The concept behind the Circle Farm Tour is simple; it’s a self-guided road map with around a dozen locations for you to visit. What all of the stops have in common is that they are “farm-gate vendors, open air markets, charming eateries, heritage sites, fairs, and other special events.” We made eight stops yesterday so I’ve featured five below and there are fourteen stops in total on the tour. The wineries (yes, there are wineries in Langley and have been there for ten years) will be covered separately. Find hours of operation, u-pick, and tour hours listed on each individual website.
Fort Langley National Historic Site
Our day started out at Fort Langley with some refreshment in the Full Barrel Café followed by a tour and a stop off at the blacksmith’s for a demonstration. I haven’t been to Fort Langley since I was in school and I found it really fascinating to learn new history and honestly, I could watch the blacksmith make tools from the fire all day. Fort Langley is the “Birthplace of BC” as that is where Sir James Douglas read the proclamation that deemed this territory the Crown Colony of British Columbia.
The whole area is lovely. Antique shops, the diner, the book store/coffee shop, artisans and crafters, and the rising river. I used to spend days on end visiting with a childhood friend in Fort Langley and we rarely ran out of ideas for activities.
Location: (The Fort) 23433 Mavis Ave Website, Twitter
Driediger Farms
Families are welcome at this family u-pick, fruit stand, and farm market. Take home fresh baked pies, preserves, honey, and the season’s best berry offerings. We stayed in the vehicle for this one as Rhonda Driediger told us about the farm’s history, production, and current happenings and in particular, the weather. “Not all rain is bad, not all sun is good,” she said with a smile. They’ve been having a great year for berries and in fact there are even more this summer than last, they’re just late. Rhonda was a great source of information and I learned about ever-bearing berries, the importance of pollination, and even a crafty way to grow rhubarb in old tires in your garden.
Erikson’s Daylily Gardens
While we didn’t get out of the vehicle and tour the gardens, we did chat with Pam Erikson who operates the garden with her husband (aside from them both having full time jobs). “You do it because you love it,” she told our group. “And I have the hands to prove it!” Their specialty is producing hybrids found nowhere else in the world (and she’s come up with some pretty interesting name for her flower varieties, including “Crotchless Panties”). Pam and Tom have over 3,000 types of daylillies on their property and they’ve come up with 62 exclusive hybrid varieties themselves. The nursery and gardens are open daily throughout July with peak for the flowers happening within the next 2 weeks.
Location: 24642 51 Ave Website, Twitter
J.D. Farms Specialty Turkey Store
Walking into the J.D. Farms store was like standing in front of the oven at Christmas time right when it’s opened up to reveal a finished turkey. The aromas are unreal and offer a warm hug as soon as you walk in. You can pick up lunch (eat-in or take-out) from the deli counter, grab frozen sausages or stuffings, fresh turkey pepperoni (no preservatives), and all the fixings which are mostly supplied by other farms in the valley. You can find their local farm specialty turkeys in shops from Abbotsford to West Vancouver. Owner Jack Froese is also running for Mayor of Langley Township this fall.
Location: 24726 52nd Ave Website, Twitter, Facebook
Krause Berry Farms
This is one u-pick berry farm that has it all. A market, café, goats for petting, a tractor playground for kids, and of course produce. Strawberries (try them in a “Mile High Custard Pie”), raspberries (available soon), blueberries (in August), green beans, and sweet corn. “We’ve got the best sweet corn in the valley, ” said owner Alf Krause who also took us around on a hayride. “Our focus is what we grow”. Pretty much everything that Krause grows can be found in a pie, in a doughnut, in fudge, in lemonade a smoothie or tea, and in their market.
Over the last 38 years, Alf and Sandee Krause have successfully reached their goal of making Krause a destination – a place you can visit even if you’re not picking or buying berries – and they’re not done growing. As for the “Mile High Custard Pies”, they make between 200 and 300 of them on their busiest days but you can also pre-order. This Sunday (July 17th) they’ll be hosting Farmers’ Feast as local farms and wineries join together at Krause with free samples, face painting, pony rides and more.
Location: 6179 248th St Website, Twitter
It’s important to note that all of these locations are free to visit (aside from the Fort at Fort Langley) and that these are home-grown businesses (often attached to the owners’ homes themselves).
Download a Circle Farm Tour map (or take some notes on the website) and create your own tour as you explore the best in local berries, produce, gardens, and farm experiences. Langley is the closest Circle Farm Tour to Vancouver, just 45 minutes East down Highway 1.
80 Memorable Moments Photo Gallery
On Level 3 of the Main Terminal, explore a photographic history of YVR’s 80 years. The gallery will run from the Domestic Terminal food court to the International Terminal’s Spirit of HaidaGwaii, The Jade Canoe sculpture.
In-Terminal Entertainment
The Main Terminal will be buzzing, thanks to family-style entertainment provided by live DJs, magicians, face-painters, balloon twisters and YVR’s own Green Coat volunteers distributing 80th Anniversary giveaways. YVR’s shops and restaurants will be getting into the spirit, offering lunch specials and product sampling.
1948 – Woodward’s truck parked by a Trans-Canada Air Lines plane at the airport. Archives Item#: CVA 1184-3392. Photographer: Jack Lindsay
Airside Ballet
In a display of coordination, timing and sheer equipment size, YVR’s unique airfield firefighting emergency trucks will showcase a ballet like you’ve never seen before. Visible from the public observation area (Domestic Terminal) at 11:00am both days.
Vintage Aircraft Display and Flypast
At YVR’s South Terminal – the original location of the airport when it opened in 1931 – visitors will find an impressive collection of vintage aircraft parked on the south side apron. The South Terminal parking lot will offer the best views of these vintage beauties. Check back soon for details on the vintage aircraft flypast. This will take place at the old South Terminal, and a shuttle will be setup to take visitors over.
1960s – VPL Accession Number: 41254. Photographe/Studio: Province Newspaper
80th Anniversary Grand Prize
Once you’ve arrived at YVR, be sure to pick up an 80th anniversary commemorative brochure from one of our Customer Care counters or Green Coat volunteers for more details and a ballot to enter to win an 80th anniversary Grand Prize: a two-night stay in a Deluxe room at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport and $200 YVR bucks to spend at any YVR retailer. Ballots must be deposited at the South Terminal Building.
Aside from being a part of our region’s history, YVR has also been a part of my own past (and present). We would dress up and head to the old terminal to pick up my Oma and Opa when they returned from weeks in Germany, my family welcomed my sister back from her backpacking trip across Europe, and I boarded my first plane at YVR in 1995 on a school trip to France. We’d pile into our family van, get some take-out, and sit out under the runway watching the planes land. An enthusiastic, “Whoa!” from all of us would greet with each approaching jet.
The 80th anniversary celebration is a great time to get out and explore this important collection of buildings that see goodbyes, welcomes, laughter, hugs, and tears every day. It’s also one of the most award-winning airports in the world so it’s something we can all be proud of. YVR has also been looking for a storyteller that will live at the airport for 80 days. The deadline to enter by submitting a video is July 18th. You can enjoy the public observation area any time you visit.
Add a Comment
by Michelle KimDisclosure: Review — Miss604.com was not paid to write this review or any other. Michelle Kim did receive complimentary media tickets to the show in order to write her review. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
One of my all-time favourite plays, Shakespeare’s Richard III, will be opening at Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival this Saturday night at Vanier Park.
Directed by Kathryn Shaw, Richard III completes a two-play lineup (the first being Henry VI: The War of the Roses–an amalgamation of Henry VI part 1,2, and 3) in the 240-seat Douglas Campbell Studio Stage tent and is the closing chapter in the epic struggle between the houses of York and Lancaster for the English throne.
Physically deformed and sinister Richard (Bob Frazer), Duke of Gloucester, murders and manipulates his way to the throne, while both confiding and tricking the audience along the way. Now, Richard is probably one of the most challenging Shakespearian characters to master for an actor because not only does he have to be intensely unlikeable but also the audience must feel sympathetic toward him, especially near the end of the play. But from what I saw of Frazer’s work with Richard in Henry VI: The War of the Roses (yes, the same actors perform in Richard III), I’m sure he will handle it spectacularly (I loved his performance as Bif in Death of a Salesman earlier in the year—for which he just won Outstanding Supporting Actor at the Jessie Awards).
To prepare yourself for this epic play either see Henry VI: The War of the Roses, which plays in repertory with Richard III, read the play, and/or watch one of my favourite documentaries, Looking for Richard, about Al Pacino’s fascination with Shakespeare, the play and character of Richard. Richard III runs until September 23, 2011 at Vanier Park.
This feature was written exclusively for Miss604 by actor, writer, and producer, Michelle Kim. Read all posts contributed by Michelle for Miss604.com and follow her on Twitter @miju.
Reminder: Enter to win the “Bard-B-Q” experience. Tickets to As You Like It on the main stage, a salmon barbecue picnic, and reserved seating for the Celebration of Light Fireworks.
This weekend you can check out Parks Canada Day in Stanley Park at Brockton Oval with activities for the whole family and concert stage headliner, K’Naan.
A highlight of my summers growing up were always our family’s camping trips. We’ve camped across the country and around the province, from Kimberley to Wells Gray. BC itself has 7 National Parks, from the Rockies to Vancouver Island. We’re very fortunate to have such a vast outdoor playground in our province and from coast to coast, to coast.
Parks Canada has offered up two family prize packs for me to offer my readers. Each prize pack includes:
1 x Family Discovery Pass ($136.40)
2 x Parks Canada Centennial water bottle
4 x Parks Canada centennial key rings
4 x Parks Canada centennial pins
Here’s how you can enter to win one of these family prize packs from Parks Canada:
Leave a comment on this post naming a National Park. It could be your favourite or one you found on the directory (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I entered to win 1 of 2 @ParksCanada family prize packs from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/5DNGf
I will draw two winners at 10:00am on Tuesday, July 19, 2011. Follow @ParksCanada on Twitter for more information and offers during their 100th anniversary this year.
Jill Russell #14 3rd Base Team Canada. Photo courtesy of VisionQuest
There are plenty of local women on our national team including Paige Collins (Delta), Kelsey Haberl (North Delta), Jennifer Yee (North Delta), Melanie Matthews (Surrey), and Jocelyn Cater (Delta).
California A’s, Renegades Elite, China Nanjing University, Team Venezuela, Team Japan, White Rock Renegades, Team Canada, USA, and Australia are all competing.
The Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch Futures Gold (U19) & Showcase Gold (16U) International Championship is on now until July 17th.
Wear your ‘Canadian colours’ and you could win a freestyle BMX bike courtesy of Canadian Tire.
Catch both Team Canada games at Softball City in Surrey at 6:30pm and 8:30pm tomorrow. Day passes are $7-$16 and are available at the gate.
