Summertime Fun in Richmond, British Columbia

Vancouver’s quaint fishing village Steveston is just a 15 minute drive from Vancouver International Airport. Located in the city of Richmond, this small town promises picturesque views of boats lined up in the harbor and plenty of opportunities to indulge in fresh seafood, especially spotted prawns.

Steveston Waterfront. Photo by Jill Weinlein

Staying two nights in one of the unique apartment-style suites at Steveston Waterfront Hotel, I appreciated the contemporary and spacious accommodations. They offer studio, one, two and three-bedroom retreats.

This Airbnb alternative offers contactless check-in and entrance into the waterfront pied-a-terre with a tech-based digital key. Now guests can direct message with guest services and build an itinerary on their smartphone.

Steveston Waterfront Hotel.

Besides a comfortable king-size bed, each suite has a kitchen, dining and living area, plus a door that leads out onto a large pedestrian promenade.

Toast To Coast meal kit. Photo Jill Weinlein

Guests can order from ‘Toast To Coast’, a local cafe that prepares meal kits, providing all of the ingredients needed to make breakfast in the morning. Selections include avocado toast and a Canadian Benedict that can be assembled in the fully appointed kitchen.

Spotted Prawns at The Fish Man in Richmond. Photo Jill Weinlein

SPOTTED PRAWNS

Now through June 16, is the Steveston Spot Prawn & Seafood Celebration. From June 1 – 16, numerous restaurants, ranging from fine dining Baan Lao, to the award winning Blue Canoe Waterfront Restaurant, and the popular The Fish Man will feature a signature spot prawn dish on their menu.

The Georgia Straight recently announced that Blue Canoe Waterfront Restaurant is a First Place Winner for Golden Plates 2024. When Vancouver Magazine announced its 2024 Restaurant Awards, the Gold winner for Casual Chinese went to The Fish Man. Chef Bo Li was pleased with the awards’ official announcement noting that, “to find anything fresher on your plate, you’d have to head straight into the sea.”

Chef Bo Li at The Fish Man. Photo Jill Weinlein

Other festivities during The Steveston Spot Prawn & Seafood Celebration includes fresh-off-the-boat sales of spot prawns. Visitors can walk on the docks in the harbor to check out the colorful fishing boats tied up at Steveston’s Fisherman’s Wharf. These B.C. spot prawns can be purchased straight from the vessels.

Steveston’s Fisherman’s Wharf. Photo Jill Weinlein

On June 8, Steveston celebrates Spot Prawn Day. There will be a culinary stage featuring live cooking demonstrations and tips. Local chefs Mert Takis from Fairmont Vancouver Airport and Brian Cooper from Mr. Cooper’s Pies will inspire others to purchase the freshest seafood to take back home to Steveston Waterfront Hotel to prepare a meal. Other festivities include live music, roving street performers from Circus West, and local businesses, Athiana Acres and Organic Ocean, talking all things regenerative farming and organic fishing practices.

EXPLORE STEVESTON

From the early morning until sundown, locals walk their dogs and jog along this 8-acre heritage waterfront park on the Fraser River. It’s such a picturesque town that continues to be a popular filming location for both movies and television shows.

Steveston is known for fishing and canning. Photo Jill Weinlein

Much of Steveston’s allure is its historical and multicultural influences. This quaint village is home to The Gulf of Georgia Cannery, a national historic site that operated as a salmon and herring cannery throughout the 1900’s.

Steveston fresh fish. Photo Jill Weinlein

Steveston Salmon Festival

To celebrate Canada Day on July 1, Steveston hosts its annual Salmon Festival. This is one of the largest non-profit driven Canada Day celebrations in the country. It’s a celebration of local B.C. salmon, with festivities that include a pancake breakfast to kick off the festive parade with themed floats. There is also a delicious salmon bake, a Japanese cultural show, an art show, plus food trucks, local artisans and vendors.

The Blue Cabin Floating Artist Residency. Photo Jill Weinlein

Other interesting sites to visit are the Steveston Museum & Post the charming shops, parks, walking and cycling trails. Be sure to see The Blue Cabin Floating Artist Residency, a program that provides a unique perspective about the city from the water.

Britannia Shipyard. Photo Jill Weinlein

The Richmond Maritime Festival at the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site is on August 24-25. It’s the oldest shipyard in British Columbia, and will come to life offering maritime-themed activities, live music, food trucks, artists, and a display of beautifully restored wooden boats and ships of all types.

Take a historic walk in Steveston. Photo Jill Weinlein

In addition to these activities, guests can enjoy a guided boat tour of the Fraser River’s historic Cannery Channel aboard the MV Gikumi, a beautifully restored 1954 west coast work boat, for a two-hour exploration of the mouth of the Fraser River during the festival.

Summer Whale Watching

One of the best ways to experience British Columbia is on a whale watching excursion from April to October. Steveston Seabreeze Adventures fits guests in certified flotation suits before an exhilarating open-air ride on the Zodiac, RIB style 12 passenger vessel.

Seabreeze Adventures. Photo Jill Weinlein

They also offer semi-enclosed boats that weave around the Gulf and San Juan Islands. This is home to magnificent black and white Orcas with 6′ tall dorsal fins. They live among Humpback Whales and Sea Lions basking in the warm summer sun.

Sea Lions spotted around the Gulf Islands. Photo Jill Weinlein

By boat is also one of the best ways to spot bald eagles in Steveston. Another way is to have professional and nature photographer, wildlife biologist and bird enthusiast Liron Gertsman guide you through Terra Nova Rural Park Farm Center.

Spotting Eagles in Steveston. Photo Jill Weinlein

With binoculars around our neck and a Birds of Western Canada in Liron’s hand, we stopped often to get a closer look at Western Wood-pewees and Red-winged Blackbirds in verdant trees. He showed us photos in the book of the dive bombing Tree Swallows swooping down close to shoo away a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Small white bird houses on stands stood erect just for their protection.

Bird Watching in Steveston. Photo Jill Weinlein

Walking along boardwalks near shallow lakes we noticed a pair of mallards diving down with their bottoms wiggling in the air. Birding is all about listening and seeing. We heard a Black-capped Chickadee, before seeing it in a tree. We admired the red feathers on a House Finch and yellow feathers displayed on an American Goldfinch.

Let Liron be your naturalist guide. Photo Jill Weinlein

Walking along West Dyke Trail is where we saw our first bald eagle, looking out toward the water, we watched seaplanes start their descent to land.

Richmond B.C. Photo Jill Weinlein

Studies have shown that natural settings are inherently calming. Visiting Richmond’s Steveston’s waterfront and parks provides a natural world that extends far beyond mere enjoyment of the outdoors during summertime.