Cooler days, changing leaves and the return of pumpkin patches and haunted attractions make fall a great time to explore BC’s Lower Mainland. Across Langley, Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley, farms and local communities embrace the season with everything from corn mazes and pumpkin picking to seriously spooky Halloween experiences.
Whether you’re planning a family weekend or looking for an excuse to get out of the city, here are a few ways to make the most of autumn.
Embrace the Season at Maan Farms
A trip to Maan Farms in Abbotsford is practically a fall tradition. By day, the farm is all about classic autumn fun. Wander through the pumpkin patch, tackle a corn maze, visit the barnyard animals and stop for a few seasonal treats along the way. Come evening, the atmosphere changes completely. The farm’s annual Halloween Fright Festival turns up the fear factor with haunted attractions and its famously scary corn maze. It’s a very different way to experience the farm, and definitely not for the faint of heart!
Staying overnight? Sandman Hotel Abbotsford Airport and Sandman Hotel & Suites Abbotsford put you close to the action and make it easy to explore more of the area while you’re here.
Find Your Perfect Pumpkin
There’s no shortage of places to go pumpkin picking in the Lower Mainland. Taves Family Farms in Abbotsford offers a full day of farm fun, while Aldor Acres Family Farm in Langley and Laity Pumpkin Patch in Maple Ridge are worth adding to your autumn itinerary. Pick a pumpkin to take home, grab a few photos and enjoy an afternoon outside before warming up with a coffee or something sweet.
Take the Scenic Route
Fall is a good excuse to slow down and explore somewhere close to home. Spend the morning wandering through Fort Langley, where heritage buildings, independent shops and cafés make for an easygoing autumn afternoon. From there, head into the surrounding countryside, stopping at farm markets, pumpkin patches and roadside stands as you go.
If you want to extend the trip, Sandman Hotel Langley and Sandman Signature Langley Hotel offer a convenient place to settle in for the night before heading out again the next morning.
Get Lost for a While
Corn mazes are a Fraser Valley staple, and there are options for just about every level of bravery. For a daytime challenge, make your way through one of the region’s family-friendly mazes. Greendale Acres in Chilliwack, home of the Chilliwack Corn Maze, is another longtime favourite and an easy addition to a day exploring the valley. Prefer your maze with a little more adrenaline? Save it for after dark and see how confident you feel when you can’t see what’s waiting around the next corner.
Make It a Little Spooky
If Halloween is your favourite part of fall, you’ll find plenty of reasons to stay out after dark. Haunted houses, nighttime mazes and seasonal events pop up throughout the region as October approaches. Pair an afternoon of pumpkin picking with an evening haunted attraction, or make a weekend of it and see just how many scares you can handle.
Dates and hours for Halloween attractions can vary, so be sure to check ahead before visiting.
Make a Weekend of It
The best part about exploring the Lower Mainland in fall is that you don’t need an elaborate itinerary. Pick a starting point, leave a little room for spontaneous stops and see where the day takes you. With Sandman hotels in Langley and Abbotsford, you can stay close to pumpkin patches, corn mazes, local farms and some of the Fraser Valley’s most popular autumn attractions. Pack a sweater, bring your sense of adventure and make a weekend out of your favourite fall traditions.
Explore Sandman hotels in the Lower Mainland and start planning your autumn getaway.