New ways to explore Metro Vancouver: day trips using the double-decker bus routes
New ways to explore Metro Vancouver: day trips using the double-decker bus routes
In 2019, we debuted our double-decker buses! They have 83 per cent more seats than our single-level buses and come equipped with USB charging ports, all while offering views of Metro Vancouver high above the roadways. If you commute via routes 301, 351, 555, or 620, you’ll know how cool that experience is.
What better way to connect with destinations like White Rock Beach, Burns Bog, or Vancouver Island than by taking a day trip, while experiencing the double-decker buses? Here are four ideas to help you do just that!
To plan your trip on one of our double-decker buses, head over to translink.ca/tripplanner.
301 Newton Exchange / Richmond–Brighouse Station
Start your day at Newton Exchange in Surrey and hop on the 301 Brighouse Station bus. Enjoy your ride for around 20 minutes, before hopping off at 108 St to head down the hill towards Burns Bog. It’s a calm and relaxing stop in the morning that pairs perfectly with a warm cup of coffee as you wander through the misty morning forests. Hang out on a bench and admire the dogs as they stroll by, or take the whole 4.2-kilometre walk through the woods.
When you’re done, take the short walk back up to 108 St and hop back on the 301. Get off the 301 at Cliveden Ave and transfer onto the 340 or 388 with signs to 22nd St Station — next stop: Queensborough Landing. With factory outlet stores ranging from Banana Republic to Gap, and plenty of lunch options like Opa Souvlaki or Pho Express, it’s an ideal stop after a morning of outdoor adventure.
After lunch, head back to the 301 Brighouse Station via the 340 Scottsdale or 388 Carvolth Exchange. Make sure you head to the bus’s upper deck for the views as you cross into Richmond. On your right are the North Shore Mountains, impeded only by the towers of Metrotown, the view is spectacular as you head towards Richmond. Once you reach Brighouse Station, head over to the Canada Line and head north to Bridgeport so you can enjoy the Richmond Night Market. It opens at 7 p.m. most nights and offers over 70 food stalls and more than 100 retail vendors.
351 White Rock Centre / Bridgeport Station
Feeling something a little more seaside-oriented? The 351 from Bridgeport to White Rock Centre is almost definitely what you’re looking for. Head straight up to the top level of the 351 from Bridgeport Station, there’s plenty to see on this 36-kilometre journey. After riding through the Massey Tunnel, admire the grandness of Boundary Bay to the south and the expansive Pacific Ocean to the southwest. When you arrive in White Rock, there’s a slew of fun family activities to enjoy throughout the day. Notably, White Rock Pier has stunning views of Semiahmoo Bay and the Strait of Georgia. After that, head down the boardwalk to the beach or check out the White Rock Museum if you’re interested in local history. For lunch, why not stop at one of the many seafood restaurants just across the street from the water? Options range from fish and chips hotspots like Coney Island Seafood; to higher end, sit-down options like the stylish FIVE Kitchen & Oyster Bar. There’s plenty to do in this beloved seaside community, be sure to make the most of it!
555 Carvolth Exchange / Lougheed Town Centre Station
The 555 Carvolth Exchange / Lougheed Station has one of the best views of the Port Mann Bridge when you ride into Surrey from Coquitlam on the bus. After you arrive in Surrey, you might choose to get off the bus right away at Highway 1 and 156 Street, and transfer to the 337 Guildford bus to head over to Guildford Town Centre to enjoy some of the shopping or food options.
If you keep riding, once you reach Carvolth Exchange, you can head south aboard the 501 Langley Centre to visit the Langley Events Centre. It’s home to sports teams like the Vancouver Giants and Trinity Western Spartans, but also hosts annual competitions like BC high school basketball tournaments. The Langley Events Centre also boasts a children’s playground and a spray park outside for even more fun options.
Alternatively, from Carvolth Exchange, you could catch a movie at the nearby movie theatres, enjoy a fine meal at one of the nearby restaurants, or indulge in a local craft beer from Smugglers Trail.
620 Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal / Bridgeport Station
The 620 Tsawwassen/Bridgeport is the ideal route for anyone seeking passage over to southern Vancouver Island. Whether it’s for a day trip to check out Victoria’s Butchart Gardens, or you want to spend a weekend roaming the provincial capital’s Inner Harbour. The 620 offers scenic and reliable service directly to the front gates of the ferry terminal in Tsawwassen. With a schedule that arrives at the ferry terminal to conveniently drop off passengers shortly before ferry departures, it’s the best way to get on a ferry quickly and reliably.
If you’re visiting Victoria, our friends over at BC Transit offer reliable service to Downtown Victoria via bus routes 70 and 72, which typically operate as double-decker routes themselves!
More info for travelling to Victoria and back via transit can be found here.
That’s all for now! Did we miss any must-visit locations along the routes? Let us know in the comments!
Check your timetable before attempting to use the 388; service is peak hours only, Monday through Friday except holidays!