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The Royal
City
The City of New Westminster, BC, Canada is located on
the Fraser River in British Columbias lower mainland. The Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island
are outlined on the map to the left.
New Westminster was the first capitol of the new Crown
Colony of British Columbia and was named by Queen Victoria. That naming by the Queen gave the city
the nickname, The Royal City. New
Westminster was the first city in Western Canada.
New Westminster is located in the southeast corner of
the Burnaby District of the Lower Mainland.
Burnaby is shown in green on the map below, east of the City of
Vancouver.
Before the construction of the Interstate System in the
United States in the 1960s and British Columbias extension of
Interstate-5 at Blaine, Washington over a new freeway designated
Highway-99, what is now Highway-99A (The King George Highway) was the only
route into Vancouver, BC and the first city you came to when entering
Canada from Blaine was New Westminster, by crossing the Pattullo Bridge.
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Where is New Westminster?
New
Westminster can be found by taking Highway-99 Exit 10, six miles (10 KM) north
of the Canada/US border, onto Highway-99A (The King George Highway). Travel north for about 11 miles (17.7 KM)
and you will find yourself on the Pattullo Bridge. In another mile just north of the bridge
you will take the Royal Avenue exit and circle around to the east. Keep right to Royal Avenue
westbound. Travel 1.2 miles (1.9 KM)
west on Royal Avenue through downtown New Westminster. You are in the heart of the downtown area
from Royal Avenue down the hill to Columbia Street which is the main street
through the historic downtown area.
Where
is Westminster Quay?
In
1.2 miles you will come to the west end of Royal Avenue (west end of the
downtown area) where Royal Avenue ends.
In front of you will be the railroad tracks and the elevated Skytrain
tracks. The cross street is Columbia
street. Turn left on Columbia Street
and travel almost 0.5 miles (0.8 KM) to the right turn over the tracks to
Quayside Drive. After you cross the
railroad tracks the road will turn to the right and you will find a parking
lot on the left. We have never
failed to find parking in this lot.
If this lot is full you can go back into downtown New Westminster
and park in their parking garage and take the elevated walkway to the Quay.
The
other ways to New Westminster.
About
9.5 mi. (16 KM) north of the Canada/US border at Blaine via BC-99 (the
British Columbia portion of Interstate-5) is Exit 16 (Highway-91/ Annacis
Island / New Westminster). This
highway will take you over the north and south arms of the Fraser River
crossing the south arm on the spectacular Alex Fraser Bridge. When you cross over the second bridge,
the Queensborough Bridge take the New Westminster Exit and it will take you
right onto Marine Way which will follow the Skytrain tracks right into New
Westminster.
From
Vancouver, BC
From
Vancouver, BC take Highway-99 south for 8.5 mi. (13.6 KM) to the Highway-91
/ Alderbridge Way / New Westminster Exit 37. This is the west end of Highway-91 and it
will take you east up Lulu Island to Highway-91A which goes into New
Westminster.
The
other way from Vancouver
The
other option from Vancouver is to go east to Main Street (in Chinatown)
from downtown Vancouver and turn south.
Main Street turns into Highway-99A (The King George Highway) and
Highway-1A. I you want a real feel
of the area this highway was the only way into Vancouver until the freeway
was built.
The
road has history. We often choose
this route to travel as it lacks the sterile atmosphere of a freeway. It probably only takes a half hour to
take this route but it always takes us longer because there are so many
things to stop and see along the way.
It is only 10.6 miles (17 KM) from the corner of Main Street and
Broadway in the center of China Town to New Westminster.
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Shopping in New Westminster
New
Westminster has an interesting variety of places to shop from its historic
downtown area along Royal Avenue to the Westminster Quay along the Fraser
River.
Westminster Quay
When you visit New Westminster the first place to begin
is the Quay. If you come over the
Pattullo Bridge over the Fraser River you can see the Quay on the far bank
of the Fraser to the left (west) of the bridge.
Public Market at the Quay.
The photo to the right is from
the Quays web site.
The Quay is a nice to rest after a long ride. The walk along the river and the
restaurants and shops there offer good food and interesting shopping. The Public Market at New Westminster Quay
offers interesting inside shopping on a rainy day.
The entrance into the Quay isnt very inviting because
railroad tracks and the Skytrain elevated tracks are between Columbia
Street and the Quay. There are signs
for the Quay when traveling eastbound.
For more information visit their web site: http://www.westminsterquay.com/
Downtown and
its Downtown Vancouver Connection
Downtown
New Westminster can be accessed by two different Skytrain Stations; New
Westminster and Columbia. Columbia
street is the core of the historic downtown.
New
Westminsters downtown offers tree lined streets that light up at night
with old fashioned street lamps giving you a feel of the 1890s. You will find sidewalk cafes, gourmet
coffee houses, art boutiques, hobby shops, gift shops, and more among the
beautiful architecture of this historic downtown area.
The Vancouver Connection
If
you want to visit Downtown Vancouver on of the best ways to do it is park
in the parking garage in downtown New Westminster and take the
Skytrain. Plan your trip so that you
dont miss the opportunities downtown New Westminster offers. You can visit downtown Vancouver, miss
all the traffic and parking problems, and then come back and have dinner on
the banks of the Fraser River.
Antique Alley
Across
the railroad tracks from Westminster Quay Public Market is Antique
Alley. It is made up of ten antique
shops that stock a wide variety of inventory. You could spend a whole day just browsing
through these interesting shops.
Royal City
Center
In
Uptown New Westminster, at 6th Avenue and 8th Street,
you will find Royal City Centre.
This is the citys newest and largest shopping area. You will find a food court, a full
service restaurant, a variety of small shops, Zellers, and Safeway in this
shopping center.
Columbia
Square Plaza
Located
at the west end of the downtown area, Columbia Square is a neighborhood
shopping center with a drug store, several specialty stores, several
restaurants, and a grocery supermarket.
Royal Square
Mall
McBride
is the road the King George Highway travels over north of the Pattullo
Bridge. At 8th Avenue you will find Royal Square Mall. It is a convenient stop for RVers to stop
with plenty of parking and easily found.
You will find a Safeway store and several other shops in the mall.
12th
Street Vintage Row
You
arent limited to the antiques you will find at Antique Alley because there
are more antique shops on 12th street. Antiques are the feature along 12th
street with such things as antique lighting fixtures, plumbing accessories,
and architectural pieces can be found in the six antique shops on 12th
Street.
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Restaurants
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Lodging
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Attractions
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Museums
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Irving House Historic
Center
302 Royal
Avenue
New
Westminster, BC, Canada
604-527-4640
Visit the
web site
Built in 1865
this home is filled with 19th century atmosphere. Visit during December and it is
transformed into a Victorian Christmas scene.
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Historical Picture Gallery
New
Westminster Museum and Archives.
302 Royal Avenue
New Westminster, BC, Canada
604-527-4640
Visit
the web site
Located directly behind the Irving House.
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New Westminster Police
Museum
555 Columbia
Street
New
Westminster, BC, Canada
604-525-5411
http://www.nwpolice.org/museumindex.html
Located in the
federal building at 6th & Columbia, it has 125 years of
police history in artifacts and photos.
Kids can have their picture taken in Jail and there is a 1958
Harley police motorcycle among other police memorabilia.
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Samson V Maritime Museum
On the Waterfront at Westminster Quay
604-527-4640 or 604-522-6894
Visit the web
site
This paddle wheeler pulled snags from the
Fraser River from 1937, when it was built, until 1980 when it was
retired. It features photographic displays
of both its predecessors and itself working on the river. Much of the interior is original showing
life working on the river.
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Canadian Lacrosse Hall of
Fame
65 E 6th Avenue
New
Westminster, BC, Canada
604-527-4640
Visit the web
site
Located in the Community
Centre. This national Hall of Fame
features photographs and information about its inductees. It also has trophies, jerseys, equipment,
and other displays.
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Museum of
the
Royal Westminster Regiment
530 Queens Avenue
New Westminster, BC, Canada
604-526-5116
Visit the web site
The museum is located in the gun room of
the historic Armory of the Regiment.
The Museum traces the history of the regiment from when it laid out
the City of New Westminster through the first and second world wars.
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Fraser River Discovery
Center
At Westminster
Quay
604-521-8401
Visit the web site
The Fraser
River Discovery Center is a world class interpretive center with exhibits
on the historic importance of the Fraser River.
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Art Galleries
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Amelia Douglas Art Gallery
Douglas
College
604-527-5723
Gallery web page.
When a display is showing this gallery is
open M-F 10a to 7:30p, Sat 11a
4p. Closed between showings. See site or call for information. Admission is free.
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Public Library Gallery
716
6th Avenue
New Westminster, BC, Canada
604-527-4660
The gallery is on the librarys second
floor. It features exhibitions by
local artists. Open M-F 10a to 9p
Sat 10a to 5p, and Sun 1 to 5p.
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Arts Council Gallery in Queens Park
Centennial Lodge building in Queens Park
PO Box 16003
New Westminster, BC, Canada V3M 6W6
604-525-3244
http://www.artscouncilnewwest.org/
The Heartbeat of the arts in New
Westminster. Open 1 to 5p Tuesday
thru Sunday
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Parks
& Gardens
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Queens Park
First Street
and Third Avenue
New
Westminster, BC, Canada
Built in
1886, this 75 acre park is the centerpiece of New Westminsters parks. It has Rainbow Playland with a petting
farm, spray park, and TREATS concession.
There is also a rose garden.
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Friendship
Gardens
4th
Street and Royal Avenue
Located next
to City Hall. This park offers a
waterfall and pond, walking paths with benches, and a totem pole.
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Visitor
Information
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Tourism New Westminster
Fraser River Discovery
Center
788 Quayside Drive
New Westminster, BC,
Canada
http://www.tourismnewwestminster.com/
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City of New Westminster
511 Royal Avenue
New Westminster, BC, Canada V3L 1H9
604-521-3711
http://www.newwestcity.ca/
Map of New Westminster
PDF format Map
Map of Greater Vancouver
PDF map of Greater Vancouver
You can zoom in on areas using this map.
Using print options of print screen and fit image to margins you can
print area maps.
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Listed Attractions
We have not necessarily visited or recommend
listed establishments
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Restaurants
The Boathouse at the Quay
604-525-3474 - http://www.boathouserestaurants.ca/
900 Quayside Drive, New
Westminster, BC, Canada
Ginos Restaurant
604-525-1071 - http://www.ginosrestaurant.ca/
431 Columbia Street East,
New Westminster, BC, Canada
The Keg Steakhouse
604-524-1381 - http://www.kegsteakhouse.com/en/
800 Columbia Street, New
Westminster, BC, Canada
Waffle House 604-524-8118
636 6th Street, New Westminster, BC,
Canada
White Spot New Westminster
604-522-4800 - http://www.whitespot.com/
134-610 6th Street at Royal City Center,
New Westminster, BC, Canada
Restaurants
Ice Cream & Desserts
Annys Dairy Bar
604-515-1410
722 Sixth St, New
Westminster, BC V3L 3C5, Canada
Quayside Ice Cream
604-540-9673
113 810 Quayside Dr, New
Westminster, BC V3M 6B9, Canada
Temptation Gelati
604-540-4584
450 Columbia St East, New
Westminster, BC V3L 3X5, Canada
Restaurants
Pizza
Bella Pizza
604-521-1111 - http://www.bellapizza.ca/
789 Carnarvon Street, New
Westminster, BC , Canada
Boston Pizza
604-525-3340 - http://www.bostonpizza.com/en/Default.aspx
1045 Columbia
Square, New Westminster, BC, Canada
Restaurants
Pubs
Clancys Sports Bar &
Grill 604-524-3777
140 6th Street, New Westminster, BC,
Canada
Frankie Gs Broilerhouse
Pub 604-515-1678- http://frankiegspub.com/
305 Ewen Avenue,
Queensborough, New Westminster, BC, Canada
The Met Bar & Grill
604-520-1967 - http://www.themethotel.com/index.php?section=c.bar.php
411 Columbia Street, New
Westminster, BC, Canada
Paddlewheeler Pub
604-524-1894 - http://www.paddlewheelerpub.com/
126 810 Quayside Drive,
New Westminster, BC, Canada
Rivers Reach Pub
604-777-0101 - http://www.riversreach.com/
320 6th Street, New Westminster, BC,
Canada
Restaurants
Fast Food/ Delis
Burger Haven 604-522-8339
- http://www.burgerheaven.ca/
77 10th Street, New Westminster,
BC, Canada
Greens Deli 604-523-1212
412 Columbia Street, New
Westminster, BC, Canada
Restaurants
Ethnic
Aldos Pasta Bar Italian
604-525-3473
441 Columbia Street, New
Westminster, BC, Canada
Hons Wun Tun House Asian
604-520-6661 - http://www.hons.ca/
408 6th Street, New Westminster, BC,
Canada
Kasuga Sushi Japanese
Restaurant 604-521-3919
521 6th Avenue, New Westminster, BC,
Canada
La Spaghetteria Italian
604-525-2611 - http://laspaghetteria.com/
232 6th Street, New Westminster, BC,
Canada
The Old Bavarian Haus
German 604-524-5824 - http://www.oldbavariahaus.com/
233 6th Street, New Westminster, BC,
Canada
The Old Spaghetti Factory
604-524-9788 - http://oldspaghettifactory.ca/
50 Eighth St, New
Westminster, BC V3M 3N8
La Rustica / La Lorraine
French & Italian 604-525-6355 - http://www.larustica.ca/
228 6th Street, New Westminster, BC,
Canada
Taverna Greka Greek
604-526-6651 - http://www.taverna.ca/
326 Columbia Street, New
Westminster, BC, Canada
Restaurants
Coffeehouse/ Tea Rooms
Blenz Coffee 604-528-9229
- http://www.blenz.com/
599 6th Avenue,
New Westminster, BC Canada
The hide out cafι
604-521-3344-http://www.thehideoutcafe.com/
716 Carnarvon St, New
Westminster, BC V3M 6V4, Canada
Starbucks 604-522-7573
411 Columbia Street East,
New Westminster, BC V3L 3X3, Canada
Lodging Hotels (with
room service)
Inn
at Westminster Quay 604-520-1776 - http://www.innatwestminsterquay.com/
900
Quayside Drive, New Westminster, BC,
Canada
The Met Hotel New
Westminster 604-520-3815 - Visit the web
site
411 Columbia Street, New
Westminster, BC, Canada
Lodging
Hotels Limited Services (no room
service)
Lodging Motels
Lodging
Inns or Bed & Breakfast
Arundel Mansion
(historic apartments) 604-524-9498
48 Begbie
Street, New Westminster, BC V3M 3L9, Canada
Hillhouse Bed
& Breakfast 604-524-3060 - http://www.hillhousebedandbreakfast.com/
358 Simpson Street, New
Westminster, BC V3, Canada
Victorian Guest House B
& B 604-521-7577
233 9th Street,
New Westminster, BC V3M 3V4, Canada
Lodging
Vacation Rentals & Cabins
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RV &
Camping
RV & Camping Information
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Antiques
Antique
Alley Collectables & Movie Props 604-759-1422
605 Front Street, New
Westminster, BC V3M 1A1, Canada
Armstrong & Fitzgeralds
604-520-1478
641 Front Street, New
Westminster, BC, Canada
Carousel Art Glass
604-529-1999
618A 12th Street, New Westminster,
BC, Canada V3M 4J2
Collectors Choice Antique
Mall 604-529-1999
659 Columbia Street, New
Westminster, BC, Canada V3M 1A8
Golden Era Antiques
604-521 5209
435 6th Street, New Westminster, BC,
Canada
Art
Galleries
Art Forever 604-522-8892
810 Quayside Dr,
New Westminster, BC V3M 6B9
Gallery
Fourteen 604-519-1815 - http://www.galleryfourteen.com/index2.php
614 Columbia Street, New
Westminster, BC V3M 1A5
Paul Andrew Art
Gallery 604-519-1662
Ste 202 129 E
Columbia, New Westminster, BC V3L 3V8
Van Dop Gallery
604-521-7887 - http://www.vandopgallery.com/
421 Richmond
St, New Westminster, BC V3L 4C4
Gift Shops/
Specialty Shops
Adrianas Place 604-522-8004
810 Quayside Dr., New
Westminster, BC V3M 6B9
Favorite Things Art
& Giftware 604-519-1815 - Visit
the web site
614 Columbia St, New
Westminster, BC V3M 1A5
Popeyes Smoke & Gift
604-522-6757
105- 555 Sixth St, New
Westminster, BC V3L 5H1
Team 1 Hobby radio
controlled models 604-759-9796 - http://www.team1hobby.com/
459B East Columbia St, New
Westminster, BC V3L 3X6
Touch of Africa 604-524-8822
- http://www.touchofafrica.ca/
130-810 Quayside Dr, New
Westminster, BC V3M 6B9
Golf
Museums
Parks/Gardens
Quilting/Needlecrafts
Scrapbooking/Crafts
Paper Poet 604-517-1700
665
Columbia St, New Westminster, BC V3M 1A8
Theatres/Performing
Arts
New West Cinemas
604-526-0379
555 6th St, New
Westminster, BC V3L 5H1
Massey Theatre &
Plaskett Gallery 604-517-5900 - http://www.masseytheatre.com/
735 Eighth Ave, New
Westminster, BC V3M 2R2
Raymond Burr Performing
Arts Centre 250-635-1305
530 Columbia St, New
Westminster, BC V3L 1A1
Royal City Musical Theatre
604-522-4306 - http://www.royalcitymusicaltheatre.com/
615 8th St, New
Westminster, BC V3M 1A1
Vagabond Players - - http://www.vagabondplayers.ca/
Queens Park, New
Westminster, BC V3M 2S2, Canada
Tours/Charters
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Paddlewheeler
Riverboat Tours 604-525-4465 - Visit their
web site.
#139 810 Quayside Drive,
New Westminster, BC, Canada
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Wine
Divinos
Quayside Wine Cellar 604-522-4245
111-960
Quayside Dr, New Westminster, BC V3M 6G2
Pacific
Breeze Winery 778-549-8725
6
320 Stewardson Way, New Westminster, BC V3M 6C3
Sleeping
Grape Wine Cellars - - http://www.sleepinggrape.com/
421 7th Street, New Westminster, BC,
Canada
The
Wine Factory 604-540-8907
337 6th
St, New Westminster, BC V3L 3A9
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