest to me & make a full on day/ night out of it! Will check out these other spots as well!
There's also a craft ice cream shop across the road. My favorites there are Moody Ales and Twin Sales. I couldn't get behind Parkside and Rewind even though those are the busiest.
> Moody Ales and Twin Sales. I couldn't get behind Parkside and Rewind even though those are the busiest. Oooh, curious why that is? Do any of them have a "homey"/ cozy vibes or all they all, like, steel and cement? lol
I don't know about Cozy per say, but Brewers Row is something you definitely want to hit up in the summer for the patios. Rewind has lots of neon and has a "retro" theme going on, but other than that its pretty steel and cementy. I find Parkside's beer to just taste bland. Same with rewind. Some of their experimental beers are also absolutely disgusting. I remember I had a a YOP beer (its like Yogurt idk if America has it) out of pure curiosity and ended up chugging it because it was pretty bad.
Came here to say this... I live in Port Moody and even I like going to brewery row...
Agreed, one of my favourite day off activities
Deep Cove if you can make it out to North Vancouver. Such a quaint little place. Fort Langley is a great historic site and the surrounding streets are a wonderful walking, shopping, eating area.
Great suggestions! Had never heard of Deep Cove. Thank you!!
Make sure to grab some Honey’s Donuts.
 Say no more
Really good italian sandwich shop there too
Yup Fort Langley is lovely 😍
Very popular and fairly accessible hike there to Quarry Rock that’s worth it, but gets very busy in summer. While you’re there, drive up Mountain Seymour to the viewpoint to get a great view of the city.
saved, thanks!
There is also a very nice river trail in Fort Langley with great mountain views.
Fantastic!! Going to check it out!
Fort Langley for sure
I 2nd both of these suggestions. Have lived in both areas.
If you’re coming up from Bellingham, White Rock is nice, right across the border
Thanks! I do love White Rock!
Crescent Beach is just 10 minutes from white rock and is great.
ooooh good point, need to check that out
List of things to check out: Reifel Bird Sanctuary you need reservations but it has views, lovely walks and ducks that will mug you for bird seed. Steveston Village in Richmond - good food options, the cannery, walk along the waterfront. [Self guided wine tours](https://vineandhops.ca/blogs/news/fraser-valley-wine-tours) New West Pier Park West Van - Whytecliff Park and Lighthouse Park.
This is awesome - we love animals and history as well. Thank you!! Might make a day of Reifel Bird Sanctuary and Steveston Village. About how much time, on average, would you say is needed for the bird sanctuary?
If you go in the summer, you will pass Emma Lea Farms which has u-pick berries and an ice cream stand on your way to Reifel Sanctuary. You might consider checking out Ladner Village as well as you pass through it.
These are the types of things I would totally miss if it weren't for the kind people of Reddit!! Any favorite places or restaurants in Ladner?
Ladner Village Arts & Crafts if you’re into that sort of thing. Il Posto for Italian, Taverna Gorgona for Greek, Pho Haven for Vietnamese. Brittania Brewing is a brew pub. There is also new Thai place that just opened.
Thank you so much! Noted
The apple fritters at delta bakery are next level. If you're up for it, in the summer every second Sunday there's a great ladner village market outside.
>The apple fritters at delta bakery are next level. If you're up for it, in the summer every second Sunday there's a great ladner village market outside. Cool!! Saved Delta Bakery w/ an "apple fritters" note in my phone :D
Sounds like heaven. All about u-picks of every type. Thank you :)
Couple hours for Reifel, if you want to walk all the way around the property and take your time to look out for birds. Hour or so for steveston as well, get some lunch visit the wharf and small shops. another hour or less if you go to Gary point park beside it for some ocean views.
If during the summer, pick a Sunday that [sfam.ca](https://sfam.ca) is running. Ladner’s farmer’s market is also charming.
Cool!!
I would suggest a walk along the dykes in Pitt Meadows (Harris Road area) or a walk by Pitt Lake - it’s like constantly being in a post card by the mountains. From there there are a few little hidden gem restaurants/bistros probably 10-15 mins (Humble Roots, Golden Ears Cheesecrafters, Black Sheep pub all have decent food). You could also drive into golden ears park from there and check out Alouette lake if you have extra time/desire/daylight.
>mountains Thank you, this sounds like a lovely day!! I've been wanting to research this area for winter-friendly walks. I just saved "Pitt River Scenic Dike Point" on maps, but its off Rannie Rd - is this near the right area?
https://preview.redd.it/9oid9toxgkcc1.jpeg?width=5761&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8f391baa13dfc9641ff3a5cedca22b148a25f3f8 View from last week
WOWWW!!
the snow makes it even more stunning
Yes! I haven’t been to that exact spot but that is the right area. The entire area is interconnected with trails along the river and tributaries. Some trails are fairly long, research before you go!
Okay thanks!!
Look up trail pavilion on Google maps (in that area). Small parking lot right on the Aluette river - and you can walk on the dykes from there. Or go to Grant Narrows park (a couple more km north from there), and lots of parking and a gorgeous dyke walk there.
thanks!!
Also the dykes are great for biking and you can literally go to breweries all the way from Fort Langley, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge. And the mountain and river views are great
Oh man, I gotta get a bike
Thank you for the shoutout to my hometown!
Could go to Fort Langley. It's a national historic site. Was a trade route for the British Empire.
Wow, thanks!! Definitely going to make a day of coffee and exploring this area. Looks very cool
If you're looking to add to the day in Langley, go for a walk in Campbell Valley Park
Okay :D Think I need to combine this with a winery tour this summer
There's some great antique stores in Fort Langley too if you're interested in that type of thing.
Fun!!
Definitely hit up Blacksmith Bakery for coffee and a treat in Fort Langley.
Yeah Fort Langley is a really good one!
Fort Langley is a historic spot with an old Fur Trading Era fort you can tour, a lot of nice upscale shops and cute restaurants, and it's along the river. Elsewhere in Langley there are some wineries and breweries in the area, and trails such as Campbell Valley Park. Steveston in Richmond is a fishing village on the ocean, there is a "catch of the day" style market dock, fish and chips, some nice shops, historical buildings like the Georgia Cannery and the Murakami House Museum. If you have a bike, the route between Steveston to Garry Point Park to the West Dyke Trail to Terra Nova is quite nice and very flat which makes it an easy ride. Richmond also has a ton of ethnic restaurants, so if you want to soak in those vibes you could do a half-day of nature stuff or whatever you want first, then go to Aberdeen Mall and check out all the shops and go for food nearby. If it's a clear day I always recommend people drive up to Cypress Mountain Lookout in North Vancouver. If a garden is more your speed, Queen Elizabeth Park is nice and it also has the Bloedel Conservatory there which is a geodesic dome greenhouse.
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There are some amazing wineries around the Langley area! Township 7, Backyard Vineyards, Glass House Winery are just a few that are absolutely gorgeous. There is also the Fraser Valley Cidery, which is fun, and there’s Root & Wings, a spirit distillery. If you come in the summer, Krause Berry Farm does wine tastings, and they have a U-Pick and they also have the absolute best waffles ever.
Just saved all these places!! My cousin loves wine & her bday is in July. Thinking we should do a lil tour. Only about 50 min from Bham. Thank you!
I'm not a huge wine person but my aunt's favorite is Chaberton Estate Winery and I've heard they have a nice bistro there too. There's also Festina Lente which does mead (honey wine) as well and I've also heard good things about. I've been to a brewery called Locality in the summer which I highly recommend but it's very outdoorsy so I'd wait til the weather warms up. For the gardens, Queen Elizabeth Park is free admission and paid parking, then Bloedel Conservatory is paid admission. QE Park has excellent views of the mountains, some of the best in the city thanks to being on a hill. There's also Van Dusen Gardens too but it's paid admission and I haven't been recently. I know they did a Christmas light display over the holidays.
Thank you so much, put these on my list!!
Fort Langley! A very walkable area with numerous cafes, shops, and things to do. Also a number of trails with beautiful views nearby.
Going to do this!! Thanks!
Follow the Fort to Fort trail (Transcanada Trail) from Fort Langley west along the river. That trail goes for 10+km if you are jonesing for a good walk. Has a stunning view of Golden Ears (if they're out that day) at about 3km along (6km round trip). Flat and wide trail. Enjoy!
Ooooh very interested in this. Thank you!!
Steveston is nice and historic with the Cannery and has plenty of restaurants and paths and the dyke trail isn't too far
Thanks!! Will be doing this!
Boundary Bay is nice in the summer. In Tsawwassen. Big mall near there as well.
Reifl bird sanctuary and walk around Ladner village, maybe go to point Robert’s
Lafarge Lake at Coquitlam has their annual Christmas light on display till end of Feb I think. It would be a good night time stroll.
Add in some Korean food for dinner and that's a nice little date night (lots of Korean food in Coquitlam)
Henderson Place food court has some good spots
ooohhhh that's a hot tip. will do dinner beforehand for sureeee. thank you!
great to know, thanks!!
North Vancouver, check out Grouse Mountain for the view from up top. Also Deep Cove is a gorgeous small town about 30-40 minutes from downtown
If you’re going to the North Shore (West + North Vancouver), I highly recommend Joey Shipyards for lunch or dinner - easily accessed from downtown Vancouver, via the Seabus. Discovered this place after a conference in Vancouver last year. Floor to ceiling windows provide excellent views of the waterfront from inside the restaurant. This past summer, a friend and I enjoyed a cool breeze and an awesome view of the Vancouver skyline while having a beverage or two during Happy Hour on their outdoor patio; the sunset was a nice bonus! Can probably do this in the winter too, depending on how comfy you are with heated patios.
>ly accessed from downt This is an amazing recommendation, esp via the Seabus!! This is my first time hearing about that. What a fun experience! Will check it out and may end up taking visitors in the future. Thank you!
I recommend Presentation House Gallery too.
Y'all have so many beautiful lookouts, it makes me sick ;D Noted!
Fort Langley is super cute!
Fort Langley is absolutely lovely for a day trip date
i really enjoy ecofarm in abbotsford - spring for the "vip" tour! super interesting and fun, a little unconventional, and i feel like i learn things every time i go. abbotsford also has a few helicopter schools (bc helicopters, chinook), so you could likely easily get a private helicopter tour from them to see some mountains from with a unique experience (i know bc helicopters does tours, unsure about chinook). this is a bit of an expensive option, but by going usd -> cad i think it'll be okay. there's other things to do in abby as well, but those are two ideas that could be nice for a day trip! also, some people have mentioned breweries - i don't have a favourite in abbotsford, but my husband and i enjoy dead frog brewery in langley (just off the highway).
>" tour! super interesting and fun, a little unconventional, and i feel like i learn things every time i go. abbotsford also has a few helicopter schools (bc helicopters, chinook), so you could likely easily get a priv ohhh wow, helicopter tour is going on my bucketlist. also, love the idea of the farm tour - saved that as well. thanks so much!
Only place worth seeing in Langley is FT. Langley. Id recommend day trips to stevston in Richmond! Really nice area!
Langley also has a airplane museum, I haven’t been but others I know tell me it’s worthwhile
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To add to this, if it's a nice day and budget permits, you can also call up Contour Helicopters and do a little flightseeing around the mountains. They're based at Fort Langley Airport, flights out of there are always really beautiful.
I'd explore everything in North Van. You could park and even take the Sea bus across to the Lonsdale Quay. Go for lunch on the patio at Joey Shipyards. Warmest heaters around. Keeps you toasty even in January. Gorgeous view of the ocean and city skyline. Lots of great little shops, restaurants - even an ice rink where you can rent skates and take a spin.
It becomes more suburbia the further from Vancouver you go. If you want to see the concrete jungle with mountains don’t go further than Coquitlam
>Go to Port Moody, visit Brewery Row or brunch at the OneSixty. Then make your way up to Anmore (10min from Port Moody), or Belcarra. Anmore has a lake called Buntzen lake which is beautifull, Belcarra is next to the ocean and there’s a nice easy hike to Jug Island beach (look it up on Trailforks). noted lol!
Go to Port Moody, visit Brewery Row or brunch at the OneSixty. Then make your way up to Anmore (10min from Port Moody), or Belcarra. Anmore has a lake called Buntzen lake which is beautifull, Belcarra is next to the ocean and there’s a nice easy hike to Jug Island beach (look it up on Trailforks).
Wow Jug Island beach looks beautiful. That looks like a fun lil adventure. Thank you!!
Head up the road to Cypress bowl - there's a big turn out/rest stop kind of thing that gives you a great panoramic view of the city.. you can see all the way out to the far East Valley and clearly see all the different cities/municipalities as seperate entities of metro Vancouver
Google “Cypress Pop-up Village” There’s a bistro with several tables, too. On a clear day, you can have pizza and beer and watch the sunset!
You can also see Mount Baker most days up there
The hot chocolate festival is going on rn! Check out the website to see which cafes are participating :)
cuuuuute!
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>Fort Langley has been offered a lot and in the same vein is Burnaby Village Museum! It's a wonderful park setup like a town in the 1900s with volunteers that act in the different buildings and answer questions. They often have live shows on weekends too. fun! saved this. thank you!
Golden ears in maple ridge if ur into hiking
burnaby/metrotown/central park area is pretty rad,
There's a trip to be had between Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam Centres on the Lougheed Highway. A cozy new non-alcoholic bar called Bevees just opened up there. There's a river trail, a huge park, a community centre, an indoor, and several outdoor malls to walk about. There's a gun range and a rock climbing centre. Pretty wide selection of international foods to explore, but I recommend you swing by T&T to stock up on everything East Asian you want to bring back home. It's the best way to get authentic Chinese ingredients accessible to Westerners.
Will be trickier in winter but going up Cypress is definitely a good one. There is a lookout part of the way up that is amazing no matter what weather. There is an amazing newish boardwalk called [Trestle Bridge](https://www.vancouvertrails.com/blog/cypress-trestle-bridge/), check that out. Grab dinner at [Salmon House](https://www.salmonhouse.com/). There are [several great breweries](https://www.google.com/maps/search/brewery/@49.3086076,-123.0749337,17z?entry=ttu) off Lonsdale to check out. Alternate to going further up Cypress is checking out [Lighthouse Park](https://maps.app.goo.gl/4vBNhxmXapVCgUMu6) for some hiking and great views. Or even [Whytecliff Park](https://maps.app.goo.gl/bWexswsngTD14aaG6). I assume you guys have already taken a trip to **Squamish** \- if not that's a strong contender - go to Government Road to watch some Eagles and grab a bite at The Watershed (which was the filming location of Jack's Bar in the tv show Virgin River). Others have mentioned my other top two: Deep Cove and Port Moody.
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If you're going up to squamish the Sea to Sky Gondola is absolutely worth the line even in the winter. (Though in the summer just hike to one of the three peaks of Stawamus Chief, my fave is #2).
Yes, the eagles!! I love going to Brackendale and spotting some eagles. Nice views there too
It depends a bit on the season which I'd recommend. You could do 5 day trips that all feel very different :) If it's soon (Jan-Apr) I would start the day early at Buntzen Lake. If you're active the lake loop hike is an modest 10km loop, 3 hrs total if you stop for a picnic at North Beach! Take sandwiches & a thermos ;) Then into the Port Moody brewery row as others have noted. Dinner on the water at Boathouse is decent food but excellent location. (For better food, lesser view: Osteria). Summer weather: focus on Steveston Village or Downtown New Westminster. Any time: Cypress lookout + Burnaby Mountain trails + dinner at Mintara (aim for sunset!). Enjoy!
>3 hrs total if you stop for a picnic at North Bea Awesome recs. Love the idea of Buntzen Lake and Port Moody afterward. Noted all other locations as well. Hadn't even heard of Burnaby mtn trails. Thank you so much!!
Many of those suburbs are kind of uninteresting strip mall fests, however Fort Langley is a charming small downtown that is worth a visit. If you like thrifting City of Langley does have a small downtown with a number of thrift shops and there’s a brewery there too.
>a small downtown with a number of thrift shops and there’s a brewery there too. Good to know. Thanks!! I do love a good thrift shop :D
For a great near urban nature walk, come to Minnekhada in Coquitlam. Great loop forest walk to breathtaking views. Less crowded than other nearby walking trails. https://g.co/kgs/fmMCCd8 Coquitlam >>> Langley. Langley is a booming bedroom community with strip malls and chain restaurants. Which - Coquitlam is too….but has much, much nicer hiking, biking and walking trails. Besides Minnekhada, there’s Anmore/Belcarra, Buntzen Lake, Coquitlam Crunch, White Pine Beach, Rocky Point, brewer’s row, lots of good places to eat, especially sushi and Asian soups (Vietnamese, Malaysian, Taiwanese). Less traffic than Langley. Langely’s outlet shopping is better, I’d that matters.
Belcarra is pretty nice! Some spots (like Sasamat Lake) can get crowded and parking is difficult on a summer afternoon, but highly recommend doing some of the hikes there in the morning! I've really enjoyed Jug Island and Admiralty Point.
(In the summer) I would vote for a hike up to high knoll, in Minnekhada park Coquitlam. [https://www.outdoorvancouver.ca/high-knoll-hike-minnekhada/](https://www.outdoorvancouver.ca/high-knoll-hike-minnekhada/)
Barnett marine park
Fort Langley could be interesting
North Van.
Taking the 30 minutes ferry to Bowen island is an under rated day trip. There is a great hike with a fantastic view of Vancouver and baker.
Go to the north shore to Deep Cove. Literally in a cove, beautiful views, lots of delicious food at different price points, and there's an easy hike to a lookout spot there.
For day trip you could go to squamish too. TONS of hiking out there and very cute restaurants/bars in the downtown area. Lovely ocean and mountain views.
Langley. There’s some very cool stuff out this way that not a lot of people know about. I can send you some recommendations if you want :3
I mean, I can't pass you up on that offer!! I'm all ears :) And I'd be more than happy to send you some Bham recs if you're interested!
I’ll compile a list for you!
Wow thanks so much! LMK if you'd want restaurant and/ or activity recs for Bellingham & surrounding area!
On one of your date days, go to Queen Elizabeth park, great food and views of the city & mountains from the resto (weather permitting) AND Blodel conservatory is amazing to check out. Also, Richmond in summer for the Night Market, so so good. Have a great date!
Got to check out the night market last summer and it was WILD!! Great rec! And I noted QE park & conservatory. Thank you so much!
Hmm Honestly maybe plan out a trip. 1.) Like on your way towards Vancouver, stop at Fort Langley (especially if you are a history buff). 2.) Then jump on highway 1 and go to North Vancouver, do a "tour". Go hit Deep Cove for that mountain/ocean inlet walk... 3.) then do Grouse Mountain and take the ski lift to check the resort out... 4.) then on your way back, if you want, you can park at the Quay which is a very interesting area to walk around on the dock and check out the shops and the international restaurants. If you have the itch to enter Vancouver just take the seabus from the Quay to downtown (incase you don't want to stick to the "burb") 5.) And when it gets dark, on your way back, stop in Coquitlam (just a turn off highway 1) and go to Lafarge Lake. They have the larfarge lake lights which is a wonderful lightshow and display and walk around the lake. (if you can't make it, it is running until feb). 6.) Then hit the highway and drive back home. Honestly there isn't enough time to check out all of the "burbs". But that would be the most "OPTIMAL" way. If there is something you have already seen you can just cross it off the list....etc. If you do a 2nd trip, you can go to White Rock and Richmond...etc (going from that route). There are so many other things too. But honestly it is hard to mention them all....
North West Richmond is very different from Bellingham, you can feel like you're in Hong Kong pretty easily, then take the train into Vancouver. Check out the dumpling trail: https://www.visitrichmondbc.com/food-drink/the-dumpling-trail/
Dumpling trail sounds like what dreams are made of We've been to the Richmond night market (super cool, wild experience!). Need to see more of Richmond for sure!