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 For those who love to play outside all day, Chilliwack offers the freedom to do just that. For those who savour urban comforts and historical curiosities, the city also has some hidden gems. And Chilliwack is only an hour and 15 minutes east of Vancouver via the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1). All across this rural Fraser Valley community of 100sq km/259sq mi, visitors can discover spectacular gardens, stroll through parks amid wildlife and birds, participate in and watch a variety of sports, shop at unique stores, farms, and artisan workshops, or hit the water for fishing, river rafting, and more.
AttractionsMinter Gardens attracts 100,000 visitors annually between April and October as one of Chilliwack's biggest attractions. Spanning 13 hectares (32 acres), it includes 11 different themed show gardens, from roses and rhododendrons to perennials and waterfalls. Owner Brian Minter also operates nearby Minter Country Garden Centre, whose greenhouses are packed with specialty plants for sale.
History buffs can check out the Chilliwack Museum, a designated National Historic Site downtown. The first floor includes exhibits on Chilliwack's past, including the First Nations, the 1850s Gold Rush and more, while the second floor displays contemporary works by local artists.
Another option is the Kilby Historic Site (215 Kilby Rd) in nearby Harrison Mills, which showcases a restored, early 20th-century general store adorned with local artifacts, plus a working farm. It's open each year between Easter (March or April) and Canadian Thanksgiving (October).
At Tourism Chilliwack's Visitor Centre, grab an itinerary for a self-guided driving tour of the Yale Road Heritage Corridor, which covers local landmarks from farms to native settlements to historic churches.
Natural Sights, Parks, and Wildlife Throughout Chilliwack, vast swathes of farmland are framed by the Cascade Mountains, and the choice of natural sights is as impressive as the horizon. The region is home to bears, deer, and numerous fish and bird species.
Southwest of downtown, the wetlands on the Vedder River floodplain host the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve. Hikers can check out the breeding colony of Canada's largest herons, as well as salmon spawning channels and an interpretive centre. This area also features the Rotary Vedder Trail, which runs for 15.5km (9.7mi) along the river's north dyke.
The city of Chilliwack has 80-plus parks that encompass nearly 140 hectares (346 acres) of green space.
Summertime attracts thousands of campers, cabin dwellers, and day trippers to the area's provincial parks, including Cultus Lake Provincial Park, a spectacular 2,561-hectare (6,330-acre) area. If visitors aren't whizzing down waterslides or playing mini-golf, they're boating and picnicking at the huge freshwater lake.
Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park is famed as the home of Canada's sixth-tallest waterfall at 122m (400ft). It also offers fun family attractions, from a dinosaur-themed kid's park and golf courses to paragliding and paintball.
Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park sits 64km (40mi) southeast of Chilliwack (Exit 104 off the Trans-Canada Highway), and provides more seasonal opportunities for hiking, fishing, windsurfing, and camping amid sparkling lakes and Alpine ridges.
Sports and Recreation Golf is increasingly popular but still affordable in Chilliwack. Pros and hackers enjoy teeing off at The Falls Golf Resort, an 18-hole championship course with on-site luxury residences, and the Chilliwack Golf and Country Club, one of British Columbia's top public courses.
Adrenalin fanatics can try paragliding, hang gliding, mountain climbing, or mountain biking. On a more tranquil note, the city also has a yoga studio in Natural Balance Yoga (#21-8635 Young Rd). And water sports on local lakes and rivers are always a draw.
 For spectator sports, there's Prospera Centre (45323 Hodgins Ave), the 5,000-capacity arena of the Chilliwack Bruins. That Western Hockey League franchise recently saw forward Oscar Moller graduate to the NHL's Los Angeles Kings. In addition, Prospera Centre has hosted events like the Continental Cup of Curling and the Skate Canada championships.
Head to the Chilliwack Landing Leisure Centre (#1-9145 Corbould St) to get a good workout at the fitness centre, family swimming pool, and skateboard park. The city also offers 37 tennis courts for racket buffs.
The Chilliwack Heritage Park (44140 Luckakuck Way), a 26-hectare (65-acre) fairground, hosts equestrian and rodeo events, as well as dog shows and barrel racing.
ShoppingChilliwack has quality boutique shopping in the historic downtown core, from used books at The Book Man to children's clothing at Teddy Bear Dreams.
Further afield, self-guided driving tours like the Chilliwack Circle Farm Tour and Chilliwack Artisan Tours help shoppers find everything from locally produced honey or soap to glazed porcelain at Greendale Pottery or native art at the Stolo Artisan Centre.
Water Activities Chilliwack offers some of North America's best fishing. Catch enormous sturgeon on the Fraser River or angle for salmon and steelhead on the Chilliwack/Vedder River. Local lakes teem with freshwater trout. See Tourism Chilliwack's Official Visitors Guide for details on fishing trip outfitters.
River rafting in inflatable paddle rafts on the Chilliwack River is a genuine adrenalin kick. Kayakers also enjoy this challenging waterway: the Canadian national team trains on the river's Tamihi Rapids.
Boating, windsurfing, swimming, jet skiing, and waterskiing are all great ways to cool off at provincial parks like Cultus Lake and Chilliwack Lake.
For more information on things to do in Chilliwack, stop in at the Visitor Centre or click on the links below.
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