5 of the best day trips to take on transit
5 of the best day trips to take on transit
There’s nothing like a nice day in Metro Vancouver, crisp sea air on your skin and the warm sun shining down. There’s no better way to spend the day than in the great outdoors. Luckily, there are countless ways to spend a beautiful day in Metro Vancouver with many of them being transit-friendly. From each end of the region, there are beaches, parks, trails, paths and every other outdoor space you can imagine. Outdoor destinations like these make for wonderful day trips – alongside a carefully curated picnic basket of course.
So keep an eye on the weather forecast for the next beautiful day for five of the best day trips to take on transit.
Granville Island
Summer means two things, beautiful long days and fresh local produce. The perfect excuse to stop into the Granville Island Public Market to see, smell, and taste some of the amazing artisan foods and shop for creative wares. Whether picking up a snack or a full dinner you’ll find scrumptious options ranging from specialty donuts, handmade pickles, fresh seafood, and everything in between. Beyond the Public Market, Granville Island is home to local art galleries, a children’s playground, an award-winning craft brewery, marinas to explore, and boutique shops.
Granville Island is served by bus route 50 False Creek for easy access with numerous other busses with stops within walking distance.
Belcarra
Looking for a new adventure? One of Metro Vancouver’s lesser-known destinations is the beautiful Belcarra region. Serviced year-round by route 182 a trip to Belcarra will bring you stunning ocean views, hiking options galore, and swimming holes ranging from freshwater White Pine Beach to saltier options like Belcarra Picnic area. If you’re a hiker, Belcarra should be near the top of your list, the Jug Island Trail offers breathtaking views of Bedwell Bay and culminates at a hidden beach at the end of Belcarra’s natural peninsula. Looking for views of Burnaby Mountain and Deep Cove? Admiralty Point Park has an easy 5KM roundtrip hike with breathtaking views to enjoy.
Belcarra is serviced by route 182 from Moody Centre Station or route 150 from Coquitlam Central if you’re looking for direct service to White Pine Beach.
Queen Elizabeth Park
Queen Elizabeth Park is an ideal spot for a summer day-cation. Start off your morning with a family game of disc golf in the Southeast corner of the park at the 18-hole Little Mountain Disc Golf Course. Next, head to Bloedel Conservatory, a domed lush paradise that acts as a tropical greenhouse. With 120 exotic birds and 500 exotic plants and flowers, it’s like stepping right into a jungle. Then head outside to the meticulous Quarry Gardens. Local floral and fauna contrasts elegantly with the greenhouse environment of the conservatory that builds an appreciation for B.C’s wildlife. Queen Elizabeth Park is truly worth the trip.
Served by bus routes 03, 15, 33, R4, and the Canada Line.
Lions Bay
If you’re looking to escape the city, slow down for a day, and enjoy that seaside village feeling, then look no further than Lions Bay. Lions Bay is North of Horseshoe Bay and is serviced by bus route #262. The small village is home to three different beach parks that look out onto stunning Howe Sound. The view is a sight to behold as whitecap crested mountains emerge from the deep blue ocean. The three beaches vary in amenities, Lions Bay Beach Park boasts a pair of playgrounds and cordoned off swim area. Meanwhile, Kelvin Grove Beach to the South doubles as an off-leash dog park with a community garden and picnic area. To the North is Brunswick Beach, the most natural and untouched of the three, this is the one to visit if you’re seeking peace and quiet.
Lions Bay is serviced by bus route #262.
Stanley Park
This list would be far from complete if Stanley Park wasn’t included. One of the Lower Mainlands crown jewels, Stanley Park was the cities first park, incorporated in 1886. The roughly 4,000 square kilometre park was designated a Canadian National Historic Site in 1988 and is home to activities ranging from the famed Seawall, to its own Brewery. Stanley Park is the envy of Metropolitan areas around the world. While most other parks of its size were planned or engineered like Central Park in New York, Stanley Park’s forested area has been preserved as a park, with much of it looking the same as it would have 500 years ago. If you need any more reason to visit this historic and beloved park consider the Pitch and Putt, Second Beach Pool, or the Kids Water Park.
For visitors to Stanley Park from Burnaby, route #19 Metrotown/Stanley Park will see expanded service this summer. The park is also served by numerous other routes from the North Shore and Downtown, visit translink.ca/trip-planner for full service information.
Which 5 of the best day trips to take on transit is your favourite?
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