Staying in town this weekend but want those long weekend vibes? Or maybe you’re visiting from out of town and looking for a seaside escape? White Rock has got you covered! Here are our top picks of things to do in White Rock this May long weekend to give you those relaxing vacation vibes.
Stroll the Promenade
At almost 3 kilometres (1.3 miles), White Rock’s promenade runs almost the entire length of the beach and provides lots of ways to get to the beach and attractions. Take your time and stroll from one end to the other, making sure to stop and check out the Grand Chief Bernard Charles Memorial Plaza which speaks to the community’s strong ties to the Semiahmoo First Nation.
Walk the Pier
White Rock’s historic pier is 104 years old and stretches about 470m (1542 ft) into Semiahmoo Bay. Walk to the end to check out the crabbing action and bask in the impressive views of the coastal mountains and the San Juan Islands. Take an after-dinner stroll to see breathtaking sunsets and feel the ocean’s warm breeze.
Build a sandcastle
Grab your kids, a sand bucket and pail and head to the beach! When the tide goes out, White Rock’s beaches (East and West) transform into a magical place to explore tide pools and build an epic sand kingdom!
Go on a picnic
On Sunday, go to the White Rock Farmers Market and pack a picnic lunch of yummy, local foods, like bread, honey, spreads, cheese, fruit & chocolate. Take your basket of goodies down to the beach, or to the park and enjoy the sunshine.
Go on a mural scavenger hunt
You can find artwork, waiting to be discovered, around almost every corner of White Rock! Check out our blog post about White Rock’s murals and see how many of them you can find.
Taste a flight of craft beer
With 3 craft breweries, there has never been a better time to be a beer drinker in White Rock! After a day exploring the beach and the shops, head into White Rock Beach Beer Company, 3 Dogs Brewing in their new location, or Galaxie Craft Brewhouse down at the beach, for an evening of great conversation, laughs and, of course, awesome beer.
Watch the sunset
There is definitely something special about watching the sunset in White Rock. The sun sets to meet the horizon, the sky blazes with spectacular colours and lucky White Rock residents (and visitors) sit back and marvel at the spectacle! Best spots? The promenade, the pier, with a glass of wine on a patio, or on a sunset cruise.
Visit a Museum
May 24 is the last day to visit Upstream/Downriver: Walking the stɑl̓əw̓ Watershed, the current exhibit at the White Rock Museum & Archives. This collaborative research-creation project addresses climate change at the local scale of the lower Fraser River watershed. Commonly referred to as the Fraser River, stɑl̓əw̓ is the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word for “big river.” The artists and Project Siyá:m Patricia Victor walked and listened to experts about the stɑl̓əw̓ and how climate change is affecting the region. Their voices joined with other experts in the areas of geology, biology, math, poetry, urban geography and philosophy to create a soundscape for the exhibition experience. The sounds of the river are carefully blended with their words. (14970 Marine Drive)
Eat ice cream!
Is there anything better than ice cream at the beach? We don’t think so, and luckily White Rock has a pretty great selection of ice cream & gelato shops to choose from. And the decisions don’t stop there. Which of the dozens of flavours will you choose? Cup or cone (or double cone)? Ice cream or gelato?
And there’s so much more! Pick up a souvenir at one of the charming, local shops. Enjoy dinner and live music. Go crabbing. Dance to a busker. Climb the White Rock.
Share your May Long Weekend adventures with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by tagging your pictures #ExploreWhiteRock.