Family fun in New Westminster (June 12, 2014)

As a resident of neighboring Burnaby, we frequently visit the Quay in New Westminster where there is a nice boardwalk beside the Fraser River that is similar to the Seawall in Vancouver or Ambleside Beach in West Vancouver. What I like about this location is that it is a safe place to bring the kids and let them run around or ride their bikes without worrying about the crowds, cars, dogs and cyclists. I first noticed the Boardwalk during my time delivering food for a local restaurant as a teenager but we truly discovered this hidden gem when we marketed and sold a listing on Renaissance Sq in early 2013 and have been visiting since.  

On our last trip there, we parked our car in the public pay parking on the East side of the Quay and trekked East towards Westminster Pier Park, which is a 2.5 km waterfront park built partially over water supported by pilings.

This relatively new park features 2 playgrounds with swing sets and slides, great for pre-schoolers, skate park, basketball court, 2 beach volleyball courts and a lounge area with lots of benches and adjustable lounge chairs. As this park is not known to the main stream, it is not crowded and very clean. I was pleasantly surprised by the public washroom when I walked in and it smelt of Lavender.

We spent 2 hrs enjoying all the sights and sounds of the Fraser River including watching the Trains going over the bridge, the Skytrain, tugboats hauling ships, people watching, airplanes flying towards YVR and more.

The kid got to ride his bike in a safe environment while I chased him on foot (getting my exercise in for the day, might I add) and the wife was in pursuit with her camera capturing all our precious moments.

If you are looking for a family outing that is both fun and affordable I highly recommend the New Westminster Quay. By the way, remember to check out the River Market while you are here! There is an awesome food court and familiar vendors to serve you.