Spring is here! That means it’s light out during the morning commute, the birds are singing and the ground is warm enough to start planting.

With the new season comes so many new activities and places to visit around town.

Things to do

The City of Coquitlam has some great group activities planned over the next few weeks.

There are hikes planned throughout the season that you can sign up for, ranging from beginner options to intermediate for the more seasoned hiker. Held at various times in the day, these hikes offer a chance to explore new territory and meet new people. Bonus: If the weather is good, you may even catch a post-worthy sunset from a beautiful viewpoint.

Get your bike in for a tune up or check out the new bikes and gear at Kinetik Cycles. Ready to ride? The Tri Cities Off Road Cycling Association aka TORCA is a fantastic resource for trail information, events, train building and group rides.

Community Gardens

Take a walk through the community gardens around Coquitlam and chat with gardeners from the surrounding area to get ideas for your own garden.

The Colony Farm Community Gardens has 300 members tending to the seven-acre site within the park. Visitors are welcome to walk through the pathways (but don’t eat any of their hard-earned produce!). There are special plots with produce growing specifically for the local food banks.

On Ebert Avenue, running parallel to North Road is The Burquitlam Community Garden Park. Bring your morning coffee or afternoon tea and enjoy the quaint park. There’s also a little lending library, if you want to drop off a few books.

Next time you’re doing the Coquitlam Crunch, take a breather and visit the Scott Creek Community Garden. There’s a little neighbourhood library there too.

Home Garden

Now that you have seen what everyone around town is growing, it’s time to tackle your own garden! We have so many great home and garden shops to visit in Coquitlam.

Check out upcoming workshops put on by the City of Coquitlam at Inspiration Garden in Town Centre Park. Want to learn more? Take a read in this Tri City News article.

GardenWorks

GardenWorks Coquitlam. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you need to go soon. A large urban oasis of outdoor plants welcomes you to this convenient location on Barnet Hwy and Falcon. They also have a great selection for your indoor garden – lots of succulents and air plants, as well as tropical plants organized nicely to show which ones work well together.

Maison Pretty Living

If you’re looking for dried flowers or unique floral arrangements to brighten up your home, Maison Pretty Living on The High Street is a great option.

A dried flower bouquet in neutral colours will surely be a hit with friends.

Of course, while you’re picking up a bouquet, you can check out all of their beautiful products – like charcuterie boards, bath soaks and even scrunchies!

Artisan Gifts and Flowers

On the other side of Coquitlam, on Austin Avenue, you can find Artisan Gifts and Flowers. This shop is a real gem, offering fresh flowers that fill colourful bouquets as well as products from local artisans. Something new seems to be inside with every visit!

Pop-up Garden Centre

You may have noticed the pop-up garden store already open just northeast of Coquitlam Centre. It’s at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and The High Street.

You can park onsite or across the street at the mall. Curbside pickup is available, too.

If your thumb isn’t quite green yet, Urban Roots has a great blog with lots of gardening tips.

More Gardening Supplies

Of course Lee Valley, Home Depot, Rona and Superstore also open garden centres for the spring and summer. If you’re heading to one of the big stores, you can pick up patio furniture and anything you need for your outdoor reno project too.

Sustenance

Phew, with all that planting and getting outside, you’ll definitely need sustenance.

Brunch at Kook’s Cooks will give you all the energy you need for the day ahead. The Bulgogi Beef Benedict is a neighbourhood favourite. Other popular Coquitlam brunch spots can be found here.

If a caffeine fix is in order, you can check out a list of Coquitlam’s cozy cafés.

Perhaps a sweet treat at Olivier’s La Boulangerie will give you the sugar fix you need to get started on all these projects. Here is a comprehensive list of other great local joints offering dessert!

Spring marks the beginning of the always anticipated Patio Season on the West Coast. Coquitlam has a fantastic line up of patio options. Check them out here.

Did we miss your favourite #CQ garden centre or spring activity? Tell us about it! And share your photos with @visitcoquitlam on social media tagging #explorecoquitlam. 

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