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Surrey Real Estate
Air & Land Activities: Surrey is a city that focuses on the outdoors, and it has the parks (over 500) and trails to prove it. Walkers, runners, hikers, cyclists and equestrians all make good use of the 16.4-km (10-mi) Dyke Trail, whose eastern terminus is at Mud Bay Park. The trail, which winds around Boundary Bay, also provides birders with superb bird-watching opportunities. 260-ha (642-ac) Tynehead Regional Park in North Surrey offers 5 km (3 mi) of scenic trails through rolling meadows, forests and waterways at the head of the Serpentine River. Crescent Beach is one of the Lower Mainland’s finest sandy beaches. Look for Hermit Crabs, seastars and sand dollars in the intertidal pools. Visitors can also find numerous private campgrounds and RV parks throughout the region, most offering amenities such as playgrounds, laundry facilities and full hookups. Golf is a revered sport in the region and played year-round. Surrey’s greens vary from short three-pars to challenging championship courses. Canadian Mike Weir made his first PGA Tour win at the 1999 Air Canada Championship, held at Northview Golf & Country Club. Other notable courses include Peace Portal Golf Club, Morgan Creek and Hazelmere Country Club.
Arts, Culture & History: The history of Surrey is on captivating display at the Surrey Museum, located in impressive, new headquarters of 2,230 sq m (24,000 sq ft) in Cloverdale. Permanent and temporary exhibits – many of which are interactive through state-of-the-art audio and visual technologies – focus on Surrey’s past 150 years. Presentations explore everything from the region’s First Nations to rapid urban growth. The Surrey Art Gallery is one of the Lower Mainland’s more innovative art venues. Its TechLab exhibits contemporary art through new media. The lobby showcases community exhibitions and public artwork. Historic Stewart Farm in Elgin Heritage Park gives visitors an idea of life in the Surrey area in the early 20th century. The site has a restored 1894 Victorian farmhouse and Pole Barn displaying vintage agricultural tools and barn-building techniques. Bring a picnic and stroll along the park’s trails.
Attractions: Surrey is one of BC’s most productive agricultural regions, with the community home to over 700 farms. Visitors to the region have opportunities to purchase farm-fresh produce. Many of the wineries in the area are also open to the public for tours and tastings. Three unique park attractions in the region include: the miniature steam-engine train and the locomotives “Eddy the Engine” and “Chough” at Bear Creek Park; the rare plants, shrubs and trees at Darts Hill Garden Park; as well as the exotic evergreens and two-storey treehouse at Redwood Park. Families can also head to Surrey in September and October to try their luck winding through the Corn Maze.
Entertainment: Surrey offers all the amenities of an urban centre as well as the entertainment of a rural community. First and foremost is the Cloverdale Rodeo, one of Canada’s largest. Held every May, it draws North America’s top cowboys as well as record numbers of spectators. The historic centre of Surrey, Cloverdale is also home to shops selling everything from antiques and collectibles to crafts and equestrian gear. The Bell Performing Arts Centre hosts live theatre, dance and music performances in a theatre that seats 1,100. The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performs here several times during its season. The Surrey Arts Centre in Bear Creek Park stages plays, classical music, musicals and comedy shows.
Natural Sights, Parks & Wildlife: Surrey is a birder’s paradise, particularly at Blackie Spit in South Surrey. One of Canada’s top bird-watching sites, approximately 200 species have been spotted here. The sandy spit is lined with tidal marsh and eelgrass beds – an ideal habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl and shorebirds. The dyked freshwater marshes of the Serpentine Wildlife Area (Serpentine Fen) in South Surrey provides key habitats for wildlife. In early fall, watch for Great Blue Herons, cormorants, Short-eared Owls and hawks from one of three viewing towers. Bring boots – the area is a wetland. Crescent Park offers trails and walks through forests, by ponds and across streams. Look for ducks and kingfishers. Tynehead Regional Park in North Surrey offers 5 km (3 mi) of scenic trails through rolling meadows, forests and waterways at the head of the Serpentine River, a spawning and rearing habitat for trout and salmon. Bring a picnic or let your dog run in the off-leash area.
Rest & Relaxation: Crescent Beach is known for its soft, sandy beaches. This 1-km (0.6-mi) stretch of sand lies on the eastern shores of Boundary Bay, one of the region’s sunniest spots. Activities include swimming, sunning, sandcastle building, boating, kayaking, sailing and beach volleyball. Find a log to lean against and watch the sun set over Boundary Bay. The local restaurants are known for their seafood and fish & chips.
Water Activities: Head to Crescent Beach to take advantage of water sports. Kayaking and sailing are two of the more popular activities, while the soft, sandy beach makes for terrific beachcombing, particularly at low tide.
Winter Activities: Surrey is just over a 60-minute drive to the North Shore Mountains' three renowned ski areas: Cypress Mountain, Grouse Mountain and Mount Seymour. All boast spectacular views of Greater Vancouver, the Pacific Ocean and Vancouver Island; are blessed by abundant snowfalls; and offer numerous winter activities that include skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snow-tubing and cross-country skiing. The Whistler/Blackcomb ski area is just a 2-1/2-hour drive along Highways 1 and 99. North America’s largest ski resort with over 3,306 ha (8,171 ac) of terrain and more than 200 marked runs, Whistler/Blackcomb is consistently ranked among the top winter resorts on the continent. Whistler will host many alpine, Nordic and sliding events in the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
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