One of Canada's 'most charming' small towns is near Vancouver and is the perfect day trip
Nothing says spring like a little day trip to a charming small town. Think fresh flowers, farmers markets, and wandering down a street lined with picturesque shops.
This small town in B.C. is less than an hour outside of Vancouver, but manages to feel like a complete escape from the bustle of big city life.
Fort Langley (a village within the larger city of Langley) is like a Hallmark movie come to life. Really though, Hallmark flicks have been filmed in the little town. It's everything you could want from a cozy Gilmore Girls-esque community.
Don't just take it from us. Langley was ranked among North America's most charming small towns by the online site, Betway. You've got local shops, idyllic parks, adorable coffee shops, a stunning community hall, and local farms to top it all off.
If you want a the ultimate small-town day this spring or summer, look no further — here's what to do in Langley.
Explore Fort Langley's shops
First and foremost, go to the heart of the quaint vibes. Fort Langley is the historic village of the area, with a ton of museums, boutiques, restaurants, and galleries to check out.
You can walk along the streets here for hours, popping in and out of the local shops and soaking in the charming atmosphere.The iconic yellow Community Hall is here (the spot that's made it into beloved rom-coms), and it's worth checking out.
Wendel's Bookstore & Cafe is a go-to spot in town. With its picturesque sign, locally sourced food, and delicious coffee, it's a great place to grab a book and a drink and sit out on the patio, people-watching. Sabà Cafe is also a popular (and tasty) spot here for coffee and treats.
After fuelling you can up head to Fort Langley National Historic Site. It is a $9 entry fee but it'll transport you to a different time.
Head to a farm
It's finally sunny — so get outside and soak it in!
Langley has a ton of farms that you can choose from, with U-Pick options that make for a fun afternoon activity. Krause Berry Farms & Winery is a popular spot for berry picking in the summer months (they usually open for U-pick in early June) and you can spend your day plucking strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries.
If it's too early for berry picking you can head out to a farm to see some adorable animals. Aldor Acres is a family-owned farm that's open year round, and on certain weekends in the spring they have farm tours, baby animals, hayrides, and an artisan farmers market.
Kensington Prairie Farm is another spot to go to get your cute fix. The quaint farm raises alpacas and you can book guided tours of the farm and learn more about the animals, and get up close and personal with them.
Sip at a winery
Within the Township of Langley there's eight beautiful wineries you can check out. You'll get to roam around the breathtaking vineyards at some spots, and try out some of the local wines. Backyard Vineyards lets you sip your wine while wandering the vineyard, or enjoy it in their beautiful outdoor gazebo.
Chaberton Estate Winery & Bacchus Bistro is the oldest winery in the Fraser Valley and has winery tours, and some tasty French food to pair with it. A meal here also overlooks their expansive 55-acre vineyard, which adds to the experience.
Take your pick of spots to visit, or go around for a little wine tour!
Check out the Farmers' Market
The Fort Langley Village Farmers' Market starts up on April 26 and runs on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
You can stock up on delicious fresh produce here from the local farms, get fresh flowers, and try out some tasty food. They also have lots of local artisans, painters and crafters here, as well as some local craft beers.
Nothing says summer like roaming around a local farmers' market !
Breathe in the nature
Take your pick of stunning parks and breathe in the fresh air and peacefulness of the area.
Aldergrove Regional Park is a beautiful spot with rolling meadows and views of Mount Baker in the distance. Trails wind throughout the park, from the forest to the open fields, and you can take them on by foot, bike, or even horseback.
For a waterfront stroll you can head to Derby Reach Regional Park, which is set along the Fraser River.
The perfect sunny spring day involves grabbing food from a cafe in town and settling down on a gassy area in a park for a picnic.
Langley's charm, quint vibes and wholesome activities won't disappoint. There's loads of other spots to day trip to from Vancouver too though, so you can start building out those summer plans now.
