It’s a long weekend, and that means a bit of extra time to reconnect with nature. Don’t worry if you can’t get out of the city; there are plenty of greenspaces right here where you can unplug and get back in touch with the natural world.
Leave your phone and camera behind for a change, and take in the forest with your senses: listen to the wind in the trees, see the light filtering through the leaves, put your hands on the trunk of a tree, dip your toes into a stream and breathe in the fresh smells of the forest.
Burnaby Lake Regional Park
A 770-acre park right in the heart of Burnaby is a great place to start. To get yourself right into the forest, I recommend the Conifer and Spruce Loops that can be found between the Piper Avenue and Avalon Avenue entrances.
Central Park
Douglas fir, cedar and vine maple all call this 212-acre urban park home. Located in the Metrotown area, this park has a lot going on on its outside edges, including a swimming pool, pitch-and-putt golf course and tennis courts, but wander into the centre of the park, and it’s hard to remember you’re in the middle of one of the fastest growing areas of the city.
Robert Burnaby Park
Situated just south of Burnaby Lake across Highway 1, Robert Burnaby Park is the perfect destination for strolling in the woods. Walk on winding trails that follow the park's many creeks.
Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
Find walking and hiking trails galore within this 1,423-acre mountain paradise. Besides trails that run through steep and rugged terrain, this park offers up gorgeous views, especially at sunset.
Deer Lake
This is one of Metro Vancouver’s most popular city parks, with lots of people walking and jogging the main loop around the lake. To get away from the crowds, I recommend venturing onto the trails to the west of the lake.
You can find directions and a complete list of parks and trails in Burnaby at the city's parks website.
Five for Friday is a new feature we'll be running each Friday online, highlighting five of just-about-anything in Burnaby. Got an idea for a future list? Let us know.
Follow Cornelia Naylor on Twitter @CorNaylor
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