I recently found myself visiting family out in South Surrey, a part of Metro Vancouver that I visit once or twice a year. It was one of those magical mild sunny December days when everyone goes outside to work off their Christmas dinner hangover. Instead of rushing back home after my visit, I wanted to go for a short walk. And so I drove nearby to Crescent Beach.
The last time I was at Crescent Beach was 2021 for a socially distanced lunch during the pandemic. Before then? It had likely been decades. But during my impromptu Boxing Day walk, I was reminded just how wonderful this little waterfront community is. It’s perfect for when you’re wanting a quick easy escape from the city to the sea.
The small parking lot is shockingly free at Crescent Beach. There’s also a lot of free street parking. Once out of the car, there’s a paved pathway that goes along the waterfront. It appears Crescent Beach is quite accessible for those in wheelchairs, scooters, and strollers.
There’s a parallel dirt path that scrambles along the seaside adjacent to the paved path. There are also several sandy access points down to the water.
There’s a prominent pier that jets out into Boundary Bay, perfect for catching the sunset. Beautiful expensive heritage houses look out over the beach. All in all, it’s pretty idyllic.
During my winter walk I saw several bald eagles in the trees. There was a great blue heron fishing for its dinner. I also saw various types of marine birds doing their thing along the shore. Despite the crowds of families (it was a Christmas holiday, after all) and the distant skyscrapers reminding me of the rapid pace of development in town, there was a sense of peace and calm and that all was right in the world at Crescent Beach. At least it was right for Boxing Day. I look forward to returning in the spring.
