Чиллиуак: лучшие места для кофе, шоппинга и семейного отдыха на трассе Ванкувер

Every long drive inevitably requires a pit stop, whether it’s to grab a coffee or fill up on gas (or, let’s be honest, go for a bathroom break). Roughly an hour and a half to two hours by car from Vancouver on Highway 1, Chilliwack has some great spots to stretch your legs, grab a snack and maybe even sneak in a bit of shopping before going on your way. Tucked around the corner from District 1881 on Mill St., Marais Tea Co. & Cafe Marais is like a piece of Paris brought to British Columbia. Founded by Ethan Maarhuis after he and his wife fell in love with the Parisienne boulangerie culture on a trip to France, Marais Tea Co. sells nearly 100 different rich, flavourful and high-quality teas. Doubling as a cafe, the cozy spot makes French-inspired pastries, eats and comforting drinks, including tea. When I visited in May, I ordered the La Parisienne crepe, stuffed with ham and emmental cheese, a glazed madeleine and the Parisian Fog from their spring drink menu—a twist on a London fog, Earl Grey tea, lavender-infused syrup (including real lavender flowers) and steamed milk. Head to Smoking Gun Coffee in District 1881 for a good brew and neighbourhood vibes. Try one of their monthly drink features or take a sandwich and cookie with you on the road. Smoking Gun is also a coffee roaster, so you can take home some of their specialty espresso or beans as a souvenir. Who doesn’t love a good sip and shop? Old Soul Coffee & Vintage shares a home (literally) with Homemade Community Shoppe in District 1881. Grab a coffee—maybe one of the delightfully cozy seasonal flavours—and head next door to browse vintage clothes and handmade goods from local artisans. All sales go directly to the maker. Just a quick stop just off Highway 1, Hofstede’s Country Barn is a great lunch spot. Here, European market charm meets fresh Fraser Valley flavours at this cafe-grocery store. With a deli, local produce and products, baked goods and a cozy cafe, Hofstede’s lets you refuel (with food) and pick up snacks for the road. For a laid-back patio and cool glass of craft beer, head to Field House Brewing in the heart of downtown Chilliwack, the Fraser Valley craft brewery’s second location. Along with a lengthy beer menu, you’ll find pizzas, dips, bowls and other sharables for a filling lunch. With three locations in the Fraser Valley, stop at Kent’s Ice Cream Co. for a sweet treat. The Chilliwack location is open daily from 12 – 10 p.m. and features classic ice cream flavours like chocolate chip cookie dough and sea salt caramel—along with monthly flavours—milkshakes and sundaes. For more handmade ice cream in the Fraser Valley, head to Banter Ice Cream. You’ll find unique flavours like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, marble malt cookie dough, scout mint cookie and lemon curd, along with rotating flavours using seasonal ingredients. 45530 Vedder Mountain Road, Chilliwack, B.C. Shopping You can’t shop in Chilliwack without going to District 1881. A quaint walkable neighbourhood with old-world charm right downtown Chilliwack, District 1881 might just convince you to turn your brief pit stop into an afternoon of shopping. With over 250 Canadian brands, The Local Space is as local as it gets. From food and sweets to skincare, stationery and accessories, The Local Space stocks locally made and Canadian brands to find something meaningful to bring home. Fraser and Co. Photo courtesy of Tourism Chilliwack If you love vintage shopping, head to Fraser and Co. Modern Vintage. With picks from clothing, stationery, home decor and accessories, Fraser and Co. stocks curated finds from the West Coast. When I found out that one of B.C.’s few romance bookstores was in Chilliwack, I had to visit. The Victorian-inspired bookstore is located off District 1881’s main strip. I could’ve spent hours browsing the bookshelves stocked with different romance books—or simply staring at the ceiling decorated with hanging pages. Instead, I left with a book and a few literary-themed trinkets. The Chilliwack Museum is free admission and features two gallery spaces on the lower level of the historic Chilliwack City Hall building. Here, you’ll find a mix of temporary and long-term exhibitions showcasing diverse voices, knowledge and experiences. The kids can let out their pent up energy at Greendale Acres. With farm animals, plenty of family-friendly activities and seasonal features like the corn maze, pumpkin pyramid or U-pick sunflowers, stop in at Greendale to stretch your legs and get some fresh air. Sandrine Jacquot is the BCLiving editor and brand partnerships writer for Canada Wide Media. She loves writing about all things B.C.—travel, food, wellness, shopping, current events and local business stories. Send pitches or get in touch with her at [email protected].