Plenty is happening in the City by the Sea this Fall
White Rock might be synonymous with sunny beach days, but there’s something about fall that suits the City by the Sea. The air turns crisp, and the waterfront takes on a slower pace. It’s the kind of weather that welcomes a warm coffee in hand, a stroll along the pier and an afternoon spent popping into galleries and local shops, or grabbing a pint (or two) at breweries on the South of the Fraser Ale Trail.
Since White Rock packs a surprising amount into its compact community, you don’t necessarily need an agenda. Follow the waterfront, head uptown when the mood strikes, and leave a little room for spontaneity. Here are a few ways to spend a fall day in White Rock.
Start with Brunch or a Warm Beverage
There’s no need to rush into a fall morning. Start with something warm and take it from there. In Uptown, Wooden Spoon is a longtime local favourite for brunch, while Grounds & Greens Cafe, Islands Cafe and JJ Bakes Company offer plenty of options for coffee and a bite before heading out for the day.
If you’d rather wake up by the water, make your way toward Marine Drive where Bean and Berry Cafe, Homeland Cafe and Whitby’s Coffee House place you close to the shoreline. Grab a seat, fuel up and enjoy the view.
Take the Long Way Along the Waterfront
When the air gets a little cooler, White Rock’s waterfront takes on a different personality.
Bundle up and follow the promenade along Semiahmoo Bay, where the salty air and wide-open views will inspire you to slow down. There are plenty of places to stop along the way, whether you’re watching the water, grabbing a photo or simply taking in a quieter side of the shoreline.
No trip to White Rock feels complete without a visit to the iconic White Rock Pier. Stretching 470 metres into Semiahmoo Bay, the White Rock Pier is an icon for a reason. Go to the end for a different perspective of the city and its surrounding coastline.
Take in White Rock’s Arts and Culture
Beyond the waterfront, White Rock has a creative side worth making time for. Start at the White Rock Museum & Archives, interestingly located inside the city’s historic train station near the waterfront, where exhibits offer a closer look at the people and stories that have shaped the community.
From there, head uptown, where several galleries make it easy to turn an afternoon into a gallery hop. Art Couture Gallery, Nomad Gallery, Uptown Gallery and White Rock Gallery showcase work from local and Canadian artists across a range of styles and mediums.
It also happens to be a particularly good backup plan when those inevitable West Coast clouds decide to make an appearance.
Time Your Visit with a Fall Event
Fall also brings a full calendar of reasons to gather in White Rock. On September 26, the White Rock Craft Beer Festival puts the local craft beer community in the spotlight. Back for its sixth year, the annual festival will feature over a dozen breweries/cideries/wineries from Metro Vancouver, plus food vendors, live entertainment, and more. Each ticket includes beverage samples and a souvenir tasting glass to take home.
Then, on October 3 and 4, the White Rock & South Surrey Culture Crawl puts local creativity in focus, with artists, makers and cultural spaces participating throughout the community. If your dates are flexible, checking White Rock’s events calendar before planning your visit might give you one more reason to make a day of it.
Browse and Support Local Shops
Leave some room in your day for a little retail therapy. Gathering on Sundays between 10 AM-2 PM from mid-April to mid-October, the White Rock Farmers’ Market brings together local growers, bakers, producers and makers. To view the list of vendors before your visit, follow the Farmer’s Market on social media.
Meanwhile, independent businesses around town offer plenty of opportunities to bring something local home with you. Shops such as The Shop Next Door, a local artist-run collective, Looby Doo for children’s clothing, The Mason Jar Home Decor and Gift Store for aesthetic home goods, Harley Jae for slow fashion pieces, and Gem Mint Ten Collectibles for trading cards and more.
You might arrive intending to window-shop, but we make no promises about leaving empty-handed.
Get to Know White Rock’s Brewery Triangle
White Rock’s craft beer scene gets particularly interesting when you head uptown, where three neighbouring spots form what locals have dubbed the “Brewery Triangle” on the South of the Fraser Ale Trail. Within just a few blocks of each other, 3 Dogs Brewing, The Beer Shack and White Rock Beach Beer Company each bring something a little different to the neighbourhood.
Family-run 3 Dogs Brewing has been pouring in White Rock for nine years. It features a laid-back West Coast atmosphere designed for catching up with friends. And if you bring along your four-legged friend, you’ll be pleased to know well-behaved dogs are welcome in the brewery, too. This feels fitting for a brewery named after the family’s own three pups.
Just half a block away, sister venue The Beer Shack turns up the volume. The lively venue has 26 beer and cider taps, plus a packed entertainment calendar, with live music taking the spotlight several nights a week. Depending on when you stop by, you might find trivia, karaoke, a blues jam or a local band taking the stage.
Then there’s White Rock Beach Beer Company, located in the same building as The Beer Shack. The brewery has built a loyal local following around a core lineup of favourites, complemented by recurring open mic nights, live music and monthly paint nights.
Close together but far from the same, these three craft beer spots offer a quick snapshot of the personalities that make up White Rock’s local craft beer scene. Check their event calendars before your visit, and you may find something happening while you’re in the city.
Settle In for Dinner by the Sea
After a day experiencing what White Rock has to offer, dinner is a good reason to continue your stay. Uli’s Restaurant, Onyx Steakhouse and Washington Avenue Grill each offer their own take on a night out in White Rock, whether you’re after a casual local favourite or a dress-up-worthy meal overlooking the water.
At Uli’s Restaurant, fall also marks the return of a longstanding tradition. The restaurant has been celebrating Oktoberfest for 16 years, with this year’s festivities running from September 18 through Thanksgiving weekend. During that time, Uli’s Restaurant adds a separate German-inspired menu, while an accordion player roams the restaurant and staff get into the spirit in traditional German clothing.
Oktoberfest may be one of Uli’s Restaurant’s biggest events of the season, but themed dinners are also part of its calendar throughout the year. Past events have included multi-course dinners built around Belgian beer pairings and, more recently, an Anthony Bourdain-inspired dinner. Keep an eye on Uli’s Restaurant social channels for upcoming events.
Then there’s one of the best parts about dinner by the water in fall: an earlier sunset, meaning you don’t have to stay out late. Time your reservation right, and you can watch the sky change over Semiahmoo Bay.
Fall Looks Good on the City by the Sea
White Rock might be synonymous with sunny days at the beach, but don’t count it out once sweater weather arrives. Fall brings a different vibe to the City by the Sea. The waterfront is made for crisp-weather strolls, galleries and independent shops offer plenty to do when the clouds roll in, and seasonal events give the community an energy all its own.
Come for an afternoon or stay for the weekend. Either way, bring a layer, leave some room in your schedule and see where the day takes you, because summer doesn’t get to have all the fun by the sea.
Experience more on the South of the Fraser Ale Trail.
Every Pint Tells a Story
