Our day started off with breakfast at the Holiday Inn, from there we headed to Kensington Prairie Farm where we got to not only feel some super soft Alpaca wool, but to meet them as well!
From there we moved onto Otter Co-Op – an anchor in the Langley community. They are not just a grocery store as they also offer agriculture supplies, a feed mill, gas bars etc. They also do a lot of great work with the community including sponsorships, scholarships and community events.
Next up was Bonetti Meats. This family owned butcher shop offers great cuts of meats but also some deli, cheeses and Italian grocery products. Their Appetizer Sausages are amazing.
We then stopped at Erikson’s Daylily Gardens, which is remarkably big and full of interesting plants. If you’re big into gardening, you’ll have to check out this place.
Our next stop was lunch! Lunch was provided by JD Farms, a family run producer of speciality turkeys. Turkeys at JD Farms are well taken care of with a diet of grain, vitamins and minerals without byproducts or medications. They are raised in spacious, well-ventilated barns with access to fresh water and feed.
Waiting at our table was fresh fruits from Driedeger Farms, a hint of what was to come later on in the day.
Our meal included a turkey sandwich and turkey soup. Tasty, fresh and a great way to replenish ourselves for the last half of the tour.
We then stopped at the Thunderbird Show Park where we got to watch some awesome equestrian. There were so many beautiful horses and the grounds are so well kept.
We then popped over to Fort Langley National Historic Site where they were constructing tents for people to actually stay in over night with different themes! Very interesting.
We also met some new friends there.
We then went to check out the Milner Village Garden Centre which is not only a great place to pick up some plants for your garden, but also one of the biggest facilities I have ever seen growing flowers and plants. They supply Costco Canadawide and have an enormous and elaborate set up.
There are some poinsettias growing for the Christmas season.
Our final stop was at Milner Valley Cheese. Owned by the Smith family, this quaint farm had humble beginnings before they decided to use goat milk and turn it into cheese.
Personally, I have never been a fan of goat milk but they have goat milk gelato which is phenomenal.
I really wanted to take some home but I was afraid it would melt on the journey back. I think that James from Bella Gelateria should talk to these guys to come up with something epic and delicious.
During our trip we also stopped at Driediger Farms Market where they gifted us a large blueberry pie. It was so delicious, it didn’t last very long at my place! I’m almost tempted to drive all the way back just to pick a couple up for the summer.
We also stopped at Domaine De Chaberton Estate Winery, I have yet to break into their great wine they gave us, but no doubt with producing 100% BC wines from grapes grown locally and numerous accolades, it will be nothing short of impressive.
So if you’re looking for a great day trip that’s not too far from the city, visit these local artisans and crafters and support BC businesses!
Check out:
- Driediger Farms Market -Pick your own berries or buy them already picked, don’t forget to pick up their delicious pies!
- Bonetti Meats – their sausages make for great breakfasts and snacks.
- JD Farms Speciality Turkey Store & Bistro – I heard their turkey lasagna is fantastic. They have a lot of great local spices, jams and marinades that will go well with turkey!
- Milner Valley Cheese – try the gelato while they still have it in season, it is absolutely to die for!
I’d like to thank Tourism Langley and Vancouver Coast & Mountains for inviting me to this great experience.
I was invited to this media tour by Tourism Langley. I was not paid nor expected to write a blog post on this experience.
