Richmond on a Layover: Accessible Daytrips from YVR

Layovers need not be tedious affairs! Richmond, home to the Vancouver International Airport, has plenty of nearby attractions on offer where one can pleasurably pass the time. If you're feeling lucky, hop onto the new Canada Line rapid transit system directly from the airport and 10 minutes later arrive at Bridgeport Station, where B.C.'s largest casino is mere steps away. The River Rock Casino Resort  boasts 900 slot machines, daily poker tournaments, an exclusive high-limit VIP room, a gourmet buffet and a fine-dining Italian restaurant, Tramonto. Or, take the trip just one stop over to Aberdeen Station, the hub of Richmond's Golden Village with  some of the best Asian dining and shopping in North America.   Within a four-block radius there are more than 300 shops and services including three Hong Kong-inspired malls, Asian specialty grocery stores, jewelry stores, art galleries and the latest Asian designer fashions, not to mention the over 200 Asian hidden gem restaurants on Alexandra or "Food Street". If you're hankering for a waterfront view, Pier 73  at the Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel is only a five minute drive from the airport. This fresh new eatery is suspended above the Fraser River in the heart of a charming 138-slip marina. The restaurant's spacious patio offers a superb waterfront location with clear views of the North Shore Mountains. See, layovers can be fun!