Abbotsford is a city in BC’s Fraser Valley, about 1 hour East of Vancouver! It borders the US and sits adjacent to the Fraser River. It’s one of the largest municipalities in the province, but it’s primarily a rural destination. Referred to as “the city in the country”, Abbotsford is most well known for its farms, agriculture, and outdoor activities. It’s one of the most multi-cultural areas in Canada, and has plenty to offer! The city makes a great day trip or short getaway from Vancouver, especially in the summertime. We highly recommend it and can’t wait to return to experience other seasons and activities. Keep reading for a full summertime day-trip guide to Abbotsford, BC!
When to Visit
Abbotsford makes for a great trip from Vancouver anytime of year, but it’s especially wonderful in the summertime! Plan your visit between June and September for the warmest days and best summer activities. You can pick berries, enjoy the farms, grab some fresh veggies, visit the local wineries and breweries, soak up the sunshine, and enjoy everything the region has to offer. We visited at the beginning of August and it was perfect for a full day of exploring!
What to Do
Abbotsford is well known for its beautiful farmland, but there is also a thriving downtown district with many trendy restaurants, cafes, breweries, and more! Here is our list of must-do activities for a summertime visit:
Shop in Historic Downtown Abbotsford
Downtown Abbotsford is an essential stop for your visit! Being the oldest part of the city, historic downtown has been revitalized and is full of amazing boutiques and specialty shops. Be sure to check out Yes Chef for housewares and kitchen goods, Spruce Collective for locally made products and vintage finds, and Montrose & George for the local community general store. You will find all sorts of unique gems downtown, be sure to scour the shops for the perfect gifts and souvenirs to take home!
Visit Maan Farms
Maan Farms is one of Abbotsford’s most impressive and well-known farms. Started back in the 70’s by the Maan family, they’ve grown from a small roadside stand to a huge community establishment. The summer months are the perfect time to stop by and do their U-Pick berries. They are most famous for their strawberries, but you can also pick blueberries or raspberries! The farm has a full fruit and veggie market, a shop with homemade goods, a full kitchen serving lunch, a winery, and tons of family friendly activities. If you visit in the late summer you might also get to experience their annual sunflower festival!
Visit an Abbotsford Winery
Along with the new winery at Maan Farms, Abbotsford is home to many more! Pick up some local wines during your visit to make the most out of your trip. Some of the most popular spots include Seaside Pearl Farmgate Winery, Singletree Winery, and Mt Lehman Winery.
Check out the Local Cafes
Abbotsford’s downtown district doesn’t disappoint when it comes to coffee shops, bakeries, and cozy cafes. Stop by in the morning and grab a cold-pressed juice or smoothie bowl at The Habit Project, or get your caffeine fix at Old Hand Coffee. For pastries and baked goodies head to Duft & Co Bakehouse, for high tea go to Tracycakes Bakery, and for gluten-free and vegan options check out Polly Fox! We were so impressed with how much downtown Abbotsford has changed in recent years, and how many great establishments there are to check out. Be sure to spend some time exploring the neighbourhood!
Go Hiking
Abbotsford offers plenty of activities for the outdoorsy traveller, including some great hikes! Head up to Sumas Mountain on the Ledgeview trails for gorgeous views of the Fraser Valley, or for something more challenging try the Abby Grind, a hike along the Glen Ryder Trail. Other spots that make for a great scenic walk are the Downes Bowl trail, the Albert Dyck trail, the Mill Lake loop, or the Willband Creek trail. Enjoy!
Sample Abbotsford Beer & Cider
Abbotsford is home to one of the Vancouver area’s best craft beer breweries, Field House Brewing! We promise even the ultimate beer snob will be impressed. You won’t just find typical brews at Field House, they offer an impressive selection of specialty beers, like barrel aged ales and uniquely flavoured sours. Stop by to pick up some bottles to take home, or have a drink on their spacious outdoor patio. They even have a full food menu available if you get hungry!
If beer isn’t your thing, head to Taves Estate Cidery. It’s the newest addition to the longstanding Taves Farm, which they just opened up in 2020. Enjoy a flight of hard cider and relax in their outdoor picnic area. They have traditional apple blends as well as creative flavours like gooseberry, red currant, and black currant (our favourite)! Fill up a growler or grab some bottles of cider to take with you, and don’t leave without meeting the farm’s resident goats!
Lesbian Friendly
Vancouver and the Fraser Valley are very welcoming to LGBTQ+ travellers. We’re so fortunate to say that our home province is such a beautifully welcoming place. Everywhere we went in Abbotsford we felt completely safe to be ourselves. We saw tons of rainbow flags in the windows of downtown businesses, and all of the local shop owners and farm owners welcomed us warmly as a same-sex couple. We never feel the need to closet ourselves here in BC and we love how open-minded and inclusive the Fraser Valley is. Abbotsford can definitely go on your list of lesbian friendly destinations!
Have any of you visited Abbotsford, BC? Let us know in the comments!
Disclosure: This post is in collaboration with Tourism Abbotsford! We are so happy to be working with them to share their beautiful BC destination with our audience. Tourism Abbotsford generously hosted us for a jam-packed day of summer activities. We had an amazing time and highly recommend this destination as a great day-trip from Vancouver!
