It鈥檚 a Labour Day tradition for the Retallic family to hit one of the region鈥檚 larger parks and spend the day hiking, picnicking, and hanging out together before heading back to school and their busy lives.
This past Monday, the Delta family sought to explore 鈥� for the first time 鈥� Aldergrove Regional Park. In recent years, they鈥檝e spent Labour Day at Golden Ears Provincial Park and Campbell Valley Regional Park.
鈥淲e鈥檝e driven by this park countless times,鈥� explained Karin. 鈥淭his time, we thought we should give it a try. It鈥檚 nice. I didn鈥檛 realize there was this much here,鈥� she said.
In years gone by, the family would have to opt for other parks with more traditional playgrounds, but her teenage sons were especially keen to climb around in the nature discovery park, including a giant stump stripped down and set up for curious climbers.
Saying they鈥檇 definitely be back again, especially appreciative of the clean bathrooms and fewer people, Dad (Rod) could be overheard saying how a giant stump like that might look nice in their front yard.
They鈥檙e glad they passed on busy spots like Buntzen Lake and White Rock, in favour of what they describe as a clean, quiet, and inviting rural park.
The Retallics weren鈥檛 the only out-of-town families who stopped at the park on Labour Day to picnic, cycle, hike, or play.
Abbotsford couple Kirby Bergen and Alexandra DeZeeuw brought 17 members of their families together 鈥� many for the first time 鈥� for a socially distanced family barbecue. They had family come from around the Lower Mainland, including Abbotsford, Maple Ridge, and Mission.
鈥淚 think we needed to take th chance to get out here before summer ends,鈥� said Alexandra, who used to come walking and jogging through the park regularly when she lived only four minutes away. Now that she鈥檚 15 minutes away, in Abbotsford, she said she still comes out occasionally during the summer 鈥� opting instead to spend much of her down time hiking more challenging terrains. But come fall and spring again, she vowed she鈥檇 be back walking the trails.
Surrey鈥檚 Rivas family are frequent visitors to the park in the summer.
Salvador heads out with his wife and their three boys, ages 10 and 11, each weekend to cycle.
This was their third time this summer to ride the circuit at the Aldergrove park.
鈥淲e love the trails,鈥� he said.
91原创 City鈥檚 Bruce Lockhart is a frequent user of Aldergrove Regional Park, first being introduced by a friend some 10 years ago, when the lake was still part of the park.
鈥淚t was still a puddle back then,鈥� he chuckled, never drawn to the lake but rather a fan of the six-kilometre trail.
This time out, he brought friend and fellow personal trainer Margaret Parsons of Maple Ridge. They typically hike together five days a week, and while liking Kanaka Creek Regional Park, Golden Ears Provincial Park on her side of the Fraser River, and the Fort-to-Fort and Houston Trails on this side 鈥� this will be a new contender among her faves.
鈥淚 love the wildness. I find it very wild and less groom than I鈥檓 used to,鈥� Parsons said.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 beautiful,鈥� she added, noting she鈥檒l 鈥渄efinitely鈥� be back because it offers a nice mix of terrain.
Check out the virtual field trip options from Metro Vancouver Regional Parks.
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Abbotsford鈥檚 Suk Hmahil wasn鈥檛 looking for to hike or bike while visiting the park on Labour Day.
His hopes were aimed more at rest, maybe even getting in a catnap while his wife, Mandy, and their three-year-old son Rauhi played in the nature discovery area 鈥� an outdoor playground made from elements found in nature.
The family visit the park two to three times a week, young Rauhi loving to picnic and play in the meadows and forested areas.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a nice park, and lots of people don鈥檛 know about it 鈥� yet,鈥� said Mandy, noting they typically switch between visit to the natural play area and the east end of the park 鈥� depending on the day.
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