British Columbia's Royal City
Progressive New Westminster Still Reflects Canada's Early Heritage
Named by the British monarch Queen Victoria in 1859, New Westminster still reflects characteristics of its early history. Stately Victorian-style houses, many of which date back to the 1800s and have been ll preserved with meticulous care, line New West's residential streets. Carefully managed gardens and parks crown many of the city's hills, and accent New West's brightly painted Victorian homes. Museums and archives honouring the city's early history are located throughout New West, as is an interesting selection of antique stores.
Amenities in New Westminster
New West's Victorian-era history is only one aspect of what draws people to the east side of British Columbia's Lower Mainland. The city's downtown quarter, which once enticed buyers from all over the mainland with its panoply of shops, eateries, 1970s-department stores and one-of-a-kind sales, has been replaced by hotels, fine dining, gift shops and a casino. The New Westminster Quay (pronounced "kee"), which was erected in the 1980s as an enticing alternative to the city's deteriorating commercial waterfront now provides a comfortable location to stroll, shop or catch a river cruise.
Located on the banks of the Fraser River, and overlooking the lush delta that borders metropolitan Vancouver, New West provides a refreshing view of the Lower Mainland's burgeoning landscape. Visitors can sip a beer at one of the Quay's pubs or restaurants and watch the boats motor up the Fraser River, or meander along one of the city's many self-guided walking tours. Festivals and music performances frequently take place at the Quay during the summer, and local restaurants and pubs offer their own assortment of music throughout the year.
Less Expensive Accommodations in New Westminster
Like other cities in the Lower Mainland, New Westminster has seen a decrease in tourism, partially due to the recession of 2008-09. The Quay's extensive marketplace, which has traditionally served as the home for New West's Farmer's Market, has been undergoing renovations and is expected to reopen in 2010. Other upgrades along the city's downtown thoroughfare, Columbia Street, suggest that the drop in tourism is only temporary and that upcoming community events will hasten its resurgence.
New West has often benefited from the fact that its cost of living is generally less than that of its neighbour, Vancouver, and thus is frequently able to offer less expensive accommodations to visitors. For budget travellers this is a boon as it provides an opportunity to park and ride the Skytrain to Vancouver, as well as to enjoy New West's many unusual attractions and activities.
Top Attractions and Activities
The Royal City's attractions are many, and include:
- New West's "May-Day" celebration, referred to as the Hyack Festival. Highlights are a parade, spring celebrations, rose-planting ceremony, dances and an anvil salute.
- The city's 60 heritage sites and various museums, such as the Irving House Historic Centre, on Royal Avenue, the Fraser River Discovery Centre and the Samson V Maritime Museum. The latter two are located adjacent to the Quay, downtown.
- Walking tours of the city's Victorian houses, such as those found on New West's Fifth Avenue. Descriptions of five different walking tours can be accessed at the Web site for Tourism New Westminster.
- A stroll through at least one of New West's 18 different parks: a great way to wrap up a visit to BC's oldest city. Queen's Park includes a picturesque rose garden, gentle rambling walking paths and intriguing city vistas from its hilltop gardens. Other parks in the city include river- and lake-front walking trails as well.
Year 2009 marks New Westminster's 150th anniversary. Celebrations kick off with the Hyack Festival in May, and culminate with festivals, literary readings by New West poets and authors, and other events in July and August, 2009. For more information about seasonal events, readers can contact the Hyack Festival Web site, or Tourism New Westminster.
New West has plenty of green space to enjoy
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The Fraser River has a mighty story to tell
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Victorian houses, like this 1897 beauty are common
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Stately mansions date back to the 19th century
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