it's funny to think the day started with questionable navigation and the very real possibility of…read moreending up in surrey. fortunately, a perfectly timed, well executed uturn changed our fate.
instead, we found ourselves at westminster pier park, and what a happy accident that turned out to be. nestled along the fraser river, the park offers a beautiful waterfront walk with sweeping river views, wide boardwalks, landscaped gardens, and plenty of places to sit and watch the world go by.
it's hard to believe that much of the park was devastated by a major fire in 2020 and later rebuilt. today, it feels fresh, vibrant, and full of energy, with thoughtful design that blends play spaces, green spaces, and the waterfront into one inviting destination.
the walk itself was lovely. we strolled along the boardwalk in the warm sunshine, spotted a blue heron near the water, and watched city workers planting colourful garden beds that added even more life to the scenery. between the passing tugboats, river traffic, and ever changing views, there was always something to catch our attention.
the playground was an unexpected highlight. what started as a quick look quickly turned into a full blown play session. we lounged in the hammocks, laughed at how difficult they were to get out of, climbed into the twirly spinning round bucket that propel ourselves around using nothing but our body weight, and bounced on the spring loaded seesaws like a couple of kids who had completely forgotten about acting their age. the playground is thoughtfully designed for all kinds of play, making it just as enjoyable for adults rediscovering their inner child as it is for the kids it was built for.
we got free parking, a great lunch, beautiful views, lots of laughs, and a reminder that sometimes the best days are the ones you never planned. all in all, it turned out to be a much better adventure than the one the gps seemed to have planned for us.