Kelly RainierTo be quite frank, we thought New Westminster was just another ordinary stop on the SkyTrain. But then one weekend, one of my girlfriends decided to plan a side trip to this place, and our perception really changed.
While it’s only a few minutes away from downtown Vancouver, this place is more laid-back without losing its city charm. With its local markets, eateries, and different festivals throughout the year, we could easily fall in love with this place.
So if you’re looking for a sign to visit the New West, then this is it. Continue reading this blog, and who knows, this city could become one of your favorite day trips too, just like us!
New Westminster: An Overview
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New Westminster, or New West as the locals fondly call it, is located in the southeast part of Vancouver. It can be found on the north bank of the Fraser River, which is the major river of western North America.
Here’s a little fun fact: From 1859 to 1866, New Westminster was the capital of colonial British Columbia, and is one of the oldest cities in Western Canada. In fact, it is the first city to be incorporated in the province.
Back in the day, the Royal Engineers surveyed the city, and Queen Victoria named New Westminster as The Royal City.
This place has been known as one of Western Canada’s busiest ports. And it’s also known for its contributions in the industrial aspect in their economy.
However, the permanent capital of the united colonies of British Columbia and Vancouver Island has been transferred to the city of Victoria because of its domination of the transportation and trade scene due to its close proximity to ocean shipping.
Now, you can reach New Westminster through private cars or even public transportation. The New Westminster SkyTrain station is close to the waterfront, making it highly accessible.
During summer, you can catch the Q to Q Ferry between the Queensborough and Quayside neighborhoods too!
Things to See and Do in New Westminster
Walk Along Queen’s Park
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Address: 3rd Avenue, New Westminster, BC V3M 1V2
If you have a little time to kill before meeting a friend over dinner, we suggest dropping by Queen’s Park first. While it’s in the middle of the city, you’ll find yourself isolated from the busy and noisy outdoors as soon as you step inside.
Since Vancouver is known to preserve its trees and parks, you’ll be amazed to find old trees still standing tall in this park. It even sends off a calming scent of pine!
Aside from its walking trails, you can also visit Queen’s Park for its sports facilities. Here, you can play tennis, basketball, field lacrosse, hockey, and football, just to name a few.
For the cyclists out there, you can also take advantage of their bike skills park. Both beginners and experts in the biking community love going here for its looped trail.
Meanwhile, during summer, a lot of kids (and kids at heart) enjoy the park’s outdoor pools.
Catch a Live Stand-Up Comedy at House of Comedy
Media credit: @houseofcomedybc
Website: https://bc.houseofcomedy.net/
Address: 530 Columbia St, New Westminster, BC V3L 1B2
Contact Details: +1 604-522-4500
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 2:30 PM – 9:00 PM
We were a bit hesitant to see a stand-up comedy, but since our friend had extra tickets to House of Comedy, we decided to give it a try. We actually thought local acts wouldn’t be as funny as the popular stand-up comedians, but they proved us wrong.
We didn’t expect to laugh out so hard during that night, we almost choked while drinking. So yes, that’s a little tip for you: remember to not drink when the artist is throwing punchlines.
The place is also small, so no matter where you’re seated, you’d feel closer to the stage. This also means that you’ve got to be ready to be the subject of punchlines anytime!
There’s also a decent selection of food here. Just remember to keep your smart phones charged as you need them in placing your orders!
Sail Along Fraser River with BC Wildlife Jet Boat Tours
Media credit: @visitnorthwestbc
Contact Details: +1 604-897-9304
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
While looking at Fraser River will give you instant calmness, riding a boat to sail along it is another story. So while you’re here, we suggest hopping on that boat so you can slowly see the riverbanks while hearing New Westminster’s history.
Apart from the Fraser River, the tour will take you to Harrison Lake and Harrison River. You’ll love that the tour guide often stops sailing so they can take photos of you and your family at the best spots along the river.
You can expect the tour guide to share with you facts about the wildlife, too! During our ride, we were lucky to see jumping fish and even bald eagles.
Buy from the Locals at River Market
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Address: 810 Quayside Dr, New Westminster, BC V3M 6B9
Contact Details: +1 604-520-3881
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
If you want to support the local market and food scene, then the River Market would be your kind of place! It’s just a small, waterfront retail complex filled with different shops and eateries.
It’s a good spot after walking along the Fraser River boardwalk, as there are plenty of boutiques to check out. It’s also a great place where you can let your kids run around and play too!
There are several coffee shops that you can see here, so if you’re craving for that caffeine kick anytime of the day, there’s Waves, Tim Hortons, or Starbucks, just across the New West Station.
Events and Festivals in New Westminster
Hyack International Parade
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For those of you who love colorful and high-energy float procession, then you shouldn’t miss New Westminster’s Hyack International Parade. It happens during the month of May, so make sure to check the details here.
Here, you’ll be able to see dancers wearing traditional outfits from different countries, with everyone smiling like a friend you haven’t seen for years!
The marching bands were lively too, and we’re surprised to see that our kids weren’t overwhelmed by the loud noises!
Yes, you can let your kids bring their chosen country’s flag so they can enjoy waving them while watching the parade. Just make sure to use non-sharp sticks to avoid accidents from happening.
Our most favorite part of this festival was when the international performers came out to celebrate during the parade. Not to be overly dramatic, but this must be what world peace feels like!
And if you get tired easily, remember to bring your foldable picnic chairs with you, and just find the best seat while waiting for the parade to start.
Canada Day
Media credit: @new_westminster
Every July 1st, New Westminster (and the rest of Canada) celebrates Canada Day! Two years ago, we celebrated Canada Day in Westminster Pier Park from 1 in the afternoon until 6 in the evening.
We were welcomed by live music and various performances that highlight our culture. If you prefer a chill way of celebrating this day, you can opt to bring out your picnic blankets and just listen to these performances.
We also took our kids to watch the Vancouver Circus School Interactive Experience, and they were able to participate in some of the circus stunts and tricks, which made this celebration more memorable.
Of course, a celebration won’t be complete without face painting and balloon twisting activities for your kids, so don’t miss out on this booth too!
We also enjoyed a lot of food trucks aside from the food selection at Eats at the Pier.
New West Farmers Market
Media credit: @newwestfarmers
If you’re a fan of farm produce, then you’ll love being at New West Farmers Market.
There are two locations for this market. During winter, you can visit them in the Uptown every Saturday.
While they’re open on Thursdays at Tipperary Park during the rest of the year.
We were able to swing by last Thursday just to check what the buzz is all about. But of course, we ended up with shopping bags filled with local produce such as strawberries and carrots.
We also found the best deals from multiple vendors which allowed us to take home homemade pierogies, baklava, and even bottles of soy sauce!
So if you’re dropping by, make sure to bring enough cash, as we’re quite sure you’ll end up going home with a full shopping bag!
New West Car Free Day
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Hosted by TransLink, Columbia Street between the 4th and 8th streets remains closed to traffic to make way for the New West Car Free Day.
We had fun going around, hearing live music, checking out various booths by local vendors, or simply people-watching.
Normally, they put up several stage areas where local recording artists are scheduled to perform. So if you want to see a specific artist, make sure to follow their announcement on their social media pages.
You can take your kids as there are several activities for them in the kid’s zone.
New West Pride Week
Media credit: @newwestpride
For over 15 years, New Westminster has been home to New West Pride Week, a street festival that involves brunches, karaoke, poetry, dancing, and love for the LGBTQIA+ community.
This event happens every August, so bring out those rainbow flags and make sure to check the exact dates here to plan your trip.
We personally enjoyed watching drag queens as they performed on stage. Most of them would even stay to party and engage with the crowd.
We also saw that there were plenty of food trucks compared to the previous celebrations, which means lots of vendors are interested in joining the fun.
If you ever get tired from walking (and partying), just look for the lounge tents in the area. Don’t worry, they have plenty of places to sit at as they’re ready to welcome almost 40,000 people to celebrate during New West Pride Week!
How to Go to New Westminster
Now that you’re familiar with the different things to see and do in New Westminster, let’s see how you can get here if you’re coming from Vancouver.
There are four ways to get from Vancouver to New Westminster. You can either take your own private car, book a ridesharing service or taxi, or take the subway or bus.
Let’s go over each option:
By private transport, ride-sharing, or taxi:
- Private transport: New Westminster is just a 22-minute drive from Vancouver. There are several parking lots located around New Westminster, so make sure to check the operating hours and parking costs here.
- Ride-sharing: You can book a ride from Vancouver to New Westminster from the top 2 providers—Evo and Modo Co-operative.
- Taxi: Taxi services are also highly available since both cities have high foot traffic.
By public transport:
- Bus: There’s a bus that will take you directly from Vancouver to New Westminster. Total travel time is 55 minutes.
- Subway: You can also take a train from Vancouver to New Westminster. Total travel time is 28 minutes.
The Best Time to Visit New Westminster
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Plan your visit from mid-July to late August, as the weather is warm enough, perfect for enjoying different activities and events in New Westminster. It’s also a great time to catch sunsets at the Quay.
While this is the best season to visit New Westminster, it’s also when the city gets more tourists, so you’d better be ready to be in a bigger crowd too.
But if you want a more laid-back stroll around the city, the weather from late April or early October is pretty good too.
Where to Eat in New Westminster
The Boathouse Restaurant
Media credit: @boathousebc
Website: https://www.boathouserestaurants.ca/location/boathouse-restaurants-new-westminster/
Address: 900 Quayside Dr, New Westminster, BC V3M 0L3
Contact Details: +1 604-525-3474
Operating Hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM;
- Friday: 6:30 AM – 10:00 PM;
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM;
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
For those of you who want to dine with the views of the Quay, make sure to reserve a table at The Boathouse Restaurant.
We were lucky enough to catch the sunset here, and let me tell you, it provides a breathtaking view so consider going here in time for sunset.
Make sure to order their premium steak and pair it with their wine from British Columbia.
Of course, this restaurant also offers fresh seafood all day. Not to mention, all seafood offerings were obtained using responsible fishing practices along the port.
Piva Modern Italia
Media credit: @pivamodernitalian
Website: http://pivarestaurant.ca/
Address: 787 Columbia St, New Westminster, BC V3M 1B
Contact Details: +1 604-522-0221
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Since we couldn’t afford a trip to Italy just yet, we can satisfy our authentic Italian cuisine cravings here at Piva Modern Italia whenever we visit New Westminster. It’s also conveniently located next to the Skytrain, so it’s a great pitstop if you’re commuting.
We normally order crabcakes and Caesar salad for our appetizer, and have pizza and duck as our main dishes, so you better try them out too. And while you’re here, try out their Di Mare pasta and Bistecca.
You can also end your meals with their famous cocktails and Sangria.
Aside from the food, we’re always excited to see their attentive servers. They remain attentive and funny throughout our stay, and customers rave about it online, too!
We also tried their brunch selections here, and they’re quite good as well. Some of the meals we tried over brunch were their avocado toast, panettone French toast, and breakfast risotto.
