Hungry for culture, cuisine, and a ton of outdoor recreation? Head to Langley. This spacious Fraser Valley community abounds with things to do, and it's only a 40-minute drive east of downtown Vancouver via the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1).
Visit local museums and historic and heritage sites such as the Fort Langley National Historic Site, a wooden fort with costumed interpreters, that attracts some 60,000 visitors a year. Sample farm-fresh produce on circle routes, or sip local wines on wine tours. Go horseback riding, play golf, chill out in regional parks and wildlife centres, or shop at quirky boutiques and big-box retailers alike.
There's also entertainment for every taste with the Fraser Valley's biggest casino, monumental movie theatres, live sports action, and a year-round slate of colourful festivals.
Historic Sites and Museums
Fort Langley National Historic Site is a must-see as the "Birthplace of British Columbia." At this fort by the Fraser River, BC was declared a Crown Colony by a declaration of Britain's Queen Victoria in 1858. Fort Langley served as a trading post and Gold Rush supply centre in the 19th century. Today, stroke beaver and bear skins, pan for gold, take photos with interpreters in historic costumes, and stock up at the gift shop.
Steps away in the historic village of Fort Langley, check out a wealth of museums. The Langley Centennial Museum features rotating local art exhibitions, and the BC Farm & Agricultural Machinery Museum displays gleaming vintage tractors, a working sawmill and replica farmhouse interiors.
Further afield, the Canadian Museum of Flight at Langley Regional Airport exhibits a collection of more than 25 aircraft, from an Avro CF-100 all-weather interceptor to a Sikorsky S-55 helicopter.
Food & Wine Tours
Langley's self-guided Circle Farm Tour encompasses more than 10 inviting destinations. Purchase delicious farm-made cheeses and preserves at Vista D'oro Farms, pick fresh blueberries at Krause Berry Farms, or stock up on organic turkey sausages at JD Farms Specialty Turkey Store. Pick up the Circle Farm Tour map at the Visitor Centre (2 - 7888 200th St) or check out the Circle Farm Tour website.
Self-guided wine tours are a great way to experience Langley's wineries. The Fort Wine Co specializes in dessert wines and fruit table wines, and Township 7 has excelled with Chardonnay, Merlot, and other vintages since 2001. For beer drinkers, there's Dead Frog Brewery, which offers four beers year-round plus seasonal brews as Langley's lone microbrewery.
Outdoor Activities in Langley
Langley has more than 40 parks, and that means greenery is never far away. Hikers can follow 15km/10mi of trails in the riverside Derby Reach Regional Park, close to Fort Langley. Families enjoy the picnic tables, baseball diamonds, and heated outdoor pool at Langley City Park. Campbell Valley Regional Park is a magnet for equestrian fans, as its 260ha/1,322ac swathe is loaded with horseback riding trails and cross-country equestrian jumps, in addition to hiking trails.
With 7,000-odd horses, Langley bills itself as the "Horse Capital of BC." Attend show jumping competitions, rodeos, and horse auctions at Thunderbird Show Park and Milner Downs Equestrian Center.
Looking to observe exotic wildlife up close? The 1970-established Greater Vancouver Zoo is BC's largest zoo with 135-plus species of wildlife. The 165-acre Mountain View Conservation and Breeding Centre focuses on preserving endangered species (tours must be booked in advance).
Meanwhile, seven golf courses provide fun and challenges for golfers in Langley. Tee off at Belmont Golf Course, a full-sized championship course designed by Les Furber. Or hone those golf skills at Langley Golf Centre, a family-operated par-3 course. Fort Langley Golf Course offers 18 holes with St. Andrews-style pot bunkers and lots of water hazards.
Shopping
Name a big-box retailer of electronics, sporting goods, homewares or toys, and it can likely be found in Langley Regional Town Centre, near the Langley Bypass, or somewhere else on the Fraser Highway. Willowbrook Shopping Centre, with 150-odd outlets, is one of the biggest shopping malls in the Metro Vancouver area. Major retail chains also abound in Walnut Grove.
For boutique shopping, stroll along and visit the art galleries and gift shops that line the Fraser Highway between 201st and 208th Streets, like the Tribal Spirit Gallery with its collection of First Nations artwork. In historic Fort Langley, Glover Road burgeons with antique stores, galleries candy shops and specialty food stores, with the quaint storefronts enhancing the experience.
Entertainment and Sports
Slot machines, poker, and blackjack lure guests to downtown Langley's Cascade Casino, which has 55,000sq ft/5,110sq m of gaming space. On-site restaurants, a show theatre with classic pop acts, and stays at the adjoining Coast Hotel are additional highlights.
The new Langley Events Centre (7888-200 St) is the home of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) Langley Chiefs. The 6,000-capacity arena also hosts basketball, lacrosse, figure skating, and concerts.
Langley was chosen to host the 2010 BC Summer Games (July 22-25), featuring the province's best amateur athletes.
Movie fans are in luck in Langley. The spaceship-like Colossus Langley multiplex is Metro Vancouver's largest, featuring 18 movie screens (including IMAX films) and seating 5,000-plus. The Twilight Drive-In (260th St and Fraser Hwy) is the last remaining drive-in movie theatre in Metro Vancouver, with showings from February to November, rain or shine.
Langley's festivals offer great entertainment, and highlight the community's heritage. Check out Douglas Day (November 19), which commemorates BC's becoming a Crown Colony in 1858 at Fort Langley, the Langley Good Times Cruise-In (September) with hundreds of classic cars and a 100,000-strong crowd, or the Fort Langley Cranberry Festival (October).
Greater Vancouver Zoo
Looking to observe exotic wildlife up close? The 1970-established Greater Vancouver Zoo is BC's largest zoo with 135-plus species of wildlife. Children and adults alike can enjoy viewing grizzly bears, Arctic foxes, spider monkeys, and the rare Oregon Spotted Frog. Miniature train rides, a safari bus tour, and educational talks (in the summer) are also available. The zoo, located in Aldergrove, is open 365 days a year. Meanwhile, the 67ha/165ac Mountain View Conservation and Breeding Centre focuses on preserving endangered species (tours must be booked in advance).
Driving Routes
Langley is a potential stop along four distinct driving routes in the Vancouver, Coast and Mountains region that capture the varied geography and agricultural richness of the area. Langley in particular offers access to the beautiful Fraser Valley, and its many museums, historic and heritage sites, and wineries. Find out more about driving routes through Langley here: Driving Routes.
Contact the Visitor Centre for more information.
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