Five Day Trip Ideas Close To Burnaby

Vacations are essential. They help us take time out of our busy lives, recharge our energy, and avoid burnout. But some of us have less free time than most, so we make do with short trips where we can escape just for a day or two. Burnaby is a fantastic location for day-trippers, as it is close to many sites that literally provide a breath of fresh air. 

Here are some tip top day trip destinations within an hour of Burnaby:

Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area

Burnaby Mountain is a low, forested elevation overlooking the upper arms of Burrard Inlet. Visitors can bask in the vastness of nature in this massive 576-hectare park.  You can hike or bike along the 28 trails, or just lay in the grass for a lazy holiday picnic with friends and family. Don’t forget your camera – the park offers breathtaking city, mountain, and water views, especially during the sunset. 

Deep Cove 

For those who want an escape from the fast-paced hustle and bustle of Vancouver, Deep Cove may just be the perfect destination. Around half an hour away from Burnaby, Deep Cove is a quaint, seaside town that offers good food, fun local events, and a variety of water activities. Come here during the summer for kayaking, paddle boarding, or swimming on the beach. Once you’re done with the water, you can come indoors to take in the boutiques and local art scene. A perfect combination of rural idyll and spectacular outdoor locations, Deep Cove is definitely a world away from the city. 

Centennial Beach

Located within Boundary Bay Regional Park in Delta, BC, Centennial Beach is a popular summer destination because of its warm, shallow waters. Expect large crowds to gather at Centennial, walking on the sand, exploring for shells, or just taking in some outdoor exercise. Avid bird watchers should come around the spring or fall, as Boundary Bay, located right between Siberia and South America, is part of the Pacific Flyway. 

Cypress Mountain 

A local favourite ski resort located 30 minutes north of downtown Vancouver, Cypress Mountain is a great winter vacation spot for avid and newbie skiers alike. And for those who are not that interested in skiing, you can join other activities like snowboarding, snow tubing, and snowshoeing. Cypress has been around since the 70s and has been part of significant historical moments, including the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010. It hosted all of the freestyle skiing and snowboarding events.

 Golden Ears Provincial Park

Around an hour-long drive from Burnaby, Golden Ears is one of the largest parks in British Columbia, measuring over 62,000 hectares. Those who love the great outdoors can choose from its three campgrounds to settle in: Alouette, Gold Creek, and North Beach. Once you’ve set up camp, there are so many other activities you can choose to do, such as swimming, freshwater fishing, cycling, canoeing, hiking, horseback riding, and waterskiing, to name just a few. It’s a great place to enjoy nature and beyond – some say the open beach is a great place to watch meteor showers in early August!