An hour east of Vancouver, the strip malls give way to something older. Blueberry fields stretch to the foot of Mount Baker. Hand-painted signs appear at the end of gravel driveways. The air changes. You are in the Fraser Valley, and it has been farmland for over a century.
This itinerary strings together four farms into a single-day driving loop that starts in Chilliwack and ends in Abbotsford. The total driving time between stops is fifteen to twenty-five minutes, which leaves plenty of room for lingering. Leave Vancouver around 8:30 in the morning and you will arrive at your first stop by 9:30. Bring a cooler with ice packs for the drive home.
Stop 1: Hofstede's Country Barn
Location: 45796 Luckakuck Way, Chilliwack
Start here. Hofstede's is a family-owned farm market that has been serving Chilliwack for years, and it is the perfect place to ease into the day. The barn is stocked with local produce, homemade preserves, and fresh-baked goods. Hit the deli counter for farm-fresh eggs, artisan cheeses, and cured meats. The on-site bakery makes excellent cinnamon buns and pies -- grab something for the road.
Plan to spend forty-five minutes to an hour here. Browse the seasonal produce section and pick up some local honey or maple syrup to take home. There is no admission fee, but you will want to budget for purchases. This is not the kind of place you leave empty-handed.
View on NeighbourgoodsStop 2: Taves Family Farms
Location: 333 Gladwin Road, Abbotsford
Head west to Taves Family Farms, a favourite for families and anyone who loves fruit picked at its peak. Depending on the season, you can pick your own blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, plums, or apples. The farm also has a petting zoo with goats and rabbits that kids love.
But the real draw here is the cider. The Taves family presses their own apples on-site into fresh, unfiltered cider that tastes like autumn distilled into a glass. The farm has been in the family since the 1930s -- John Taves bought the original plot and farmed it with horses until 1948. Three generations later, that original tractor sits at the entrance, retired but not forgotten.
Plan to spend one to one and a half hours. The U-pick is seasonal, so check the website before you go. Admission to the farm is free, though U-pick pricing varies by weight. Book tickets online for fall experiences -- gate prices are higher, and weekends sell out.
View on NeighbourgoodsStop 3: Willow View Farms
Location: 3855 Mount Lehman Road, Abbotsford
Continue to Willow View Farms for apple picking and mountain views. Murray and Cheryl Siemens have been farming this land since the early 1990s, and their daughter Kelsey now manages the operation. The orchard offers multiple apple varieties through the season -- from early Galas to late Honeycrisps -- along with plums and pears. In autumn, the farm sells fresh-pressed cider and seasonal preserves.
Plan to spend about an hour. Wear comfortable shoes for walking the orchard. There is no admission fee -- you pay for what you pick. The farm is busiest on weekends during apple season. Go on a weekday if you can.
View on NeighbourgoodsStop 4: Maan Farms
Location: 790 McKenzie Road, Abbotsford
End your day at Maan Farms, where farming meets winemaking. The Maan family brings a warmth rooted in their South Asian heritage -- they describe their hospitality as treating every guest like family, and that energy is real from the moment you arrive.
Sample their fruit wines in the tasting room. The blueberry wine is the standout -- it has quietly become one of the valley's best-kept secrets, now sold in over 200 liquor stores across BC and Alberta. Depending on the season, you might find U-pick berries, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, or their infamous Fright Festival (October only, not for small children, legitimately scary).
Plan to spend one to one and a half hours. The tasting room is open daily. No admission fee, though wine tastings are priced per flight. This is the perfect spot to decompress before the drive back to Vancouver.
View on NeighbourgoodsPractical Tips
- --Start early. Farms are less crowded in the morning, the light is better, and you will have time for all four stops without rushing.
- --Bring a cooler. Ice packs and a cooler in the trunk keep produce, cheese, and cider fresh for the drive home. Essential in summer.
- --Wear layers. Mornings are cool, afternoons warm up, and farm conditions vary. Comfortable shoes are non-negotiable.
- --Bring cash and card. Most farms accept cards now, but cash is faster and some smaller operations still prefer it.
- --Check websites before you go. Seasonal hours, crop availability, and special events change weekly. A quick check the night before saves surprises.
- --Leave room in the car. You will buy more than you planned. Everyone does.
This itinerary covers four farms in one day, but the Fraser Valley has dozens more. The Circle Farm Tour -- a self-guided driving route connecting farms across the region -- is a good framework for planning additional trips. Pick up a map at any participating farm or check the route online.
The farms are not going anywhere. The families running them have been here for generations, and they will be here when you come back. Which you will.