When it’s sunny out, Metro Vancouverites love to go out! But when it’s hot and 30 degrees out, it can be challenging to enjoy the sun. Fortunately, there are many transit-friendly places to visit to stay cool and have fun. From beaches and spray parks to air-conditioned malls and indoor attractions, there are a multitude of places you could go by transit to beat the heat.

Follow these tips to help stay cool during your commute.

Spray parks and outdoor pools

Cooling off at spray parks and outdoor pools is refreshing, and the kids love it! Visit your city’s website for a list of spray parks and outdoor pools, then plan your trip there using our Trip Planner.

• Burnaby
• Coquitlam
• Langley
• Maple Ridge
• New Westminster
• North Vancouver
• Pitt Meadows
• Port Moody
• Vancouver
• Richmond
• Surrey
• West Vancouver

Beaches

The beach and shade are your best friend when it’s hot out! Pack your favourite cold beverages and hang out at these transit-friendly beaches.

If you’d like to sweat a little, go kayaking! You can rent kayaks at Deep Cove in North Vancouver, False Creek and Jericho Beach in Vancouver, and Rocky Point in Port Moody.

Tree canopies

West Coast is rich in trails with towering trees, which are great spots to stay under when the weather’s hot. Bring refreshing food and drinks and hang out at these parks:

• Maple Ridge: Kanaka Regional Park
• North Vancouver: Lynn Canyon and Baden Powell Trail (Deep Cove to Quarry Rock)
• Port Coquitlam: Traboulay PoCo Trail
• Surrey: Tynehead Regional Park
• Vancouver: Pacific Spirit Regional Park and Stanley Park

Lakes

Lakes carry a cool breeze that can keep us refreshed when it’s hot. Bring an umbrella and camping chairs and chill at these transit-friendly lakes:

• Anmore: Buntzen Lake
• Burnaby: Deer Lake Park and Burnaby Lake
• Coquitlam: Lafarge Lake
• Port Moody: Sasamat Lake
• Surrey: Green Timbers Lake
• Vancouver: Trout Lake

Lakes and rivers

Metro Vancouver is rich in lakes, creeks, and rivers! Bring a cooler with your favourite food and drinks and hang out by these lakes:

• Anmore: Buntzen Lake
• Burnaby: Deer Lake Park and Burnaby Lake
• Coquitlam: Lafarge Lake and Coquitlam River
• North Vancouver: Lynn Canyon and Capilano River Regional Park
• Port Moody: Sasamat Lake
• Surrey: Green Timbers Lake
• Vancouver: Trout Lake

Malls

Prefer to stay indoors? Spend a day at air-conditioned malls! Here are some that offer plenty of entertainment, including movies and games so you can stay cool and have a blast:

• Burnaby:
  • The Amazing Brentwood is home of The Rec Room, an arcade where you can play over 90 games.
  • Metropolis at Metrotown has a movie theatre and an arcade.
• Coquitlam: Coquitlam Centre has a movie theatre, an indoor playground, and an arcade.
• West Vancouver: Park Royal has a movie theatre and an indoor playground.
• Surrey: Guildford Town Centre has a movie theatre and a virtual reality arcade.

Indoor attractions

There are also air-conditioned indoor attractions in Metro Vancouver where you can stay cool while learning something new.

• Museum of Vancouver
• R. Macmillan Space Centre
• Science World
• Vancouver Aquarium
• Beaty Biodiversity Museum
• Vancouver Art Gallery

If you like to get a good workout on a sunny day, check out these transit-friendly and scenic places to hike, run, and bike (Central Valley Greenway, Green Timbers, and BC Parkway).

Where are you going to beat the heat?