Travelling to Sunshine Vallely? Whether it's a one-night stopover on the way to wine country or one week spent relaxing and enjoying the beautiful nature Sunshine Valley has to offer, you'll definitely want to make the most out of your drive to the valley. The drive to Sunshine Valley takes about 2 hours if you're starting from Vancouver. The highway is maintained and open year-round and requires no Ferriers or borders but the roads do require winter tires between October 1 and April 30. If you're up for making a fun adventure out of the drive, here are a few recommendations of places to stop and visit along the way. Its also worth exploring taking BC route HWY7.
The first stop on your drive to Sunshine Valley should be Langly. A must-see attraction while you're there, is the Fort Langley National Historic site. With its reconstructed buildings and costumed interpreters, this old historic site is a great spot to stop and get an idea of what life would have looked like during the fur trade and gold rush throughout the 1800s. If you happen to be driving through on a Saturday be sure to check out the Fort Langly Village Farmers Market. It runs every Saturday from 9 am-3 pm between April and December and is located in the parking lot of the 130-year-old St. Andrews Chapel. The market is a great spot to grab a morning coffee and fresh baked goods that you can enjoy while browsing the stands of pesticide-free fruits and veggies. The market is also a spot that showcases local artisans and makers so you never know what kind of gems you'll be able to find!
If you're interested in learning about the evolution of aircraft technology or aviation history in Canada, a must-see while you're in the city of Langly is the Canadian Museum of Flight. The space showcases over 25 aircraft and is also used as a restoration site so you might get lucky and observe a talented team fixing an aircraft for flying conditions.
The next major town on the way to Sunshine Valley is Abbotsford. If possible, I would recommend waiting until you get to Abbotsford before filling up on gas. The gas prices are usually the cheapest you'll find between Vancouver and Sunshine Valley. If you're short on time, the stations right off the highway are super convenient, however, if you don't mind driving a little further into the city, the stations are less busy and always a few cents cheaper than the stations right off of the highway.
Once you’ve topped up on gas in Abbotsford, Chilliwack should be your next destination. This is where you'll find Local Harvest Market. This large market is located just off the highway on Lickman rd so it's a super convenient spot to grab some last-minute groceries and delicious baked goods before you reach your final destination. Local Harvest farms without using pesticides or synthetic fertilizer. If you have the time and are interested in learning more about their farming practices, the farm offers great tours during harvest from May to October.
