The outdoors has always held an appeal — fresh air and nature have endless health benefits. Now, in the midst of a pandemic, getting outdoors has never been more essential.

Luckily for those of us living in British Columbia, the outdoors is right in our backyard — especially if you live in Surrey. Read on for all the pockets of green (and gold and orange) you can explore close to home this fall.

PARKS

Over 100 kilometres of nature trails wind through Surrey’s 200 parks. That’s a lot of walking. Start somewhere expansive, like Tynehead Park, Elgin Heritage Park, or Green Timbers Urban Forest. Tynehead is known for its 260 hectares of meadows and forests that line the Serpentine River — it’s also right next to our Canopy townhomes now selling. Elgin Heritage Park features stunning wetlands beside the Nicomekl River and it’s home to the Historic Stewart Farm. Green Timbers is one of Surrey’s largest parks, where you’ll find over 10 kilometres of nature trails. There’s also a fishing lake, picnic areas, and the Surrey Nature Centre. Check out more parks at Discover Surrey.

SHORELINES

Inhale sea breeze in South Surrey, home to our Orchard Park townhomes. Sink your feet into the sand of Crescent Beach, where you can swim, play volleyball, or search for shells. Pick a bench and watch the sunset across Boundary Bay and the Strait of Georgia. 1,001 Steps Park, Blackie Spit Park, and Mud Bay Park also give you picturesque sights of the ocean. If rivers are more your style, head over to Surrey Bend Park on the banks of the Fraser River. Read one of our past blog posts for a list of Surrey’s shorelines.

ACTIVITIES

Add some sport to your time outdoors. A bit of exhilaration, skill, or competition will be good for you and give fall some excitement. Take your kids to a local skatepark and show them how you used to roll. Play a round of golf at Northview, Morgan Creek, or Hazelmere — Surrey has more golf courses than any other Metro Vancouver community. Throw on some protective gear and launch into some paintballing at Panther Paintball or Ambush Paintball. You could also sail through the air on a bike at Invergarry Mountain Bike Park or South Surrey Bike Park.

Fall is a beautiful season, and it’s best spent outdoors.