I was staying on campus for a few days and decided to visit the botanical garden for a nice walk. I…read morewas pleasantly surprised with the amount of flowering plants as the weather was still quite cold. The trail map was easy to follow and there were multiple areas to explore. I was fascinated by the medicinal herb area as each plant described the ailments it could treat. There was also a large area for growing produce that is being used to feed needy people in Vancouver. A portion of the trail is paved and there are also trails that are mostly mulch. It takes about 2 hours to cover the whole garden if you go at a leisurely pace. There are restrooms throughout the garden and the staff is very friendly. The parking lot is spacious and the parking rates are inexpensive. I believe it was $1.50 CA per hour. The google maps did route me to the back of the garden (no parking or entrance) so you may have to loop around to get to the front entrance. There is an information booth right in the front and the staff will give you a quick explanation of the layout of the place.

A vast garden near the UBC campus. It encompasses a large area next to the University. It is…read moredivided into different zones connected by well maintained walkways that wind through the whole garden. We visited there on a cloudy day in an early Saturday afternoon in early May. There were not many visitors so the views were unspoiled and magnificent. We visited specifically the Physic garden full of medicinal plants and the Food garden with edible plants. In the Physic garden, many varieties of herbs and medicinal species were showcased. Each is separately labelled for its uses and origin. As it's early in the season, the Food garden only had some hardy seedlings planted including onion, kale, cabbage, broccoli, rhubarb and Brussell sprouts. The dwarf apple bushes were just showing new leaves. Accordingly the produce harvested from this garden will be donated to charity. Even in early May the azaleas were in full bloom and prints a colorful picture. Tulips were at their last stage but still provide a rainbow of colors. There are hiking trails through the wooded area within the garden . You can easily spent 3-4 hours wondering through the park like setting studying the wide collection of plant species and enjoy the view! There is a parking lot nearby with minimal charge for parking. Entrance fee is very reasonable and discounts are available for seniors and children. Fees are in Canadian dollars so it's an added bonus for US visitors.

This is a spectacular place to visit with an array of tropical plants and trees and several…read moredifferent species of tropical birds. The cost of entry is very reasonable.

Bloedel Conservatory is a very cool indoor-based activity to see some wildlife and lush greenery…read more This spot is located right atop of Queen Elizabeth Park with parking spots nearby. It is on the smaller side, but still a nice stroll and cool to see all of the beautiful wildlife.

After a period of typical PNW rain, the sun peaked out, and I headed to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen garden…read more It's in a slightly gritty area of Chinatown, but the garden itself is lovely and clean. Built in the style of traditional Chinese gardens by architect Joe Wai, the garden has beautiful lattice "leaking" windows, ponds with koi fish and lily pads, weeping willow's, maple trees, and other beautiful flora. Every angle and vista is beautifully framed, like a piece of art. No matter where you walk in the garden, there are no bad views. Lanterns adorn the tops of the walkways (possibly for mid-Autumn festival) and there is an activity room with complimentary Jasmine tea. A peaceful experience well worth going out of your way for. Be sure to check out the gift shop for various teas, trinkets and educational material!

A little rough on the streets to get here, but very quiet and clean inside the garden. There is an…read moreadmission fee to get inside. I enjoyed watching the koi fishes swim in the pond and we also found a turtle sun bathing. I enjoyed how they had different activities located inside!

Last month after my friend told me about the Secret Garden, I just had to go and visit. Located…read morenear Boundary Bay Regional Park, The Secret Garden of Boundary Bay is a small garden open to the public. The garden is located on a narrow strip of land behind a row of houses near 67A Street and 3rd Avenue. It was built by Brian Whitehouse after the events of 9/11, and September 2021 marked the 20 year anniversary of the garden. The garden is maintained by Brian and his wife Juvy, as well as volunteers from a local garden club. The garden is full of beautiful flowers and plants, and throughout there are various ornaments and decorations, including a mini wishing well and benches. The garden is not only beautiful, but calming and relaxing. The Secret Garden is truly a hidden gem. [Yelp collections: Parks and Gardens]

This is a great free museum (donations appreciated) in the Earth & Ocean Sciences building on the…read moreUBC campus. There are many specimens with descriptions that are informative, yet written in a way that both adults and children can enjoy. I like that there are many interactive displays. This museum is a hidden gem! Check it out!

OMG - Beautiful out of nowhere it seems. What a nice surprise!…read more I stumbled across this place at the beginning of December and could see that they have a 'for donation' Christmas Light Garden. You can only see a touch of what's inside from the outside which is amazing once you're in there and realize how large it actually is. It took me a few tries to visit because I kept showing up just after 9pm only to find out that it was closing and that I missed it (there were quite a few others who were turned away besides me as well), but I finally got to go near the end of December. Wow, was it ever worth it. A small donation to the Fireman's boot had my boyfriend and I strolling around a very beautiful and well thought out Christmas Light display. It was WAY larger than we expected too. There were different sections with different colour themes which made it all that much more exciting. As neither of us had visited before, we took our time and walked around slowly soaking it all in twice. The displays were amazing, colourful, and glittering. we loved every minute of it!! The timing was great too as there was snow on the ground which helped make it feel magical, wintery, and reminiscent. I also visited their restrooms while I was there which were tricky to find, but nice, warm, and clean once I did. I would definately recommend visiting to see the lights again. It does not disappoint. I'm also thinking about going by there in the Spring/Summer as well. Not a place I've thought of before, but now I'm thinking it would be worth an afternoon stroll.

Park & Tilford Garden is a privately owned garden sponsored by the merchants of Park & Tilford…read moreCentre. It was established by Schenley's Distilleries in 1969 and is worth a visit for horticultural enthusiasts. Weddings must normally be booked in advance on a first-come basis, but since they're currently under construction they're not accepting bookings for the gardens yet. You're encouraged to check back for updates if looking into booking space for smaller outdoor weddings. Donations to the gardens are gratefully accepted.

Cute local museum with great info about Port Coquitlam and the surrounding areas, including natural…read morehistory

The PoCo Heritage Museum and Archives is a small museum that offers an interesting and…read morewell-displayed collection. On exhibit at the museum during our visit was an up close and personal view of various modes of connections in celebration of Canada's 150th birthday. Some displays welcomed personal input. The very friendly staff encouraged our participation in the interactive activities. By completing an electronic large screen questionnaire, I learned a few new things! The staff was also very willing to share added tidbits about the exhibits and the town. The location of this museum is ideal, in lovely downtown Port Coquitlam, and is steps away from the cenotaph, city hall and Port Coquitlam's Gathering Place. It is also a short distance from a beautiful walking path along the river. We spent a very pleasant afternoon here. This quaint museum is well worth a visit!

This place is great! It is owner operated and they let us in after 3:30 even though it closed…read moreafter 4pm. Dont worry if you get locked in, they will let you out :)

Probably I had the wrong expectation. I was thinking contemplative, informative, peaceful,…read moreaccessible. It was shaky, bouncy, busy. There was a large school group of children. There were also people enjoying making the walkways bounce. All of this is fine if it aligns with expectations. In the future I would definitely skip the TreeWalk and focus on other areas of the botanical garden.