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Green shoots are rising and small pockets of colourful flowers are popping-up throughout the city. But for many of us, it only feels like time to wave goodbye to winter and look forward to spring when the dramatic cherry blossoms start opening throughout Richmond.
These lush, delicate, selfie-inviting blooms are the perfect reason to grab your phone or camera and head outside for a scenic hour or two on a lovely blue-sky day. Luckily the city has a full bouquet of blossom-packed hot spots to visit as the season unfolds. Read on for some of our favourites.
RICHMOND CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
Alongside your blossom-viewing day trips, make sure you add this must-see event on April 7th to your calendar. Running from 11:00am to 4:00pm at Steveston’s shoreline Garry Point Park, this free-entry family festival celebrates the park’s famously abundant blossom trees. The city’s rich Japanese cultural heritage will also be on display with bonsai, origami and calligraphy demonstrations plus performances from dancers, singers and taiko drummers.
GARRY POINT PARK
If you can’t make it to the festival, a visit to Garry Point Park should still be at the top of your blossom-watching to-do list. Home to more than 250 Akebono cherry trees, it’s easy to spend hours slowing down and pursuing the perfect spring nature photos here. It’s always busy with photographers at this time of year so consider arriving at the park early to sidestep the crowds. And be sure to turn your lens towards the birds, too: this park is also an excellent birding location––we spotted herons, ravens and a belted kingfisher on our recent visit.
GRANT MCCONACHIE WAY
On the main Sea Island road to Vancouver International Airport, you’ll discover multiple cherry trees planted in batches of four or five between the tall cedars and hemlocks. But they’re not the only colourful blooms you’ll find here: mature magnolia trees, with their impressively huge blooms, also line this route.
LARRY BERG FLIGHT PATH PARK
Located just past the perimeter fence of Vancouver International Airport’s south runway, this unique, family-favourite park is studded with aviation-themed features––including benches shaped like paper airplanes, a climb-on soft play globe for curious kids and detailed information panels about the aircraft flying low overhead. But it’s also home to a plethora of young blossom trees and, with its wooden tables and grassy areas, it’s a great spot for a petal-dusted sunny day picnic.
LANG NEIGHBOURHOOD PARK
This tiny park, tucked behind the city centre’s Richmond Public Market, is a hidden gem hotspot for blossom fans. Grab a tasty sweet pastry inside the market, then head outside for a seat at one of the alfresco tables. If your timing is right, the clutch of mature blossom trees will be in full swing and stray petals will be drifting on the air like a walk-in snow globe. Before you leave, step inside the market to peruse the bargain-priced produce stands or stop for lunch at the ever-popular upstairs food court.
MINORU PARK
If you haven’t been to this much-loved urban oasis since its renovation was completed last year, now is a great time to check it out. Alongside the emerging flowers, shoreline picnic tables and duck-studded ponds, you’ll find an inviting array of more than a dozen blossom trees waiting for you and your camera lens.
NO. 1 ROAD, BETWEEN RIVER ROAD AND WESTMINSTER HWY
It’s never a bad idea to take a springtime stroll along the scenic Middle Arm Dyke Trail; you’ll spot birds, colourful wildflowers and some intriguing public artworks. But if you divert from the trail at No. 1 Road, you can also discover around 20 large and colourful Akebono trees just waiting for their photo close-ups.
RIVERPORT SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX
Head to the Riverport Sports and Entertainment Complex and you’ll find a host of cherry trees framing the parking lot in front of Watermania (a popular aquatic attraction), and along the SilverCity Riverport Cinemas building.
ABERDEEN NEIGHBOURHOOD PARK
One of Richmond’s newest city centre neighbourhood parks has a full array of blossoms trees to photograph this year. Bring the kids along to check out the excellent playground but be sure to beeline to the park’s northern edge where more than two-dozen trees line both sides of the Sweet Avenue sidewalk, creating a photo-ready walk-through tunnel effect. Explore the rest of this small park while you’re here––we love the boardwalk trail and we spotted lots of emerging peony shoots that will be spectacular when they start flowering!
Need more info?
Check out the handy Vancouver cherry blossom map, and use ‘Richmond’ as your search filter. And remember to stick to the unofficial blossom-watching code: don’t pick or damage the blooms and don’t venture into anyone’s yard while you’re snapping your spring-tastic floral shots.
Finally, we’d love to see your photos! Please share your favourite images with us via social media, using the hashtag #RichmondMoments.
Last Updated on April 5, 2024 by Tourism Richmond