DOWNTIME IN CHILLIWACK, BC
- Vivien Baker
- Sep 1
- 5 min read
Although I had driven near Chilliwack in the past it was always for a specific errand. This was the first time I had taken a little downtime there, moving at a slower pace than usual. Together with my husband (and resident photographer), we were able to just discover the place a little. Chilliwack is situated in BC Coast & Mountains‘ Fraser Country. Surrounded by stunning mountains, lush forests and a few lakes and rivers, the area is popular for hiking and biking, golf, camping and fishing. Watersports are a huge attraction and visitors can enjoy the many opportunities from kayaking to whitewater rafting. We were not actually looking for any outdoor sports on this day - just a few hours of downtime away from the city. Thank heavens for GPS which took us right to the spot we needed. The drive took around one and a quarter hours from the centre of Vancouver.
Bridal Veil Falls
The day began with a short walk through the trees up toward Bridal Veil Falls. There is a free car park at the falls and loos - just in case! The path to the falls is a gentle slope, and very shaded; that day it was quiet, but for the sound of rushing water. No real need for hiking boots - just sensible shoes and awareness of some tree roots and a few steps to climb at a wooden bridge. It took less than fifteen minutes from the car park to reach the base of the falls - surrounded by trees and beams of sunlight breaking through the canopy, it really felt quite magical. The waterfall itself is not dramatic but it is graceful — a shimmering, translucent curtain of water spilling down the rocks, steady and soothing. It truly emulates a bride's veil.
After contemplating the falls for a while and eyeing the streams of sunlight through the trees, I sat on a log watching some brave souls climb up the rocks at the sides of the rushing water. I could not resist taking a few photos to try and capture some of the essence of my experience, but I was mindful that there was nothing quite like just being there. On our way back to the car park we found a picnic spot overlooking the stream and enjoyed a small brunch that we had brought along. Nothing elaborate: a smoked salmon bagel, some fresh fruit and some bottled water, which we enjoyed accompanied by the faint sound of the falls in the distance but with the trickling sound of its downstream flow very present. I managed to have a chat with the owner of a beautiful Burmese Mountain Dog who had just come down from scaling the side of the falls (the dog was most certainly delighted at being in his natural terrain). The morning truly felt like a mini-dose of therapy! One more look and then we decided to make our way to our next stop.
A Market Full of Colour and Flavour
From there, we drove for about 15 minutes to one of Chilliwack’s famous farmers' markets, "The Local Harvest Market" - the place was alive with colour - and our timing was so perfect as most normal people were having lunch, so we had the fabulous display of fruits and vegetables virtually all to ourselves. There were so many overflowing tables.
Everything looked so fresh and inviting but I held back a little and, after taking some shots for this post, I restricted myself to some heirloom tomatoes , peppers, onions, and zucchini. I was eyeing the cut flowers spilling over buckets when one of the growers approached me and offered to cut me a couple of bunches straight from the field, which I could choose for myself. How could I resist? I had never imagined myself so far into a field of dahlias - that was a first!.
Standing amongst the tables laden with produce and overlooking the fields, I was struck by how much patience and care go into these simple offerings. A basket of ripe heirloom tomatoes can tell you as much about the season as any calendar.
Coffee in District 1881
After the market we took a 10 minute drive to the newer part of downtown Chilliwack - named District 1881. We had never been there before and were pleasantly surprised by the warren of narrow brick streets, boutiques, and cafés that had been designed so well they carried a touch of European charm. We found a spot outdoors, ordered coffees, and sat for a while.
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After coffee we decided to take a quick look into one of the gift shops and we were immediately greeted with a wall of beautiful wrapping paper, which I noted could also be used as posters. There was quite a choice and I limited myself (the theme of the day!) to three sheets. I grabbed a retro postcard as they were all so well done and, of course, it reminded me that this truly was a place that many outdoor adventurers visited! Naturally, I couldn’t leave without bringing a little of Chilliwack home with me but I decided to keep the gourmet honey and beautiful handmade soaps for purchases on another visit. By now of course I knew I would be back!
As we got back into the car - we listened to some classical music on our drive home. We drove slowly to appreciate some of the fabulous scenery en route.
Back in my kitchen, my basket of heirloom tomatoes, peppers, and onions were were rinsed and cut up and thrown into the food processor - likely my last batch of gazpacho of the season. The recipe is very simple and you can find it in The Journal, but what made it special was knowing exactly where those ingredients came from - a place in which I had just spent a day where they were actually grown.
A Day to Savour
Looking back, there was nothing extraordinary about this day. And yet, it was one to remember. A quiet walk, a picnic, the colours of a market, a cup of coffee outdoors, and a bowl of soup at the end - ordinary moments perhaps, but when given your full attention, they become more than enough.
If you have the chance to spend a day out of the city, wherever you live, I’d encourage it. Chilliwack was my place on this occasion, but the lesson is universal: the best days don’t demand much from us. They ask only that we notice.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
PHOTOGRAPHY - A number of shots taken by Beng Lai (some by Vivien!)
How captivating was your Chilliwack adventure! On my bucket list, Chilliwack is ..... Thank you!