Can I Just Say... Best of the Burbs

By Ali Sami and Jamie Kan

For those of us that live in Vancouver, the idea of venturing out of the cities borderlines when not absolutely necessary seems absurd. Nestled between our stunning shorelines and beautiful mountains, we've become accustomed to the wonders of Vancouver and have forgotten that the suburban cities that seem to edge closer to us every year, may in fact be home to something interesting. As we cling onto the very last bit of summer, our list will guide you out of the city and into the 'burbs.

Burnaby

This is the best way to take a stroll in the past without having to date one of those weird oldies that you find in Gastown coffee shops. The village is comprised of more than a dozen heritage buildings, and it even has a full-time staff of 1920s actors. If that seems a little overwhelming for your 21st-century heart, don't worry: the museum is run at your own pace and not by a guide. So you can stay all day and find out what it was like to die from smallpox, or you can leave after 10 minutes and go catch some Pokemon.

Surrey

This little hidden gem is a must-see. One of the city's early pioneers gifted this beautiful chunk of land to his twin sons in 1893. which is amazing considering the best gift I've ever received from my dad was a Gameboy Colour. Anyhow, the two brothers spent many years travelling all around the world collecting the seeds of exotic trees to plant in this land. They also spent most of their lives living in the park and eventually built a two-storey tree house that still sits in the middle of the park today. Walking through the park, you get a great opportunity to get a firsthand look at things that don't exist anywhere else in the city, not even Vancouver.

Langley

This drive-in movie theatre is conveniently placed right in the middle of nowhere. Fortunately for the drive-in, it's the only one of its kind in the Lower Mainland. Depending on how far out of Langley you live, the drive out there is just as adventurous as the movie you're about to watch. Seriously, it's sort of hilarious how far away it is. But, since movies can run until as late as 2 a.m., it's the perfect date-night destination. It's also the perfect place to watch horror movies and then speed home terrified in the middle of the night. You've gotta try it.

Richmond

Just in case you were wondering why you've been seeing so many Buddhist monks downtown ever since the Canada Line opened. No, in all seriousness, the international Buddhist temple is a unique and inspiring place that people of all beliefs and backgrounds could benefit from visiting. This temple is most likely the best representation of traditional Chinese architecture in Canada. If some decisions in your past have left you thinking you might need to find some enlightenment, the temple offers guided tours by donation. Help them help you.