Now that the mercury is beginning to rise, I bet you’re eager to get outside and enjoy the sunshine and some of your favourite outdoor activities.

Summer may still be just around the corner, but there’s no reason you can’t get a head start on your Fraser Valley summer bucket list for 2015.

The Fraser Valley is sizzling this spring & summer with all kinds of fun and frolic that’s sure to delight the entire family. So put down that IPad, grab the sunscreen and get ready to play tourist in your own neck of the woods with these 32 fun-tastick ideas that are on my own personal Fraser Valley Summer Bucket List for 2015.

 Ready, set, fun!

 

1. Leapin’ lizards. Take the kiddies to the Reptile Guy’s Rescue & Education Centre in Abbotsford to check out the amphibians and creepy crawlies.

 

 

2. Adrenaline-pumping fun. Make a splash this summer with a river rafting adventure. Hyak River Rafting in Chilliwack takes you paddling at the fast-paced Chilliwack River  May through July.

3. Eat outdoors. Tis’ the season for patio weather. And fortunately for us Valleyties, there’s no shortage to choose from. Check out this roundup of the top 5 voted patios in the Fraser Valley HERE.

 

 

4. Be a beach bum. Enjoy some tasty fish n’ ships beach-side at White Rock and then burn off the calories with a stroll along the promenade.

 

 

5. Have a berry good time. Swing by Krause Berry Farms to pick up a fresh berry pie and pick your own flat of berries. Another great spot for berry picking in ‘the Valley is Driediger Farms.

6. Picnic in the Park. Grab your loved ones and a picnic basket filled with local goodies and roll out a blanket under a shady tree at Campbell Valley Park. Don’t forget to pack some bird seeds to feed those little dickey birds on the trial. They will literally fly onto the palm of your hand.

 

 

7. Shop til you drop. Browse through the eclectic array of little shops in Fort Langley and stop for Lunch at Beatnik’s Bistro — they’ve got an amazing patio that fills up quick!

 

 

 

8. Make a splash. Pack the sunscreen and head on over to the Cultus Water Park for lots of slippery fun in the sun. Worried your wee-ones are too little? There’s a fantastic pirate-themed splash park for the kiddies to cool off in.

9. Flex your green thumb. Plant a little garden and enjoy the fruits of your labour — quite literally. Don’t forget to support the locally-owned shops.

 

 

10. Cool your jets. Beat the heat at your local spray park. Make sure to pack an umbrella or shade tent to steer clear of heat stroke.

 

 

11. All aboard! Take the kiddies for a miniature train ride at Bear Creek Park. Afterwards, try your hand at a round of mini golf.

 

 

12. See the stars. Put your jam jams on and enjoy family movie night under the stars at the Twilight Drive-in Theatre in Aldergrove.

13. Fun on the farm. Teach the kiddies about sustainable dairy farm practices with a visit to The Bakerview EcoDairy farm.

 

 

 

14. Blast to the past. Go back in time (about 100 years) with a trip to the Historic Stewart Farm. Learn how our ancestors once lived and try some made-from scratch butter on site.

15. Check out the Langley Museum of Flight and let your imagination soar.

16. Make moola and more room. Throw a garage sale to de-clutter and teach the kiddies about making a buck or two.

17. 80’s style entertainment.Make a slip n’ slide out of garbage bags for hours of cheap entertainment that will remind you of your own childhood.

18. Fun & informative. Go explore our province’s birthplace at the Fort Langley National Historic Site.

19. Take a little dip. It’s about that time of year when all the outdoor swimming pools open for the season. Our personal favourite is the Port Kell’s pool because of the location and the cost- it’s free!

 

 

20. Sleep in the Fort. Connect to your cultural heritage and experience life inside the fort as only the Hudson’s Bay Company employees could by spending a night or two in a oTENTik tent.

21. Farm-fresh fun. Take a self-guided tour with the Circle Farm Tour here in the Fraser Valley. Circle Farm Tour is basically a road map that directs you to a variety of specialty farm-gate vendors, open air markets, charming eateries, heritage sites, fairs, and other special events. There’s a brochure and map for each participating community.

 

 

22. Before the iPhone there was…the Aldergrove Telephone Museum & Archives is a restored BC Telephone Company building, located at 3190 271 St. in Aldergrove.The highlight of this little piece of Fraser Valley history is its step-by-step switch display, which demonstrates how an antique switchboard would process a phone ca

23. Walk on the wild side. Check out the lions, tigers and bears, oh my at the Greater Vancouver Zoo.

24. Family face off. Challenge your clan to a game of outdoor miniature golf at Castle Fun Park. Afterwards, don’t forget to ride the go-carts!

25. Old school movie marathon. Chances are there’s going to be a rainy day or 50 this summer. When the drops come down, head on over to Willow Video (yes, there are still actually video stores around) and rent a bunch of summertime classics.  And speaking of rainy days, you’re bound to find something to do on this list HERE.

26. Find a sweet spot. Keep your wee ones as busy as bees with a trip to Campbell’s Gold Honey Farm & Meadery in Aldergrove and the Honeybee Centre in Surrey.

27. Fun at the fair. Cultus Lake Adventure Park is BC’s newest and most incredible Theme Park.  Visitors to the park are immersed in a world of vibrant colors and interesting characters with state-of-the-art rides and attractions.

 

 

28. Day at the Springs. For most Valleyites, Harrison Hot Springs is short trek — one you certainly don’t want to miss. Float on an inner tube on the sparkling Harrison Lake, enjoy lunch at one of the quaint eateries and vote for your favourite sand castle.

29. Double dare you. Jump off the dock at Cultus Lake.

 

 

30. Hootie-hoo. Visit the owls at the OWL Orphaned Rehabilitation Society in Delta. This non-profit organization is dedicated to public education and the rehabilitation and release of injured and orphaned birds

 

 

31. Giddy-up! Take the kiddies for a pony ride at the Laughing Stock Ranch.

 

 

32. #VoteValleyMom. Love this list? Make sure to support VM by voting for us in the Top Vancouver Mom Blogger for 2015 competition by simply clicking on the link HERE and voting Valley Mom 😉 Voting closes on Sunday, May 31st, 2015. You may choose up to three of your favourite bloggers and can vote once each week, during the three weeks of voting. Make sure to check out all these talented ladies and show some love.

 

Make sure to check back with us throughout the summer as we continue to add more things to do. What’s on your ultimate summer bucket list for 2015?

 

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://www.thevalleymom.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/main-pic.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Kristyl Clark is a woman of many hats and the proud wearer of several pairs of sky-high heels. After the maternity leave of her second daughter ended, the journalism graduate decided to resign from her reporting job at Peace Arch News to stay at home with her two little women, Molly and Zoe. When this Fraser Valley gal isn’t up to her eyeballs in mountains of pink laundry or chasing her preschooler away from the toilet bowl, she keeps herself busy and her fridge full by working as a freelance writer for various publications. In true Libran fashion, Kristyl always strives to balance work and play, which is no easy feat with a child on each hip. However, it does make some for interesting blog posts and adventures in the Fraser Valley and beyond.[/author_info] [/author]