It is hot out there, and if we’re lucky the summer weather is finally here to stay! But, when you’ve just had enough of the heat and the kids, and it’s time to cool off, try one of these 10 activities in Surrey that are guaranteed to help beat the heat!
Go the Beach
Crescent Beach is the ultimate crowd-pleaser. The beach stretches for kilometres and you can always find a spot to set up camp for the day. Paddle in the warm tidepools, or check out the roped-off swimming areas at Sullivan Point. And ice cream is just a short walk away!
Visit the Museum of Surrey
Check out the current exhibition at the Museum of Surrey, Giants, Dragons & Unicorns: The World of Mythic Creatures. This travelling exhibition from the American Museum of Natural History in New York traces the natural and cultural roots of some of the world’s most enduring mythic creatures. Be sure to check out the Surrey Stories Gallery and explore the permanent displays depicting Surrey’s history. The kids will love playing, and learning, in the TD Explorer Zone. And, as an added bonus, they have a state-of-the-art air conditioning system to care for the artefacts and keep you cool when you visit.
Check out the Art Gallery
The renowned Surrey Art Gallery is the second largest public art gallery in Metro Vancouver, playing host to local artists as well as international travelling exhibitions. There are currently 3 fascinating exhibits on display. Arts 2023 is a juried art show featuring local artists and is organized by the Arts Council of Surrey. Visitors will also enjoy this summer’s two solo exhibitions: Invisible Fish, an exhibit that encourages visitors to think of their relationship to the creeks, rivers and sea that flow through and around this land, and Diane Roy: The Deep and the Shallows, which draws inspiration from coastal tidal zones and the ecology of the Salish Sea, with sculptures reminiscent of the latticework forms of corals, sea anemones, urchins and shells.
Enrich your mind at the library
Surrey’s public libraries are filled with adventure and wonder for kids and adults, and they are the perfect spot to get a quiet reprieve from the heat of the summer. Settle into a quiet corner and let your mind be transported to a land cooler than ours!
Go For A Swim
With the weather getting hotter and summer break quickly approaching, there’s no better way to spend a sweltering afternoon than enjoying a dip in one of Surrey’s many outdoor pools. Whether you bring the whole family, enrol the kids in lessons, or decide to go for a solo swim, there are plenty of easily accessible pools dispersed all across Surrey. An added bonus: admission is free at all eight pools!
Go to a Splash Park
What better way to spend the summer with the kids than to have a splashing good time at one of Surrey’s many water parks! The refreshing scenery at Fleetwood Water Park is a great place for the family to get together and have a picnic while the kids play a game of sprinkler tag with the spray park’s fire hoses. It’s also tons of fun for the kiddos to cool off during hot summer days at Hawthorne Water Park while passing under cascades of water from giant colourful umbrellas! And Unwin Water Park, with its water tower and giant flowers, as well as picnic tables and a playground, is a sure winner. It’ll also be a blast to play at Hazelgrove Park where kids can run through tunnels of water and swing around the playground!
Get ice cream
More sunshine means more ice cream! And, while we love classic vanilla or cookie dough scoops as much as the next guy, there are lots of amazing variations of this favourite summer treat on offer at parlours, cafes and shops across Surrey. Stop for a scoop and then seek out some shade!
Hit the Mall
There’s something magical about mall shopping and on a sweaty summer day, it’s a cool air-conditioned oasis. Surrey’s shopping centres are destination shopping at its best, with a wide variety of big-name shops and local brands.
Go out for dinner
There may not be air conditioning in some of Surreys’ restaurants, but it’s definitely better than firing up the oven and cooking at home! Time your dinner out for a little later in the evening when the heat of the sun has hopefully eased up.
Do some forest-bathing
The temperature in the forest is noticeably cooler and it’s a known fact that spending a little time surrounded by trees is proven to help lower blood pressure and heart rates. The phenomenon is called forest bathing, and it’s a Japanese practice of simply being among trees. So, head to one of Surrey’s urban forests and allow yourself to be soothed by the cooling effect of the tree canopy.