Richmond Things To Do in BC, Canada

Near Vancouver, this City in British Columbia is Full of Attractions

May 12, 2009
Lori Henry

Richmond International Buddhist Temple in BC - Lori Henry

Travel to Richmond, BC for family friendly things to do, as it's near Vancouver and full of a variety of fun attractions like go karting, wineries & whale watching tours.

For those flying in from the Vancouver International Airport or looking for a side trip for their Vancouver vacation, head to the nearby Richmond, BC. This thriving but often-overlooked city is chock full of fun things to do for the whole family, whether it be Richmond go karting, wineries, heritage sites, Richmond temples or cycling and whale watching tours.

Richmond Things To Do

As in the rest of British Columbia, the scenery in Richmond deserves credit. Get away from the long highway-like roads and into Garry Point Park in Steveston village, where bikes rentals are popular. Steveston Seabreeze Adventures (12551 No. 1 Road, 604-272-7200) lets cyclists get out and explore the dykes by bike, either solo, in groups or on tandem.

Kids bikes are available with helmets provided and the staff give good directions on what trails to take. Because Richmond is so flat, cycling routes are easy in all directions.

Whale Watching Tours

Steveston Harbour is a special place to see orca whales and California sea lions. Vancouver Whale Watch (210- 12240 2nd Avenue, 604-274-9565) takes groups out on its fleet of boats to get up close and personal with these fascinating creatures.

Richmond Go Karting

Kids love this outdoor go kart track (Richmond Go Karting Track, 6631 Sidaway Road, 604-278-6184). Parents can book the facilities for birthday parties or special occasions, or just go for a ride for no reason whatsoever. The height minimum is 4’8” and helmets are provided.

It costs $12 CAD for a 10-minute ride. The track is outdoors, so the weather plays a part in the experience. Adults can also jump into a go kart, reliving past childhood experiences or maybe even trying it for the first time.

Visit a Richmond Temple

There are many places of worship in the city that allow visitors to enter for free- donations accepted- and spend some time exploring.

The International Buddhist Temple (9160 Steveston Highway, 604-274-2822) is the most impressive, although it has also been commercialized. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it allows travellers entry into a sacred place that might otherwise be too inaccessible.
The Gurdwara Gursikh Temple (18691 Westminster Highway, 604-266-9124) is also an ornate place of worship. The atmosphere is welcoming and there is even a 24-hour kitchen serving vegetarian meals.
The Ling Yen Mountain Temple (10060 No. 5 Road, 604-271-0009) is a thriving place of worship with only nuns living there. Visitors can listen to them chanting and peak through the windows to see them practicing.

Richmond Wineries

Most people think of the Fraser Valley and Okanagan when they think of wineries in British Columbia. Richmond actually has two, Lulu Island Winery (previously Blossom Winery at 5491 Minoru Boulevard, 604-232-9839, call for new location) and Sanduz Estate Wines (12791 Blundell Road, 604-214-0444).

The focus is on berry and ice wines here, using the plentiful local fruits to produce their varieties. Each of the Richmond wineries offers free tastings and a retail store for purchases.