Port Coquitlam British Columbia is located about 30 km east of Vancouver, at the confluence of Fraser River and the Pitt River. To the north of Port Coquitlam you find the Coast Mountains, including Burke and Coquitlam Mountains and to the west is the Coquitlam River. "PoCo" - as the residents call it, offers visitors a wealth of recreational opportunities. The "PoCo Trail," which encompasses most of the city, is excellent for nature walks, hikes, bike riding, horseback riding and wildlife watching. Over 266 hectres of parkland provide many opportunities for outdoor activities.
Things to do in Port Coquitlam
Alcan Omnimax Theatre
At 27 metres (89 feet) in diameter, the Alcan Omnimax Theatre is one of the world’s largest dome screens. The powerful sound system has 28 speakers and 10,000 watts to engulf you in a hurricane or carry you deep into the heart of a jungle. The theatre shows fascinating films about science, nature and adventure. Open Monday - Friday 10am – 5pm; Saturday, Sunday & holidays 10am - 6pm; Wednesday & Sunday features an additional show at 7: 30pm. Best Western Port Coquitlam lodging is nearby. Call 604-443-7443 for more information.
1455 Quebec Street, Port Coquitlam, BC
Canada Place
Resembling an enormous ocean liner with its roof of billowing “sails,” this complex houses the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Pan Pacific Vancouver, Cruise Ship Terminal, World Trade Centre office complex and CN IMAX Theatre. Situated on Vancouver’s waterfront Call 604-775-7200 for more information.
780 999 Canada Place, Port Coquitlam, BC
Capilano Suspension Bridge
Vancouver’s oldest attraction has thrilled visitors since 1889. Cross the swaying planks of this bridge that is suspended above the Capilano River. You can wander among the towering evergreens in a West Coast rainforest or join a guided nature walk. At Treetops Adventure you will get a great view of the seven suspension bridges through the trees, taking you high above the forest floor. Watch First Nations carvers chisel legend into cedar at the Big House; stroll through history at the Story Centre; enjoy river and canyon views, and gorgeous gardens. Live entertainment includes First Nations dance performances May – October. The Visitor Centre is open daily except Christmas Day. Call 604-985-7474 for more information.
Gastown
Named after John Deighton (back then he was called "Gassy Jack") a retired riverboat captain who opened a saloon in 1867. Millworkers and Klondike gold miners use to stop at Gastown to stock up on provisions and drink whiskey. The Great Fire in 1886 burned down most of the buildings in Gastown; today two stand where there use to 400. The Streets are made of cobblestone and are complimented with antique street lamps along the sides. The Gastown area is located in downtown Vancouver just east of Canada Place, along Water, Alexander, Columbia and Cordova Streets. Call 604-683-5650 for more information.
General Motors Place Tour
Visit the state of the art playing facility for the National Hockey League Vancouver Canucks. Tours are offered Tuesday & Wednesday at 11am - 2pm. Call 604-899-7440 for more information.
800 Griffiths Way, Port Coquitlam, BC
Grouse Mountain
A year-round peak experience just 15 minutes from downtown. The Skyride tram whisks visitors 1.6 kilometres (one mile) up to the mountaintop plateau and superb views. A high-definition theatre presentation, Born to Fly, screens at the Theatre in the Sky. The Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife shelters two orphaned grizzly cubs. Summer activities include lumberjack shows, guided downhill mountain bike tours, tandem paragliding, helicopter tours and Birds in Motion falconry demonstrations. Share an evening of Pacific Northwest Native storytelling, dancing and traditional cuisine at the hiwus feast house. In winter December – April, Grouse is popular for skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice-skating and sleigh rides. Open daily, 365 days a year from 9am - 10pm. Call 604-984-0661 for more information.
Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre / Lynn Canyon Park
The Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre first opened in 1971 as a project to honour British Columbia's 100th birthday. This unique centre offers visitors an introduction to the rainforest and provides an environmental education for the local community. Informative and interactive displays present information on the plants and animals of the temperate rainforest and global environmental issues. Children love to have fun and learn about nature in the Kid's Exploratorium. Shop for nature-themed gifts from our gift shop or choose from over 80 nature videos to watch on our large screen for free! Call 604-981-3103 for more information.
3663 Park Road, Port Coquitlam, BC
Museum of Anthropology at UBC
Outside the Museum you will see traditional longhouses and totem poles rise on a bluff overlooking mountains and sea. Inside you will find magnificent Northwest Coast First Nations art and artifacts, such as feast dishes, canoes and contemporary Salish weaving. The well known histories of the Tahltan people is told here as well as the first ever museum exhibition about the Tahltan of northwestern BC. Do not miss a trip to our onsite gift shop. Museum is open Tuesday 11am - 9pm; Monday, Wednesday – Sunday 11am - 5pm. Call 604-822-3825 for more information.
6393 N.W. Marine Drive, Port Coquitlam, BC
Park Royal City Star Riverboat Casino
Located on the Fraser River in downtown New Westminster, the Royal City Star sits adjacent to the Westminster Quay Market. The Casinos are open daily from 10am - 4am, featuring gaming tables and slot machine, Blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, Mini Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Roulette, and Let it Ride. Guests must be at least 19 years of age. Located on board the Royal City Star. Call 604-878-9999 for more information.
Playdium @ Metropolis
Featuring 40,000 square feet of state-of-the-art physical and interactive games in Metro Centre. You will find five theme zones: Sport, Speed, Contact, Extreme, and Target. The Junior Players Lounge is available for the younger kids, where players under six can interact with Pico learning systems. Play is by purchasing credits in the form of cards. Time play is available all day Monday – Friday; Wednesday, Friday - Sunday after 6pm – closing. Open 11am - 11pm Sunday – Thursday; 10am - 2am Friday & Saturday. Call 604-433-7529 for more information.
Queen Elizabeth Park
The top of this beautifully maintained 52 hectare (130 acre) Park is the highest point in the city, at 167m (505 ft) above sea level. Visitors have a 360 degree view of the Vancouver skyline from the various outlooks. The Park receives nearly 6 million visitors a year who marvel at its superior standard of garden plantings. It was a former stone quarry, and the park was developed in the 1950s to include a pitch & putt golf course, paths and display gardens, and a large arboretum. The Park and Bloedel Conservatory are open every day. Call 604-257-8584 for more information.
Stanley Park
Vancouver's first park, Stanley Park, is an evergreen oasis of 400 hectares (1,000 acres) close to the heart of Vancouver's downtown core. Its natural west coast atmosphere offers a back drop of majestic cedar, hemlock and fir trees that embrace visitors and transports them to an environment rich in tranquility. The park has lots of wildlife and its features appeal to the naturalist, the plant lover or one who would do nothing more than relax in beautiful surroundings. The Lost Lagoon Nature House is operated by the Stanley Park Ecology Society and offers natural history information, guided walking tours and volunteer opportunities. Lost Lagoon is a haven for many varieties of birds including swans, ducks and Canada geese. The rushes and small islands in the lake make a natural nesting place for the various species that live here. Explore the Children’s Farmyard, the Miniature Railway, tennis courts, bathing beaches, a children's water park and a heated ocean-side swimming pool. Our Theatre Under the Stars, the Vancouver Aquarium and the 5.5 mile perimeter seawall round out the variety of activities this great public park has to offer. Refreshment stands along with four restaurants are strategically placed throughout Stanley Park for your convenience. Located in downtown Vancouver.
Van Dusen Botanical Gardens
This spectacular 22-hectare (55-acre) garden in the heart of Vancouver has matured into a botanical garden of international stature since opening to the public in 1975. The mild Vancouver climate allows the cultivation of an outstanding plant collection which is a delight any time of the year. There are over 7,500 different kinds of plants assembled from six continents. Call 604-878-9274 for more information.
5251 Oak Street, Port Coquitlam, BC
Vancouver Marine Science Aquarium
Located in Stanley Park, the aquarium is home to more than 60,000 strange and wonderful creatures from the Arctic, Amazon, tropics and Canada’s wild West Coast. Watch daily whale shows, shark dives and sea-otter feeds. Find out how you can make waterside visits with beluga whales, otters, seals and sea lions. Visit the tropical gallery. On-site café and souvenir shop. Open year round daily 10am - 5:30pm; extended summer hours. Located just five minutes west of downtown Vancouver in world-famous Stanley Park Call 604-659-3474 for more information.
845 Avison Way, Port Coquitlam, BC