Photo Credit: Abigail Kent
Fort Langley was founded in 1827 and has a thriving energy created by modern boutiques, festivals, and dining experiences. Thrumming with visitors on a sunny day, people from all over the world come here to explore how history and modernity have found their way to coexist in a celebration of how things came to be and with an exciting vision for the future.
Photo Credit: Abigail Kent
I’ve taught about the legacy of the fur trade to several grade 9 classes in my teaching career, so to stand in the original building of the Hudson Bay trading post was extraordinary. This is where fur traders, prospectors and Indigenous people came together to live and trade. Our kids bounded around the grounds learning about food preservation, gold panning, livestock, indigenous animals and their furs, muskets, and watched the blacksmith forge wares.
Photo Credit: Abigail Kent
It’s a place that teaches but also allows the learner to explore and discover answers on their own. With characters from the time period walking around, the boys loved the interactive nature of the historical site. Virtual visits to the Fort are available online also!
Photo Credit: Abigail Kent
Fort Langley values the bringing together of families, businesses, and community members as is evident by their number of festivals and events. Arrive in Langley early enough to check in at the Signature Sandman Hotel and relax before heading out for the Friday Night Market. The Night Market features live music, local vendors, beer gardens, food trucks and fun activities until 10 PM and until October 8th.
Photo Credit: Juliana Loewen
Start the weekend off right with Krause Berry Farm waffles for breakfast. You can enjoy waffles heaped with fresh berries and piled high with whipping cream to your heart’s content before shopping the market, enjoying the gardens, and snapping some pictures with the fall pumpkins.
Photo Credit: Juliana Loewen
This 200 acre-family run farm features an estate winery onsite with award winning fruit wines like sparkling strawberry and pear! In fall, Krause Berry Farms is open year round with seasonal events to look forward to. With fall comes the gigantic pumpkin weighing contests, u-pick pumpkins from the patch, and pumpkin waffles!
Photo Credit: Juliana Loewen
Continue your farm crawl over to Kensington Prairie Farm for another family run experience, this time with Huacaya alpacas! Book your experience ahead of time to either walk an alpaca, enjoy a tour and feed the animals, or simply enjoy the farm and alpaca boutique at your leisure.
Photo Credit: Juliana Loewen
We had the pleasure of being toured by Catherine Simpson, owner of Kensington and grandmother to Dee, who is not only walking in her grandmother’s footsteps, but taking the family business to new and exciting ventures.
Photo Credit: Juliana Loewen
Our boys were delighted to enter the pens with the alpacas and feed them from their very own hands. These fuzzy friends were very photogenic and we enjoyed hearing about the farm’s beginnings, Catherine’s trips to Peru, and the luxury products made from alpaca which can be purchased on-site and on their website.
Photo Credit: Juliana Loewen
The boys were sad to leave our new friends behind but lunch at Trading Post Eatery was next on the docket and talking about alpaca meat had us hungry!
Photo Credit: Juliana Loewen
With a seasonal menu, ingredients sourced from nearby farms, and the rustic ambiance of an old-world brewery, Trading Post Eatery is an essential pit stop in your itinerary.
Photo Credit: Juliana Loewen
There’s no alpaca on the menu, we enjoyed bison tacos instead and I can honestly say, they were the best tacos I’ve ever had. Jake and I fought over every morsel of our appy until our mains distracted us away. We sat on the heated patio, open year round thanks to Langley’s mild climate. We didn’t need the heat on this perfect day however, and we enjoyed the highly recommended chicken sandwiches which did not disappoint!
Photo Credit: Juliana Loewen
Take time after lunch to explore the historic streets of Fort Langley. With modern boutiques intermingling with historic places like the CN Railway Station from 1915 and the Fort Langley Community Hall from the 1930s, this is truly what makes the atmosphere of Fort Langley charmed.
Photo Credit: Abigail Kent
Our favourite little stop can be found on Mavis Avenue, Niche Floral Boutique, a shop that will take you to the heart of Paris in the springtime. An island of colour and texture greets your arrival as the flower bar greets every patron. This sea of single stems beckons all creativity and whimsy to bubble to the surface as guests can piece together their own bouquets or have one of Maria’s helpful staff bring your vision together. A modern and elegant bouquet was put together for me.
Photo Credit: Abigail Kent
This is the place to gather your fall decor from pumpkins and pillows, to candles and throws, it’s not only stunning stems that you’ll be heading home with. Discover the back of the shop where the dried florals are kept and collect those trendy dried palms and grasses gracing everyone’s instagram feed. Most of all, get to know Maria and her staff, they are passionate and ever so talented at what they do.
Photo Credit: Abigail Kent
Book a workshop one on one or for groups up to six people, with flower arranging themes tailored to your passion. Same day delivery bouquets, wedding and event flowers are available as well.
Photo Credit: Juliana Loewen
Back at the hotel, conveniently nestled in Walnut Grove, we huddled together in bed watching cartoons and let the little ones fall asleep. My heart is filled with gratitude for these little people I get to share an appreciation for travel and beauty with. I hope they never take our stunning province for granted.
Photo Credit: Juliana Loewen
Dinner looked a little different from our historic day, Haven Kitchen and Bar is anything but traditional with its edgy cocktail menu and wild decor. Trendy and sexy, this is the ultimate date night spot. With a Black and Blanco cocktail in hand we enjoyed the trendy atmosphere and exciting energy of people having a good time once again.
Photo Credit: Juliana Loewen
A unique menu with carefully crafted dishes, we feasted on Farmcrest Farms chicken and gnocchi in lemongrass cream sauce, and certified organic blue goose farm beef with warm potato salad, caramelized onions, charred kale, and Haven peppercorn sauce. I looked to the neon script on the wall “Choose Your Own Adventure” and smiled at my crew of boys. This is the best adventure I could ever choose.
Photo Credit: Abigail Kent
A special thank you to Vancouver photographer, Abigail Kent for her beautiful photos of us! Follow us for more of the best of BC’s accommodations and experiences @loewenlifestyle. Drop me a DM to share your favourite places to visit or ask questions about any of our travels!
