Escape the city and sample the best of the Fraser Valley

Dec 19 2017, 8:45 pm

If you’re looking for a weekend escape from the city, look no further than the Fraser Valley’s Circle Farm Tour. We’ve highlighted a few of our favourite stops on the self-guided tour, which focus on artisan craftsmanship, sustainability and local flavour.

If you begin your journey on the Lougheed Highway, travel to Maple Ridge and sample the amazing artisan cheeses at Golden Ears Cheesecrafters. Unique flavours like “knock your socks off” Jersey Blue, Chipotle Havarti and Cumin Gouda will keep you coming back for more.

cheese pitt meadows

The family-run business aims to bring people back to food basics. Co-owner Kerry Davidson said when you come you can watch your cheese being made. They also host a local food shop and bistro. And if you pass by on Wednesday make sure to take in High Tea, served in the bistro from 2 to 4 p.m.

Continue down the highway towards Harrison Hot Springs and you’ll find the once-thriving mill town, Kilby. Open weekends beginning November 15 for the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival, Kilby Historic Site is a museum of rural life in historic B.C. Take in the beautiful scenery while exploring building remains from the 1920s, with the help of costumed interpreters who encourage visitors to step back in time to relive history.

View the working heritage farm, museum displays and take lunch at the quaint pioneer-style cafe featuring era music and made-from-scratch savouries. The country gift shop also acts as the orientation area, where you’ll find country hospitality and good old-fashioned cooking.

Next, make your way to Chilliwack and visit The Local Harvest Market where their tagline is “We go the extra mile so you don’t have to.” Have an authentic farm experience and learn about everything from poultry and alpaca care to vegetable production and food preservation.

Alpakas

Many of the products available at The Local Harvest Market are grown and produced on their 30-acre farm or from other local producers like Anita’s Organics cereals, which is certified organic or kosher and Magpie’s Bakery bread, which is baked in a stone fire oven.

Fire Roasting oven

Just off the freeway in Abbotsford is the sprawling Taves Family Farm. A popular destination for artisan food lovers and families alike, you could spend an entire day exploring the working farm. Visit the petting zoo, feed the goats, run through the corn maze, try out the zip line and take a hay ride before sampling some roasted corn and local ice cream.

And don’t forget to browse the huge selection of pumpkins—more than 70 varieties like Knucklehead, Warlock, and Cinderella. Whether it’s for selfies, carving, centrepieces or the custom pumpkin cannon, there’s a perfect pumpkin for you here.

Screen Shot 2014-11-07 at 3.31.00 PM

Finally, head over to Langley’s Krause Berry Farms & Estate Winery and drool over their famous wall of pies—featuring 20 types of custard pies all made fresh daily. But if that doesn’t tempt you browse their farm market for “farmisan” bread, old-fashioned berry milkshakes, and fudge.

RS2179_IMG_9408 (2)

If you arrive before dark visit the pumpkin patch, run through the barley maze, and sample fresh waffles served in the Porch cafe. If you visit on a Thursday evening make a date night of it and enjoy dinner in the equestrian-themed winery.

With more than 50 stops on the self-guided Circle Farm Tour you’re sure to make the most of a visit to the Fraser Valley’s artisan farms while you’re outside the city.

Advertorial. If you are interested in sponsored content, please contact us.

DH Vancouver StaffDH Vancouver Staff

+ News
ADVERTISEMENT