Fridays this summer, we’ll publish a list of 10 Things to Do in Surrey — a chance to explore new places and events in the area. Email us your favourite things to do in Surrey, edit@surreynowleader.com.
1. GET SPRAYED
Surrey offers a number of spray parks and water playgrounds for kids of all ages, from late May until late September, daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. “During open hours, you can activate the water system in a spray park by push buttons if it is warmer than 20°C outside,” says a post on surrey.ca. Facilities are located at Bear Creek Park, Bridgeview Park, Cloverdale Athletic Park, Erma Stephenson Park, Fleetwood Park, Goldstone Park, Hawthorne Rotary Park, Hazelgrove Park, Newton Athletic Park, South Surrey Athletic Park and Unwin Park.
2. SPY SOME SHOREBIRDS
Mud Bay Park’s waterfront is a place to see shorebirds in what’s considered “Canada’s #1 Important Bird Area.” The nature trail is nearly three kilometres long and takes about 90 minutes to walk. The park’s most spectacular feature is its view of Boundary Bay, which transforms drastically at different times of day. At high tide, seals and loons can be seen in the waves. At low tide, the table is set for a shorebird’s favourite feast when mudflats and eelgrass meadows are exposed to the air.
3. VISIT THE ‘FAIRY FOREST’
Redwood Park (17900 20th Ave.) is home to the largest stand of Redwood trees north of the 49th parallel. It’s also home to thousands of tiny “fairy” houses placed in a clearing, not far from a replica of a treehouse once home to Peter and David Brown, twin brothers born to one of Surrey’s earliest pioneering families. In 1893, their father gifted them this large plot of land, logged and ripe for farming. However, the brothers instead filled the land with their favourite trees from around the world. The duo built a treehouse where they lived in solitude until their deaths, in 1949 and 1958.
101 THINGS TO DO IN SURREY THIS SUMMER.
— Tom Zillich (@TomZillich) July 8, 2021
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4. PUTT IN FOR THE WIN
Mini golf pulls in putters of all ages at South Surrey’s Art Knapp store, Bear Creek Park and also Hi-Knoll. The latter facility, at 4955 192nd St., also features a driving range, for those who like to hit a long ball.
5. HIT THE ICE
Some skating programs, including public skating, are open for registration at Fleetwood’s Surrey Sport & Leisure Complex and also South Surrey Arena, with schedules posted to surrey.ca. In the Panorama area, the three mini rinks at Excellent Ice are available to rent for skaters/players of all ages.
6. MEET ‘BETTY’ AT RED RACER
Central City Brewers + Distillers (11411 Bridgeview Dr.) is known for its beer and spirits, with tastings available in the area where branded merchandise (hats, clothing, glasses and more) is sold. Another attraction is the brewery’s Red Racer Roadside Diner, a permanent fixture at the Bridgeview-area landmark, and a nod to its most popular beer. On the patio, squeeze lime juice over the rockin’ chicken taco, or dip your Brew Fries into the house-made Betty Sauce, a yummy mix of mustard, ketchup, mayo and pickle juice.
7. SEE A TOTEM POLE
Carver John Edward Neel’s “Surrey Columbian Centennial Totem” is located on a path near Surrey Provincial Court (14340 57 Ave.) and the old city hall, not far from the roar of vehicles on Highway 10. “A joint endeavour of the Surrey Columbian and its readers,” a plaque reads, “this totem pole was erected in 1967 in observance of Canada’s centennial and to preserve the art and legends of the Salish Indians.” While you’re there, grab breakfast or soup at Occasions at The Pond.
8. CHECK OUT ‘CAP’
Cloverdale Athletic Park, or CAP, is a popular draw for Surrey-area families. “The proximity to home is great,” Shaheed Devji wrote on Twitter, “but it’s mostly the variety that the park offers which we love. Bike park, playgrounds, water park, sports fields, courts, picnic areas, and washrooms! It’s a one-stop shop, which is nice for parents trying to keep kids busy.”
9. WALK A LABYRINTH
At Fleetwood Gardens (15802 80th Ave.), a seven-circuit labyrinth offers an opportunity to quiet the mind and relax the body. In 2018, a special event marked the 10th-anniversary of the labyrinth, created in 2008 with the help of Diana Ng and others. Fleetwood Gardens is a popular place for wedding and graduation photos, too.
10. GET BOARD
Surrey is home to eight skate parks, each designed to offer a variety of tracks and trails to suit all abilities. From the street and plaza terrain at Cloverdale Youth Park to the flow bowl at Chuck Bailey/Tom Binnie Park, skaters have some choices while attempting backside heelflips and other tricks. In Whalley, the One Love indoor skatepark is due open in August.
More things to do in Surrey: CLICK HERE to read the entire “101 Things to Do in Surrey” feature from our June 24 print edition.
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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