07/19/2019
It’s the size of the place you notice first. The city of Surrey, British Columbia, is really, really big. The downtown is growing out and up to the skies, and the landmass just seems to go on forever. Then it’s the transitions, from city to country, from urbanity to vast farm fields with neat rows of vegetables and fruit vines.
There’s an evolution of place happening, from a rural past to urban future. A tension about not wanting to grow too fast too quickly, despite the reality that Surrey is growing. There’s room to move and things to do in Surrey, British Columbia, so much so that we’ve compiled these cool and fun things to check out and do in one of Canada’s fastest growing cities. And yes, they may indeed surprise you.
10 Cool Things to do in Surrey
First things first. Surrey is a big place; we’re talking Vancouver, Burnaby and Richmond put together big. So a car is pretty much a must to get around. The public transit SkyTrain system shuttles between Surrey’s Central City downtown and a couple other city stops, and connects it to Vancouver and rest of the Lower Mainland. It’s fine to get between places, but if you really want to explore, you’ll need wheels.
Surrey is the second largest city in the province, and one of the liveliest, most diverse, and fastest-growing cities in Metro Vancouver. A third of the population is under the age of nineteen, so it’s a family-friendly place where kids can be seen just about everywhere you look. New immigrants have been moving to Surrey for decades, and it’s got one of the largest Punjabi Sikh communities outside of India.
With vast natural beauty, a flourishing culinary scene and cutting-edge recreational facilities, it’s a city waiting to be rediscovered. Surrey is a diverse community rich in arts, culture, history, and home to some of the largest and most vibrant festivals in Canada. The city combines a unique fusion of urban and rural, embracing both the growing urban centres and beautiful pastoral landscapes.
1. Find the Great Pumpkin at Rondriso Farms
We were strolling past the large display of orange-hued fall squash, some perfectly round, others gnarled and misshapen. My eyes scanned the mix of classic orange and ghostly white gourds, in search of the perfect pumpkin. One that would lend itself to artful carving and smash the others in competition for Halloween supremacy. Our discovery tour of Surrey had taken us to Rondriso Farms and General Store, a working farm and site of a popular pumpkin patch. We were in the perfect place, now to find the perfect specimen.
“That’s the one, that’s the winning pumpkin!” I said, pointing to a massive orange gourd with long, curly stem. Owner Pam Tamis smiled as we struggled to get it into the car trunk, where it just barely fit.
Rondriso Farms is a family-owned, small-scale working farm, general store, and in the fall, pumpkin patch. The Tamis family has farmed here for two generations, and current owners Ron and Pam and sons are proud to run this sustainable farm.
They grow a wide range of crops that allows them to maintain the integrity of their land and the food we grow. The farm sells its produce at its General Store and at local Farmers Markets. They also run the Localicious Produce Box program throughout the summer, fall, and winter.
Fall is a special time at Rondriso. Visit starting October 1st for its annual Pumpkin Patch and wagon tours. If you’re lucky you’ll find a winning pumpkin, just like we did.
To be continued….
