Abbotsford Travel: Restaurants, Attractions, Artists and Hotels

Herman Venema of Venema Pottery in Abbotsford, British Columbia (Canada).

I live in Vancouver but I grew up in the suburb of Port Coquitlam. Although I should know the farming communities farther east, I must admit that I don’t.

So when Tourism Abbotsford invited me to come spend some time in the city, I blocked off the day and wondered what I would have in store.

Surprisingly, Abbotsford is developing like crazy, their growing spurt starting about six years ago, Ingrid Epp, the Executive Director of the Downtown Business Association, tells me. But not in the way that a lot of suburban communities do.

Instead of suburban sprawl, Abbotsford is revitalizing their cute historic downtown district and adding venues like the entertainment and sports centre (where I watched the Holiday Festival on Ice figure skating show) and the new Abbotsford Heat AHL hockey team (Calgary Flames’ farm team), and an eco dairy (Bakerview EcoDairy). They’ve also created programs like their arts & culture self-drive tour.

The two biggest highlights if my trip:

• Meeting Herman Venema of Venema Pottery, who knows my uncle (he used to be a potter). His work comprises of coloured sets of gorgeous pottery, conjuring up all the places I would use each piece. Don’t expect knick-knacks here: Herman’s work is of high quality yet still runs mostly under $100.
• Clayburn Village is a heritage brick workers’ town, with some of the old houses still lining the streets. A trip to the fabulously fun general store (Clayburn Village Store & Tea Shop, 34810 Clayburn Road, 604-853-4020, closed January, mid-May to mid-June and September) is a must, as is the little soap shop that sells Clayburn brick-shaped soap and other self-care products (Clayburn Comforts Soap & Body Works, 34866 Clayburn Road, 604-746-2633).

Clayburn Village General Store in Abbotsford, British Columbia (Canada).

What I Liked:

• Abbotsford is becoming quite a hip place to visit, but the prices reflect the location, 45 km/28 mi east of Vancouver (but a good hour’s drive to downtown in light traffic). For example, the quaint SerendipiTea teahouse and restaurant serves lunch sandwiches, paninis and wraps, all under $10.
• There’s an ultra neat “Health Beat” outdoor gym for seniors right behind Trethewey House before you hit Mill Lake. The equipment was just installed and gives anyone who wants to use them a way to workout outdoors in a circuit. It’s so neat.
• The Abbotsford airport (with a few international flights) makes getting out to the Fraser Valley super easy and is a few minutes drive from the city centre.
• Travellers haven’t caught on yet to Abbotsford, so the prices are fantastic and hotels affordable. Day trips to Vancouver are much cheaper from here than staying in the “big city” if you don’t mind the short road trip.