Top Rated Parks to Visit in Surrey

"An oasis of wilderness, beaches and idyllic greenspace in the heart of downtown Vancouver, Stanley Park is routinely voted best urban park in the world. But there’s much more to do here than just commune with nature. The park is home to the Vancouver Aquarium, the Malkin Bowl Outdoor Theatre, pitch & putt golf course, a number of historic sites and several top-tier restaurants."

"Having the highest point in the city, it is worth the trip to enjoy the view of both the mountains and the Vancouver skyline. Queen Elizabeth Park, a former quarry, has dancing fountains that delight spectators both day and night, plenty of green spaces, tennis courts, the Queen Elizabeth Pitch and Putt , and an off-leash dog area. Queen Elizabeth Park is also home to The Bloedel Conservatory, which has 500 tropical plants and over one hundred exotic birds."

"One of the last relatively unchanged areas of dune and wetland along the Kapiti Coast, this undulating 650-hectare beachside park offers swimming, walking, cycling and picnicking opportunities, as well as a tram museum and horse riding outfit. There are three entrances: off Wellington Rd in Paekakariki, at MacKay's Crossing on SH1, and off the Esplanade in Raumati to the north."

"Built in on a former quarry 500 feet above sea level, the 130-acre Queen Elizabeth Park is the highest vantage point in Vancouver, with extraordinary views that extend to the North Shore Mountains and beyond. But there’s more to Queen E, as locals call it, than just the vistas. With manicured lawns and impeccably groomed flowering plant beds, the gardens are the main draw."

"Get down on one knee surrounded by the beautiful blossoming flowers in the VanDusen Botanical Garden. This is the perfect option for a nature lover as the garden covers an impressive 55 acres of land and is outfitted with flowers from all over the world. If you’d prefer an indoor venue, the Bloedel Conservatory (4600 Cambie Street) is just a hop, skip and a jump away and is equally gorgeous."

"This highly popular green-thumbed oasis is a 22-hectare, 255,000-plant idyll that offers a strollable web of pathways weaving through specialized garden areas: the Rhododendron Walk blazes with color in spring,... Top ChoiceMuseum in Gastown & Chinatown"

"Cresting the hill in Queen Elizabeth Park, this balmy, triodetic-domed conservatory is an ideal rainy-day warm-up spot, as well as Vancouver's best-value attraction. For little more than the price of a latte, you'll find tropical trees and plants bristling with hundreds of free-flying, bright-plumaged birds. Look for the resident parrots but also keep your eyes peeled for rainbow-hued Gouldian finches, shimmering African superb starlings and maybe even a sparkling Lady Amherst pheasant, snaking through the undergrowth. The attendants might even let you feed the smaller birds from a bowl."

"It’s a giant greenhouse filled with tropical birds and plants. Come on, this one is just as beautiful inside as it is outside. Perfect for the rare triptych Instagram post- exterior/bird/plant."

"This massive 874 hectares park is located in the University Endowment Lands, on Point Grey to the west of the city of Vancouver, British Columbia. It surrounds the endowment lands of the University of British Columbia on the shores of Georgia Strait in the Pacific Ocean. Located on the west side of the city of Vancouver, the Pacific Spirit Regional Park offers a network of trails popular with locals and tourists alike and accessible year-round."

"This natural park of dense forest, set along the water in the University of British Columbia Endowment Lands, is a wonderful opportunity to connect to nature. Pacific Spirit Regional Park has approximately 50 miles of forested trails that allow for walking, running, hiking, biking, and even horseback riding. Pacific Spirit Regional Park hugs the coastline for four miles along which the infamous Wreck Beach is found."

"This 750-hectare haven, the only GVRD park in city limits, is well-known to many and is a wonderful alternative to the trails of Stanley Park. It only takes a few steps in to feel far away from urban existence. The forested trails pass through land blanketed by ferns and shaded by towering cedars."

"Named after a sign installation that was originally placed in the park as a prank, Dude Chilling Park is just as it sounds: a perfect park for chilling with friends. Formerly known as Guelph Park, the space is simple—a small stretch of trimmed grass that has become the centerpiece of community life in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood of Vancouver. The art installation that inspired the park's name resembles a person reclining on a slope of the park; it's often surrounded by crowds of people picnicking, drumming, singing, and straight chillin’."

"But "Dude Chilling Park," as it's known—yes, really—is without a doubt one of the most talked-about parks in Vancouver. In 1991, "Reclining Figure," a statue by Michael Dennis, was given a home in this East Van park. Though abstract, the figure—a dude—evoked the image of a person laying on his side, relaxing and, well, chilling."

"It’s in the name, and even if you go just to take a picture with the sign, Dude Chilling Park near Main Street is definitely the place to sit back, relax and unwind. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Indish Food Truck (@indishfoodtruck)"

"At the north end of Main Street, and just after Gastown turns into Railtown, we have a bridge to the port. This area boasts distinctive views of the city from an eastern viewpoint. Generally, tourists don’t flock as heavily to the east side so this a great option for those looking for photos of locations that aren’t as readily seen in an instagram feed."

"If you ask for directions to John Hendry Park, you’ll get blank stares—it’s known to locals as "Trout Lake Park" after the body of water that's its centerpiece and focal point of this 67-acre former peat bog. The lake has a lovely freshwater beach; swimming is allowed, and from May to September there are lifeguards on duty. In winter, if the lake freezes solid enough to skate on—this has happened once in the past 20 years—it doubles as an outdoor rink."

"Home to one of Vancouver’s biggest farmers' markets every Saturday in summer, John Hendry Park buzzes with a local East Vancouver crowd. A walkway circles tranquil Trout Lake – a natural lake fronted by a small beach at the center of the park – and expansive grass fields provide the perfect park setting for outdoor concerts. Activities abound at the Trout Lake Community Centre, a civic-spirited, light-filled facility just west of the lakeshore."

"Home to a robust farmers’ market on Saturdays, a small lake for swimming on one end and canine shenanigans on the other, tennis courts, a still-closed indoor ice rink and activity center, it’s got a healthy tie-dye/kilt/pierced body parts quotient and the air is often freshly scented with BC bud. People-watch and get ideas for your next—or first—tattoo, even if it’s a temporary decal."

"On June 13, 1886, there was the Great Vancouver Fire, which took many buildings with it. The Hastings Mill Store was left untouched, leaving it to be Vancouver's oldest building. It wasn't originally at this location, but was built in Gastown and was saved from demolition and put on a barge to it's current location."

"A post shared by The Sandbar Seafood Restaurant (@the_sandbar) on Jan 20, 2020 at 10:55am PST. The Sandbar’s patio is found on the second floor of the restaurant resulting in an absolutely breathtaking view of False Creek. The Sandbar is serving up seafood-forward dishes for dinner daily and for lunch and dinner on weekends."

"Located in the heart of Granville Island, The Sandbar Seafood Restaurant serves up some of the freshest seafood plates, including an in-house oyster bar (bonus!). It won’t matter where you’re seated, each table is surrounded by Vancouver’s waterfront views. View full menu here."

"The Sandbar Seafood Restaurant on Granville Island is a 300-seat fresh seafood and fish restaurant in the heart of Vancouver's"

"Alberni St. downtown is where you’ll find stores selling expensive things like diamond rings and Louis Vuitton dog beds, and it’s also where you’ll find Kirin. This Chinese restaurant has been around for over 30 years and looks sort of like a hotel lobby, even though it’s actually one of the best dim sum restaurants in the city. They don’t have the traditional carts here, so choose a bunch of things off their menu - the barbecue pork buns, prawn dumplings and egg tarts are must-orders - and book ahead."

"A post shared by Glo’s houston adventures 🚀 (@houtxeats) on Jul 19, 2018 at 8:31pm PDT. Get award-winning Chinese food and one of the best dim sum spread in Vancouver. Kirin never disappoints and its price is very reasonable if you’re dining with a group."

"Praised by critics as one of the best premium Chinese dining experiences-exquisite seafood dishes in a warm, authentic and elegant atmosphere. Open for lunch and dinnerDress code: Shirt/Slacks Req.Phone: +1 604-682-8833"

"Perched over the waters of Coal Harbour Marina, Cardero’s Restaurantprovides their guests with nautical ambience and breathtaking views. They feature live music nightly or you can watch sports and enjoy a pint in the Marine Pub. Chefs prepare the meals from an open kitchen, allowing you to watch your food being prepared right before your eyes."

"Sitting atop the waters of Vancouver's inner harbour and just off the path of the famous Stanley Park Seawall, Caderos offers a selection of freshly-grilled fish Grilled prime rib steaks, wok squid and wood oven pizza. Open for lunch and dinnerDress code: Dress JeansPhone: +1 604-669-7666"

"And this list wouldn’t be complete without Cardero’s wonderful waterfront patio overlooking Stanley Park. Plus the food is amazing and you can even take a stroll on the seawall afterward depending on the weather. So you can really get it all here."

"The Boathouse Restaurant, located on Kitsilano Beach, is one of three Vancouver locations. The restaurant originated in Vancouver in 1981 and is a definitive West Coast waterfront restaurant serving fresh, hand-selected seafood and quality steaks of certified Angus beef. The Boathouse on Kits Beach offers a heated covered deck as well as indoor dining and bar overlooking Vancouver’s most popular beach with views across English Bay."

"Right beside Kits beach, The Boathouse is a great way to cap off a day of shopping and laying around on the beach. Try and find a timeframe when it’s not going to be too busy, like mid-afternoon, and enjoy people watching with a great background. Hours: Monday to Thursday, 11AM-9PM, Friday, 11AM-10PM, Saturday, 10AM-10PM and Sunday, 10AM-9PMWhere: 1305 Arbutus Street"

"The Beachhouse Restaurant is West Vancouver's restaurant with a view. Not to mention, they have one of th best patios on that side of the Lionsgate Bridge. This charming venue is right on West Van's Ambleside Beach and the views are unparalleled."

"A post shared by Blue Water Cafe (@bluewatercafe) on Aug 29, 2017 at 5:24pm PDT. Synonymous with Vancouver seafood, Yaletown’s Blue Water Cafe offers a stellar selection of sea to table offerings like sushi, a raw bar, and oysters, along with an incredible wine list in a room that makes you feel like an A-lister every time you dine there. Address: 1095 Hamilton Street, VancouverNeighbourhood: YaletownPhone: +1-604-688-9878Facebook | Twitter | Instagram"

"Largely considered the current king of seafood fine dining in Vancouver, Blue Water is one of those enduring restaurants that is on most people's goals list. Executive Chef Frank Pabst is renown for his visionary cooking and championing of B.C.'s incredible seafood. From their incredible raw bar and on-ice selections to meticulous hot dishes, Blue Water is the epitome of seafood excellence in this city."

"Located in the heart of Yaletown, Blue Water Cafe tops most lists of best Vancouver seafood restaurants and is a favourite among locals, visitors and celebrities alike. Featuring an abundant selection of fresh, West Coast fare, Ocean Wise sustainable fish, oysters, sushi and sashimi, everything at Blue Water is five-star amazing."