Surrey

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Crescent Beach faces Boundary Bay, Surrey, British Columbia

Blackie Spit is a great place for birdwatching, Surrey, British Columbia

The White Rock pier stretches into Semiahmoo Bay, Surrey, British Columbia

Green Timbers is a forest in the heart of the city, Surrey, British Columbia

About Surrey

Surrey is a large and fast-growing city in Metro Vancouver, spreading south from the Fraser River to the US border. Once a scatter of farms and small settlements, it has become one of the most diverse communities in British Columbia, with large South Asian, Filipino and Chinese populations shaping its food, festivals and neighborhoods.

Much of the appeal is outdoors. Crescent Beach and White Rock, on the shores of Boundary Bay and Semiahmoo Bay, are popular for long walks at low tide, sunsets and seafood. Green Timbers Urban Forest and the trails of Redwood Park give the city a surprising amount of tree cover, and the farmland in the Cloverdale and Campbell Heights areas hosts berry farms and seasonal markets. Cloverdale also keeps a small-town main street and a rodeo tradition, while the city centre around Holland Park has a modern library, events plaza and a growing cluster of towers along the SkyTrain line.

Surrey works well as a base for travelers who want Metro Vancouver at a lower price and an easy drive to the border or the Fraser Valley. Food lovers will find some of the region's best Punjabi cooking along Scott Road and in Newton. Summer brings outdoor festivals, while the mild, wet winters suit museum and market visits.

Best seasonLate spring through early fall offers dry days for beaches, parks and outdoor festivals.

Ideal stayTwo days covers the waterfront, parks and food, with extra time for Vancouver day trips.

ArrivingMost visitors fly into Vancouver International and drive or ride SkyTrain into the city.

WiserMap travel guideSurrey British Columbia Crescent Beach and Cloverdale RodeoPlan a Surrey trip: Crescent Beach, Blackie Spit, Redwood Park, Green Timbers Urban Forest, Historic Stewart Farm, the Cloverdale Rodeo and Punjabi food.Read the guide

12 Things You Shouldn't Miss in Surrey

Beaches 1

Crescent Beach

On the shore of Boundary Bay in South Surrey, this small seaside community has a long sandy beach, a waterfront promenade and a vi...

Nature 3

Blackie Spit Park

At the northern tip of Crescent Beach, a narrow sand spit reaches into Mud Bay where the Nicomekl River meets the sea. The park is...

Serpentine Fen

Along the lower Serpentine River near Highway 99, this wildlife area is a patchwork of marsh, ponds and old farm fields protected...

Green Timbers Urban Forest

Green Timbers holds a special place in British Columbia's history: after the original old-growth forest here was logged, the provi...

Parks 4

Redwood Park

Two brothers, David and Peter Brown, planted the trees that give this South Surrey park its name, gathering seeds and seedlings fr...

Bear Creek Park

Near the centre of the city at King George Boulevard and 88 Avenue, Bear Creek Park packs a lot into one green space. Formal garde...

Tynehead Regional Park

In north Surrey, this Metro Vancouver regional park protects the headwaters area of the Serpentine River, mixing open meadows, for...

Holland Park

This landscaped park in Surrey City Centre sits a short walk from the King George and Surrey Central SkyTrain stations, with the c...

History 2

Historic Stewart Farm

On Crescent Road beside the Nicomekl River, this restored farmhouse built for the Stewart family in the 1890s shows what rural lif...

Historic Cloverdale

Cloverdale was the heart of Surrey long before today's city centre grew up in Whalley, and its main street along 176 Street still...

Museums 1

Museum of Surrey

Surrey's community museum in Cloverdale tells the story of the city, from the Semiahmoo, Katzie and Kwantlen peoples who have live...

Events 1

Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair

Every May over the Victoria Day long weekend, the Cloverdale Fairgrounds host one of Western Canada's best-known rodeos, a traditi...

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