Volume 11 Issue 1 » 77
B E ST P L AC E TO R E T U R N I N T H E S U M M E R
B E ST P L AC E TO STO P F O R A S N AC K
White Pine Beach and Buntzen Lake offer two of the Lower
Mainland’s best beaches; yet surprisingly, not many locals have taken
the time to explore them. In summer White Pine Beach on Sasamat
Lake is popular for its warm water. Kids splash in the shallows while
athletic swimmers challenge themselves with long, solitary swims and
others drift away on inflatable mattresses, or lie on the beach soaking
up the sunshine. On weekends the parking lot fills up by 10:30 am
at which point the gate on Sunnyside Road closes to vehicular traffic
and access to the lake requires a long walk. Still, it’s well worth it for
a rejuvenating day on the lake that reminds you how good it is to be
alive.
There’s a tiny store on Port Moody’s Murray Street that’s filled
with all foods South African. If you’re bored with the selection of
drinks, crackers and sauces at your local grocer, take a peek in here
for delectable chutneys, interesting spice combinations, traditional
South African sausages that are tasty on the barbeque, and a selection
of candies and sodas that will leave you clamouring for more. Africa
Trading is the kind of hole-in-the-wall shop you’d never know about
except for a word-of-mouth recommendation. Before you leave ask for
a taste of South African jerky, or biltong. Served chopped into small
bite-sized pieces or in longer strands, it’s a healthy, tasty snack for the
road home.
Buntzen Lake has a sprawling lawn shaded by massive hemlock trees.
It’s a perfect respite from the sun on a hot day. The lake’s glacial waters
are too cold for many, but dogs adore the canine beach and kids love
fishing from the dock in the summer months. Rent a kayak or canoe
from Anmore Grocery ($45-$60) and prepare for a sublime day at
this magnificent lake.
Africa Trading
#1 – 3009 Murray Street, Port Moody, BC
(604) 949-1622, africatrading.ca
Anmore Grocery & Buntzen Lake Canoe Rentals
3295 Sunnyside Road, Anmore, BC
(604) 469-9928
There’s a good chance you’ll get lost on Port Moody’s winding
roads, but it’s all part of the journey. Look out for historic churches,
interesting stores and deer picking their way cautiously across country
roads. Chances are, your stops will be many and you’ll leave this
unassumingly beautiful city vowing to return.