Burnaby Things To Do

Air & Land Activities:

While Burnaby is a major urban centre, it is one with a commitment to green space. The city’s high point –370-m (1,214-ft) Burnaby Mountain– is found in the protected Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. In addition to magnificent vistas of mountains, city and ocean, visitors might catch a glimpse of the Blacktail Deer, Bald Eagles and perching birds that call the 576 ha (1,423 ac) of steep, forested mountain slopes home. There are a further 19 km (12 mi) of walking trails found in 300-ha (741-ac) Burnaby Lake Regional Park. For those who prefer more groomed greens, Burnaby boasts two 18-hole golf courses: the gently rolling greens of Burnaby Mountain Golf Course at the foot of Burnaby Mountain; and Riverway Golf Course, designed by the legendary course architect Les Furber.

Architectural & Structural:

Simon Fraser University, one of BC’s architectural icons, sits atop 370-m (1,214-ft) Burnaby Mountain. Designed in 1963 by world-renowned architect Arthur Erickson along with Geoffrey Massey, the university is cut into the hillsides in terraces, creating a unique symbiosis of mountain and buildings. Dramatic views of Burrard Inlet and the Lower Mainland from the campus compliment its visionary architecture.

Arts, Culture & History:

Head to Deer Lake Park to explore the artistic, cultural and historic sides of Burnaby. The park is home to Burnaby Village Museum & Carousel, a 4-ha (10-ac) open-air museum near the shores of Deer Lake that recreates mid-1920s Burnaby, complete with costumed townspeople and historic buildings. Visitors can explore period shops, homes and gardens in the village as well as ride one of the few remaining hand-carved carousels still in operation in North America.

Deer Lake Park is also the site of the Burnaby Art Gallery and Century Gardens. The gallery houses both contemporary and historical artwork. The gardens are celebrated for their spring-blooming rhododendrons. Take the fascinating, 2-km (1.2-mi) self-guided heritage walking tour along the north side of the lake.

Over on Burnaby Mountain, the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Simon Fraser University focuses on artifacts from BC’s First Nations.

Attractions:

If you want to get away from it all without leaving the city, head to Deer Lake Park. This natural wonderland is home to trails that meander through forest, grassy meadows and around tranquil Deer Lake. Birders will be captivated by the wide variety of species here. Deer Lake Park is also Burnaby’s artistic, cultural and historical centre, home to Burnaby Village Museum & Carousel, the Burnaby Art Gallery, Century Gardens and the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. Hart House is an exquisite restaurant in a lakefront estate within the park’s boundaries.

Entertainment:

If you feel the urge to shop til you drop or escape a Metro Vancouver rain shower, Burnaby’s Metrotown Centre and the Metropolis at Metrotown make up BC’s largest indoor shopping mall, with nearly 500 shops and services that span three city blocks. Getting there is easy: Metrotown is located about 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver and has its own Skytrain station. Or try The Heights district, located along Hastings Street in northwest Burnaby, for street-front shopping in one-of-a-kind boutique and specialty shops.

Sports fans can cheer on the Vancouver Whitecaps Men’s and Women’s professional soccer clubs at Swangard Stadium in Central Park. Performing arts is showcased at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, one of the Lower Mainland’s premier live arts venues. Located on the shores of Deer Lake in Deer Lake Park, the spectacular wood-and-stone centre hosts a variety of festivals and performances throughout the year. Enjoy a summer show in the centre’s 10,000 seat outdoor concert bowl.

Natural Sights, Parks & Wildlife:

Burnaby is a nature lover’s urban dream come true. Burnaby Lake Regional Park, a 300-ha (741-ac) wildlife sanctuary found in the heart of the city, offers 19-km (12-mi) of walking trails through open marshland and forest. Birders can observe Canada Geese, Wood Ducks, Mallards, Canvasbacks, Northern Pintails, Common Goldeneyes and Gadwalls from the viewing tower. Canoe or kayak on the tranquil lake; you might spot Beavers or Muskrats.

There is also the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area, located on the slopes surrounding the mountain-top campus of Simon Fraser University. This 576-ha (1,423-ac) park offers spectacular vistas of mountains, city and ocean, while the steep, forested mountain slopes are home to wildlife such as Blacktail Deer and Bald Eagles. The park’s more formal Centennial Pavilion area has a rose garden and Horizons Restaurant, which boasts wonderful views. Visit the Kamui Mintara (Playground of the Gods) sculptures: the carved wooden poles crafted by Japanese sculptors commemorate the goodwill between Burnaby and its sister city, Kushiro, Japan.

Finally, the urban oasis of Central Park features magnificent giant Douglas-fir, western hemlock, poplar and maple trees, as well as a network of trails and pitch-and-putt course.

Winter Activities:

Burnaby is just under a 60-minute drive to the North Shore Mountains' three renowned ski areas: Cypress Mountain, Grouse Mountain and Mount Seymour. All boast spectacular views of Greater Vancouver, the Pacific Ocean and Vancouver Island; are blessed by abundant snowfalls; and offer numerous winter activities that include skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snow-tubing and cross-country skiing.

The Whistler/Blackcomb ski area is just a 2-1/2-hour drive along Highways 1 and 99. North America’s largest ski resort with over 3,306 ha (8,171 ac) of terrain and more than 200 marked runs, Whistler/Blackcomb is consistently ranked among the top winter resorts on the continent. Whistler will host many alpine, Nordic and sliding events in the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.