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White
Rock
White Rock is a small seaside community located in the south-west
portion of the Lower Mainland of Vancouver. White Rock is surrounded
by the Municipality of Surrey on three
sides with the ocean bordering the south along the north side of
Semiahmoo Bay.
Burlington
Northern Railway Line
White Rock historically has had a passenger train route coming from
Seattle to Vancouver aboard the Burlington Northern Railway Line.
This railway presence is found with tracks paralleling the waterfront
along Semiahmoo Bay. It was very fashionable in the early 1900's
for people from Vancouver to take the
train into White Rock to enjoy the beautiful beach.
Sunny
Weather
White Rock and the surrounding areas of South Surrey get the best
weather in the Lower Mainland. One way you can always determine
this is during the day when, at a high point in Vancouver, just
look towards the sun in the southern horizon. Then, to go along
with the sun, the community spirit is alive and well creating a
great place to live.
The
Waterfront
If you do visit White Rock it is very easy to get out and explore
this white sandy beach. Bayview Park situated along Marine Drive
has a 2.2 km (1.5 mile) long, wheelchair-accessible, promenade along
the ocean that fronts the sidewalk cafés eventually taking
you past the heritage pier plus the Burlington Northern train station
that now houses the White Rock Museum.
White
Rock Sea Festival
One of the biggest festivals in the North-West occurs in White Rock
called the "White Rock Sea Festival." This happens on
the BC day long weekend at the beginning of August, an annual White
Rock tradition. You'll see so much community spirit come alive in
this fun-filled entertaining weekend.
Tour
de White Rock
For athletes try and make sure you visit during the week of Tour
de White Rock - a fitness test that competes throughout White Rock
in July. The competition features a nasty hill climb featuring men's
and women's sprint tests, followed by a road race course along the
beautiful streets and past the waterfront on Marine Drive.
White
Rock Farmers' Market
To sample fresh local produce and crafts you can visit the White
Rock Farmers' Market which takes place along the 1400 block of George
St. every Sunday from June to October. During the off season you
can view the market out of the Elks Hall with slightly fewer vendors.
The market is well-organized and very popular.
Public
Parking
You can find public parking available in a number of locations throughout
the City of White Rock. Pay parking is also required year round
at the following locations: the arena, Peace Arch Hospital and along
Marine Drive.
Centennial
Park
The arena which is located in Centennial Park just off Oxford Street
seems to be the best place for long-term parking and also has the
most reasonable prices. There is only a short walk to the beach
through a trail that meanders itself through a ravine.
Peace
Portal Golf Course
There is a really nice golf course located near White Rock in South
Surrey called the Peace Portal. Open to the public, Peace Portal
is an 18-hole course located near the Peace Arch right at the border
crossing. To get there from White Rock, you take 8th Ave. east until
172nd Street and then go south to the entrance off 4th Avenue.
Ocean
Park
There are some walking areas along the beach after the promenade
at the museum end. The railway company has signs posted so you do
not travel near the tracks because of the dangers involved. Eventually
the beach makes its way out of White Rock into South Surrey's Ocean
Park residential area.
Kwomais
Point
If you have the opportunity or time, please try and make it to Kwomais
Point which is located in Ocean Park. "Kwomais," Coast
Salish a First Nation word meaning "place of vision" and
is considered a very spiritual place. Kwomais Point is set on a
high bluff with unobstructed southerly views of Semiahmoo and Boundary
Bay. To get there, take Marine Drive west from White Rock to 128th
Street into Ocean Park.
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Semiahmoo Bay
Semiahmoo Bay and nearby Mud Bay to the north are also well-known
for being important waterfall habitats during migration periods.
Bird watching is very popular, as well as kayaking, canoeing and
boating along the pristine shoreline. There is Natural West Coast
Adventures if you need guiding or rentals.
Flower
and Gardens
White Rock has joined into the 'Communities in Bloom' - a national
program with the end result to improve local living conditions.
With this White Rock has so many beautiful flower and garden arrangements
for you to view, creating a spectacular setting next to the ocean
waterfront.
United
States Border
There are two border crossings into the United States near White
Rock. One is at the truck-crossing route Hwy 15 (176th St.) and
the other is at the Peace Arch on Hwy 99. If you take Hwy 99 north-west
into BC you'll end up coming into Delta whereas if you take Hwy
15 north, you'll be travelling to Cloverdale and eventually the
Trans-Canada Hwy 1.
Blaine
and Birch Bay
If you are coming from the United States or from Canada and would
like to visit Washington State, the small communities of Blaine
and Birch Bay are just south of White Rock. Blaine has always been
popular with Canadians seeking cheap gas and enjoying southern hospitality.
Birch Bay has great weather, RV Parks, a beautiful sandy beach,
state park and various golf courses.
RV
Camping
If you require RV or a camping site, there are two places that are
close to White Rock. One is more adult-oriented called the Parklander
Motor & Trailer Court located at 16311 8th Ave. The other is
the Seacrest Motel & RV Park located on Stayte Road which is
within walking distance to the beach.
Motels
and Hotels
Besides the Seacrest there is also the Bay Motor Inn a motel located
at 15611 Marine Drive right across from the waterfront and near
the start of the promenade. Then located right across from the White
Rock Pier is the Ocean Promenade Hotel. Close by in South Surrey
on the King George Hwy, there is the Break Away Motel which features
an ABC Country Restaurant.
Bed
& Breakfast
White Rock has a number of Bed & Breakfast establishments located
throughout the town. Quite a few feature large sunny decks where
you can gaze out at the waterfront below.
Information
on White Rock
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