Fraser Valley is near the coast and cascade mountain ranges and follows the Fraser River. From incredible cities to natural beauty, there are lots to enjoy exploring this stunning region of British Columbia on your trip. From one of Canada’s cutest towns, historic areas, and stunning mountains by the water, here are spots you can’t miss on your journey in Fraser Valley:
How Long Do You Need in Fraser Valley?
We stayed in Abbotsford for the first three nights as our home base for Abbotsford and Langley adventures, followed by two nights in Harrison.
If you’re from Vancouver, you can easily make day trips to Abbotsford and Langley or make it a staycation and stay overnight. I recommend booking a few nights at Sandpiper Resort for Harrison.
How To Get To Fraser Valley?
We flew into Vancouver Airport and rented a car for the road trip. You can also fly into Abbotsford and then rent a car.
When Should You Visit Fraser Valley?
Each season brings its own unique activities! I recommend Summer or Fall. Summer in Fraser Valley, you can enjoy the wineries, cities, water fun and flower festivals. In the fall in Fraser Valley, you can the fall fun at the farms, have cozy winery vibes, and still enjoy views of the water. Visiting late October/November is the best time to view the eagles in Harrison (more details below).
Abbotsford
Abbotsford is only an hour from Vancouver. From winery hopping to seasonal fun to great foodie finds and many views of Mount Baker, there’s plenty to explore in Abbotsford in Fraser Valley.
Fun fact, Abbotsford is the largest municipality in BC after Vancouver. It’s a large city with lots to explore downtown and rural adventures. From the peaceful plains of Sumas Prairie and Matsqui Flats to the rolling hills of Mt. Lehman and the rugged backcountry of Sumas Mountain, there are many handmade and homegrown experiences.
Singletree Winery
You’ll find some beautiful wineries in Fraser Valley, including Singletree Winery. Their 14-acre vineyard is home to some unique grape varieties, including the number one grape in Austria that you can try with Gruner Veltliner.
Pair their wine and charcuterie with a unique setting like outdoor seating or remarkable domes in fall and winter. You can reserve an “enchanted forest” or a “Canadian cabin” dome.
Brodeur’s Bistro
This Montreal and New Orleans fusion restaurant is a neighbourhood favourite. We went with the bayou shrimp and Louisiana shrimp tacos. They also have an impressive list of 27 sides to choose from, including baked Mac n cheese, Cajun poutine and more.
Fieldhouse Brewing
Fieldhouse Brewing has a relaxed vibe, excellent service, and delicious craft beers. I recommend a beer flight with a pizza. Grab a seat in one of the lawn chairs and play lawn games. Fieldhouse has a farm where they grow vegetables and fruit.
Maan Farms
Enjoy seasonal fun at Maan Farms. For autumn, they had fall fun by day and scary haunts by night at Maan Farms. During the day, you can get the perfect photo in front of their pumpkin installations, see if you can get out of the corn maze, and more.
Day and night, enjoy Midway, a place to refuel with festive foods like their pumpkin spice ice cream served in a pumpkin, “blood bag” wine, butter chicken naan tacos and more.
You can walk through Canada’s Scariest Corn Maze if you’re brave. They have four walk-through attractions at night with live actors, special effects, and surprises. Navigate the maze and see what surprises are around the corner. This terrifying experience deserves the name.
Maan Farms did an excellent job with their fun and scary experiences. Check their website before visiting to see what seasonal fun they have. In the summer, they’re also home to a fantastic sunflower experience.
Taves Family Farms Applebarn
Experience those quintessential fall vibes at Taves Family Farms Applebarn, perfect for kids of all ages 😉
The first thing that stood out to me was the fantastic attractions inside, from a retro scooby doo van, pedal carts, a pumpkin patch, an apple orchard and more. Get your perfect fall photo in their pumpkin patch with unique installations like a pumpkin carriage, pumpkin path and more—fuel up with one of their sweet or savoury bubble waffles and an apple cider slushie.
I recommend getting the Super Fun Pass that includes all farm attractions: three corn mazes, peddle karts, jumping pillows, trikes and slides, a petting barn, Farmville, and a hayride.
Taves Estate Cidery
After all the fall fun, head next door to Taves Estate Cidery. Enjoy a cider flight from cider cocktails to seasonal ciders. Afterward, you can pet their cute and cuddly goats.
The Table Bistro
Enjoy an elevated and artisanal restaurant in the heart of Abbotsford. Enjoy their unique twist on traditional dishes. I recommend the empanadas, Calabrian hot honey pizza, and steelhead salmon.
Historic Downtown Abbotsford
From charming boutiques and vintage stores to delicious restaurants and finding hidden murals, there are lots to stumble upon in Historic Downtown Abbotsford. Here are some spots you can’t miss:
Murals
Keep an eye out for vibrant murals as you explore Historic Downtown Abbotsford. A few of my favourites were found:
- Find the beautiful murals below down an alleyway parking lot on Essendene Avenue.
- Find a hello Abbotsford mural on the side of Gosling Way
- In front of A Box of Bon Bons, find a mural showcasing historic Abbotsford
Old Hand Coffee
Start your day with good coffee and a delicious breakfast sandwich at Old Hand Coffee. While waiting to order, we spoke with a local who shared how excellent this cafe is and what a staple it is in Abbotsford, a true sign you’re in the right place.
Polly Fox
Enjoy decadent treats and small meals made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Polly Fox specializes in 100% gluten and allergen-free baked goods. We got their pumpkin square, which was like a tasty mini pumpkin pie, and their famous apple fritters.
More foodie spots to check out:
- A Box of Bon Bons: a multi-generational family that has been serving chocolate creations for over 50 years
- Brgr Brgr: enjoy a great line-up of burgers and kitchen sandwiches with great quality ingredients
- Bow and Stern: enjoy seafood in this rustic setting
There are so many great shops to explore. Here are some of my favourites:
- Yes Chef!: kitchen dreams from recipe books, the best kitchenware, aprons, tools and more
- BIPOC & Local Marketplace: this shop is committed to supporting local BIPOC + small businesses. Inside you’ll find everything from candles to jewellery to dog bandanas (this shop is super dog friendly).
- Hemingway’s Books and Records: find a great deal on a book and get a blast from the past with Archie comics, records and more
- Montrose and George: for local fashion finds
- There are many more stores to explore, including Spruce Collective, Shop Bureaux Modern Mercantile, Bee Chic Boutique, Hunt & Home, Mac & Mango, Vintelier, Bureaux Modern Mercantile, Simply Perfect, and Confetti Floral Design.
Revive Boutique Bistro
Reive Boutique Bistro is such a fantastic concept of restaurant and shop that you can’t miss in Abbotsford. With all their curated decor, I was getting California vibes. Revive Boutique Bistro is all about sipping, shopping, gathering and grazing. I had the best charcuterie board of my life here. It’s a beautiful place you can’t miss on your trip to Abbotsford.
Where We Stayed in Abbotsford
We stayed at the Sandman Abbotsford. It was a vast room, central location and comfy place to sleep after a day of adventures. It was my first time staying at Sandman.
Langley
Langley is a 45-minute or less drive from Vancouver. Enjoy the charm of small-town living and a city that’s rich in history. Find acclaimed restaurants and cafés, award-winning wineries and breweries, local artisan boutiques and more. Walking through Fort Langley is one of Canada’s cutest towns. It feels like a picture-perfect movie setting for Gilmore Girls or a fun holiday movie.
Chew On This Tasty Tours
We let our taste buds guide us through Langley through Chew On This Tasty Tours. Owner Lise created it to bring people together through unique food experiences to feed your belly and soul. It’s the perfect opportunity to sip, taste and discover local gems in Langley on a curated, self-guided tour. Our custom-curated itinerary led us through the village like a local. We did an amalgamation of Culinary Backroads and Local Flavour in Fort Langley. Learn about the stops we visited below:
Little White House
Walk through the Little White House to the back, and you’ll find a hidden tea room and secret garden. Immediately I was so impressed with this experience, and the tea and bites hadn’t even arrived yet! Speaking with the owner Natasha, we learned that the Little White House was created to have a place for women to visit, from catching up with friends to shopping. Dr. Marr built the house in 1909 and planted the beautifully street-framing trees you’ll see in Fort Langley. They set the vibe with the white interior and Parisian music.
With Chew On This Tasty Tours, we enjoyed a high tea with earl grey tea and a tower of bites. I felt like I was transported back in time to a Parisian cafe.
Browse the shop after tea. They have their fashion line that you can browse throughout the house after with lots of great finds.
Fort Langley National Historic Site
Walk through Fort Langley National Historic Site and learn when the Fort was an active Trading Post of the Hudson’s Bay Company. There’s also the opportunity to stay overnight in the Park’s Canada oTENtik. This Parks Canada site is the birthplace of BC.
Into Chocolate
Into Chocolate will satisfy your sweet tooth, from delicious chocolates to vintage, hard-to-find imported sweets. We tried three chocolates through Chew On This Tasty Tours: peach tart, coffee caramel, Irish cream, and fudge.
Kizmit Gift Gallery
Kizmit Gift Gallery is a curated collection of mostly local BC artists. Inside you’ll find paintings, pottery, jewellery and more. I loved that the shop was approachable and had many different price points for every budget. We got some beautiful tea towels from Chew On This Tasty Tour.
Porter’s Bistro & Cafe
You’ll find Porter’s Bistro & Cafe inside the old General Store that was built in 1888 and has the original fixtures, floors and cabinetry. They have an onsite bakery cooking up cinnamon buns, scones, muffins and more. We enjoyed a cheese scone and butternut soup as part of Chew On This Tasty Tours.
BC Buzz Honey Hut
Find raw honey and unpasteurized honey from across Western Canada at BC Buzz. Walking up, you’ll notice the cutest honey hut and photo opportunities. There are many kinds of honey to try, from blueberry to cinnamon. We got a jar of their creamed clove honey as part of Chew On This Tasty Tours.
Roots & Wings Distillery
Enjoy a cocktail flight at this charming family-owned and operated micro-distillery. Roots & Wings Distillery has an incredible patio in the back with barrel tables. We got a cocktail flight, chips, and dip with Chew On This Tasty Tour. The cocktail flight was the perfect opportunity to try their whiskey, gin and vodka. They have unique cocktail concoctions, including more summery and fresh drinks with their rebel whisky and lemon gin, root beer vodka cocktail and grey vodka for their london fog cocktail.
More Things To Do in Fort Langley
After the Chew On This Tasty Tour, we went back to Fort Langley to explore more. We grabbed a drink at Wendel’s Bookstore & Cafe and admired the views. Sit in their cafe, and you can see the trains go by. You can walk on a boardwalk along the Fraser River. The bridge gives a great view of the mountain and provides a great idea of the railroad winding behind the trees.
We were so full after the Chew On This Tasty Tour, but other foodie spots to check out include: Blacksmith Bakery, Rail & River Bistro, Little Donkey Food & Drink, and Trading Post Eatery.
CN Station
It feels like you’re stepping back in time as you explore the station. The CN Station was built in 1915 for the Canadian Northern Railway. Today it’s a municipal heritage site.
Fort Langley Murals
Walking through town, you’ll spot some incredible murals. Make sure to check out the series of murals in front of Republica Coffee Roasters.
Chilliwack
With so much to explore, we didn’t have enough time to visit Chilliwack, but here are a few stops that would be on my list for next time:
- In Spring, you can attend the Chilliwack Tulip Festival, and in summer, there’s the Chilliwack Sunflower Festival. Enjoy magnificent displays of colour with the backdrop of mountains.
- Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park: a 25-minute hike will bring you to a beautiful waterfall.
- Cultus Lake looks like the perfect spot for swimming and paddleboarding.
Harrison Mills
Harrison Mills is a great place to enjoy the natural beauty of BC and admire the wildlife, from salmon to eagles.
Sandpiper Resort
Sandpiper Resort is a stunning resort along the Harrison River. They have a golf course, a gazebo for eagle viewing and multiple accommodation options. Sandpiper is voted one of British Columbia’s most scenic 18-hole golf courses. You can also stay overnight at the golf course in a luxury nature series cabin, rustic cabin or Rowena’s Inn.
We stayed in the one-bedroom luxury nature series cabins. You get the best parts of a rustic cabin but with contemporary touches like a kitchen, cozy fireplace, media streaming and more. Your front porch gives excellent views of the river. I love waking up here and watching the fog move across the water.
They also have rustic cottage cabins and Rowena’s Inn On the River; a 1920’s themed inn with old-world charm. They offer to Step Back in Time fireside dining a few times a year.
River’s Edge Clubhouse Restaurant
A quick and scenic walk from our cabin was River’s Edge Clubhouse Restaurant. Enjoy delicious bites with a view. I recommend getting the Sockeye Salmon Bowl and the Salmon and Prawn Linguini. For breakfast, I recommend the eggs benedict. The fast service and the hearty and tasty meals were exactly what we needed after a day of adventures. I loved looking out at the course and river as we dined.
Eagle Walking Trail
Walk through this winding trail through the old-growth forest, pass a rushing creek, and you’ll find a gazebo at the end. This is an excellent location for spotting eagles during the fall.
Ya Doma Nature and Forest Therapy
Ya Doma Nature and Forest Therapy offer year-round forest therapy walks. Forest Therapy is rooted in the Japanese practice of Shinrin Yoku (forest bathing). It’s a mindful experience where you immerse yourself in nature and focus on your senses. Kim will bring you through multiple invitations to guide your experience. It’s the perfect opportunity to slow down and be fully present and enjoy the sights, sounds, smells and touches around you. For me, it was the perfect reminder of all the little details you can notice when you disconnect for a while, from the light hitting the moss to admiring falling leaves.
Harrison Village
Harrison Village has a beach resort feel, with many restaurants and shops lining the main street across the water. You’ll find lots of shops if you’re looking for the perfect keepsake to bring home. The village is famous for its hot springs. When you arrive, you’ll immediately notice the stunning view of glacier-fed Harrison Lake. I imagine in the summer it’s a perfect spot to spend a sunny day in the water. Take some time to walk along Harrison Lake. It’s 60 km long!
Grad lunch at Muddy Waters, a family-run cafe with farm-to-table offerings. Afterwards, pop next door to Rocky Mountain Chocolate for a sweet treat.
Harrison Eco Tour
Go beyond the village and explore the beauty of Harrison Lake with Harrison Eco Tour. Once we made it around the corner, I couldn’t believe the colour of the water. The glacier-fed water is a beautiful turquoise.
The boat is super comfortable and spacious. Our guide Molly was knowledgeable, sharing many facts about the area and the wildlife and pointing out animals along the way.
Locals shared that November is the best time to see the eagles. Molly shared that there are 7700 eagles in the area in peak season! They come for the Salmon in the fall. We were lucky to see a few mixed in with a pack of seagulls. Molly said this is the only time you’ll see the two birds mixing.
One of my favourite parts was enjoying the views of the mountains lining the water. As we went farther, we noticed some seals popping up. We also spotted some salmon jumping through the water.
Harrison Eco Tour has a Rainbow Falls trip to a waterfall and kayaking adventures.
Kilby Provincial Park
We stopped at Kilby Provincial Park in hopes of seeing some more eagles. Although we didn’t see this magnificent bird, we got a stunning view of the mountains. I recommend a stop here to soak in the view (cover photo for this blog).
Thanks to Destination British Columbia, Tourism Abbotsford, Tourism Langley and Tourism Harrison for hosting me in Fraser Valley. As always, all opinions and thoughts are my own. I hope this helps spark some inspiration for Fraser Valley and you have as much fun exploring as me 🙂 I’d love to see your adventures. Tag me on Instagram and Tik Tok.
Find more Canadian travel ideas here.
Julia started Little Miss Ottawa as a way to explore her hometown as a traveller would. She’s always planning her next adventure, whether it’s local or abroad. You’ll find her exploring with her camera in hand. She hopes Little Miss Ottawa helps bring you on new and fun adventures. Happy exploring :)
Find me on: Instagram
