1. TASTE THE ‘SPICE TRAIL’
Many Newton-area restaurants, cafes and retail stores are mapped on a “Surrey Spice Trail,” launched by Discover Surrey. Showcased are South Asian and multicultural cuisine in six neighbourhoods on SpiceTrailSurreyBC.com, which features an interactive map, travel-blog descriptions of restaurants and tips on how to get more out of your dining experience.
2. BE COOL IN A POOL
Surrey’s eight outdoor pools are open for the summer, with staggered opening dates. Best of all, admission is free, and swim times are posted to tidesout.com, along with lesson information and pool locations, or call 604-531-8855. Newton is home to outdoor pools and spray parks at Bear Creek Park (13820 88 Ave., 604-501-5154) and Unwin Park (13313 68 Ave., 604-501-5156).
3. MAKE A RACKET
Surrey boasts dozens of public outdoor tennis and pickleball courts at parks across the city, and Surrey Tennis Centre is where a lot of the action is. Check out the big “bubble” that includes six indoor courts for games and lessons, adjacent to six outdoor red clay courts, on 144 Street, near the old Surrey city hall.
4. CATCH A FLICK
Surrey is home to a couple of ultra-comfortable places to see a movie including Strawberry Hill Cineplex in Newton. In summer the place is busy with crowds seeing the latest blockbusters and also those wanting to the beat the heat of warmer weather. Look for the latest movies on cineplex.com/theatre/cineplex-cinemas-strawberry-hill or call 604-501-9400.
5. TOSS AN AXE
Newton’s Bad Axe Throwing is the Surrey franchise of what’s billed as “the world’s biggest urban axe throwing club,” a place for walk-ins, leagues, private parties and team-building events, at 8132 130 St. Axe-throwing teachers are available on the facility's three lanes.
6. RIDE THE RAILS
The miniature railway at Bear Creek Park offers train rides through the forest (bctrains.com, call 604-501-1232). Train rides are $7, the same price for mini golf in among the park's many trees. The facility is privately owned business run by Jassy Kaur. Years ago, the trains were brought over from England by Kevin McKlusky, who convinced the City of Surrey to allow him to run the train in Bear Creek Park. The 18-hole mini golf course was added in 2009.
7. SEE ART
Admission is free at Surrey Art Gallery, a great place to stay cool in an air-conditioned environment surrounded by art. Exhibits this summer include the juried show "Arts 2025" and also "10 and 10: Story of Stories," celebrating the gallery's 50th anniversary at Bear Creek Park (Surrey.ca/artgallery). While inside, check out "Mandala After a Prayer Wheel," hands-on art that people can spin. Maurice Van Der Beke's circular sculpture, made of pounded sheet copper nearly two metres across and installed in 1974, is the oldest artwork in the City of Surrey's Public Art Collection.
8. GO BMX-ING
In Newton, Action BMX is the place to be for bike-riding on a track that's more than 40 years old, with updates and renovations over the years. "We are a membership-based, grassroots BMX club with a cradle-to-grave philosophy providing coaching, practice and competition," says a post on actionbmx.ca, which includes a race and practice calendar, and more. It's located at 12600 76 Ave.
9. TAKE A WALK
Newton Reservoir Park, co-owned with Metro Vancouver, is home to a large underground water reservoir that serves the Newton area. Adjacent to the reservoir you'll find a large open grass area with a number of walking paths that connect to the surrounding neighbourhood. Dawn to dusk, check it out at 6275 128 St.
10. SHOOT HOOPS
A premiere destination for Lower Mainland sports, the 22-hectare Newton Athletic Park boasts basketball courts along with tennis, cricket and many soccer pitches, a rubberized walking track and BMX "pump" track. Bring a picnic and let the kids loose in the playground, 7395 128 St.
