Surrey British Columbia Crescent Beach and Cloverdale Rodeo

Why visit Surrey

Surrey is one of the largest cities in British Columbia and among the most diverse. Its coastline faces Boundary Bay and the mountains, its parks protect tall second growth forest, and its neighbourhoods range from a modern city centre to the old fairground town of Cloverdale.

Beaches and the coast

Crescent Beach

This laid back seaside community has a sandy shore, a promenade and cafes, with sunsets over Boundary Bay and the Gulf Islands.

Crescent Beach faces Boundary Bay. Photo: Canuckle, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Blackie Spit Park

Next to Crescent Beach, Blackie Spit is a sandy spit and tidal flats known for herons, shorebirds and the occasional seal.

Blackie Spit is a great place for birdwatching. Photo: Canuckle, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

White Rock pier

Just next door, the small city of White Rock has a long wooden pier, a beachfront promenade and the white boulder that gave the town its name.

The White Rock pier stretches into Semiahmoo Bay. Photo: DarkNight0917, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Parks and forests

Green Timbers Urban Forest

Green Timbers was the site of one of the first replanting projects in the province. Today its trails wind past a lake through a quiet forest in the middle of the city.

Green Timbers is a forest in the heart of the city. Photo: Dennis Sylvester Hurd, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Redwood Park

Planted by two brothers in the 1890s, Redwood Park holds a grove of tall redwoods and other trees from around the world, plus a treehouse that children love.

Redwood Park has a grove of tall planted redwoods. Photo: waferboard, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Bear Creek Park

Bear Creek Park has colourful gardens, a miniature train and walking paths along the creek.

Bear Creek Park is known for its gardens. Photo: Steven Pavlov, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Heritage and festivals

Historic Stewart Farm

This restored farmhouse on the Nicomekl River shows rural life in the early 1900s, with heritage gardens and seasonal events.

Historic Stewart Farm shows early rural life. Photo: Jollycanuck, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Food and local flavours

Surrey is famous for Punjabi and South Asian food, especially in Newton and along Scott Road. Try butter chicken, crisp samosas, sweets from a busy mithai shop and a cup of masala chai. You will also find great Chinese, Korean and Filipino restaurants, and in summer the farms of the Fraser Valley sell fresh blueberries and strawberries.

Popular dishes to try in Surrey

Where to stay

Surrey City Centre has modern hotels near SkyTrain, ideal for trips into Vancouver. South Surrey is close to Crescent Beach, White Rock and the US border, while Cloverdale suits visitors coming for the rodeo and fairgrounds.

Where to stay in Surrey

Best time to visit

Summer is dry and sunny, perfect for beaches and festivals. Spring brings blossoms and the rodeo, and fall is crisp and colourful. Winters are mild but wet, typical of the Pacific Northwest coast.

Getting there and getting around

Vancouver International Airport is about forty minutes by car. SkyTrain's Expo Line runs to Surrey Central and King George stations, connecting with buses across the city. A car is the easiest way to reach the beaches, farms and parks in South Surrey and Cloverdale.

A suggested itinerary

Practical tips

• Bring a rain jacket outside the summer months.
• Use a Compass Card or contactless payment on SkyTrain and buses.
• Check tide times before exploring Blackie Spit.
• Allow time for border lineups if you plan to cross into Washington State.