From the longest pier in Canada to trails and watersports galore, there’s no shortage of fun things to do in White Rock, BC, one of the Lower Mainland’s most beloved day trip destinations.
Especially on a sunny day, it’s tough to beat the city’s relaxed beach town vibes… so long as you defeat the odds and find a place to park.
There’s a beautiful promenade, a lovely beach, a lengthy pier, and tons of great options for food and drink. Sure it can get crowded, but the tradeoff is more than worth it for the views.
Wondering what to do in White Rock? Below, we’re rounding up our top picks for sights and activities. Let us know in the comments if we’ve missed any of your favourites!
Walk on Canada’s longest pier
Hands down, the biggest attraction in White Rock is its pier, which (as its many signs will tell you) happens to be the longest one in the entire country.
Spanning 470m (over 1500 ft), this lengthy wooden pier is over a century old, and was originally built in 1914. It offers sweeping views over Semiamhoo Bay, and of course, our American neighbours down south.
Throughout its century of existence, the pier has seen its fair share of exciting events. After going through major restoration back in the 70s, a heavy winter storm tore it in half back in 2018. It was re-opened a year later, looking better than ever. On a more upbeat note, it’s also home to an annual picnic that raises funds for charity.
If it’s iconic White Rock activities you’re looking for, nothing beats a stroll down this historic pier.
Stroll along the White Rock promenade
Of course, another great thing to do in White Rock is simply enjoy its promenade, which stretches for almost 2.2km along the beach.
All along the promenade, you’ll find great restaurants (with patios!), bars, cafes, independent shops and naturally, spots to grab ice cream.
This is a perfect stroll to enjoy with an ice cream in hand, or (if you want to stop and savour the views) a nice place to stop for some patio refreshments.
Photograph THE White Rock
Yes, White Rock really is home to a giant white rock, so if it’s your first visit, then stopping by is a must!
The boring explanation for the boulder’s appearance is simply this: it’s a glacial erratic regularly painted white to maintain its appearance as the city’s namesake!
As the story goes, the rock was once so bright white that sailors used it as a beacon during their sea missions. The reason for the rock’s white appearance? Bird droppings. And lots of em…
The rock apparently gets painted white these days to keep up the iconic “White Rock” image.
A far prettier story however is the legend of the White Rock as told by the Semiamhoo people, who say the rock landed there thanks to the lofty strength of a sea god’s son.
Long before European settlers arrived, the Salish Sea was said to have been protected by a sea god and his son. One day, the son fell in love with a Cowichan chief’s daughter, and brought her back to his father for his approval.
When their new found love was denied approval by their parents, the son angrily hoisted a giant white boulder from the sea, declaring that wherever the rock landed would become their new home.
The rock found eventually landed on the shores of Semiamhoo Bay… and the rest is history.
Enjoy delicious fish and chips
Fish and chips are an ideal seaside treat, and White Rock is where you can enjoy some of the best in the Lower Mainland!
Our personal pick for great value fish and chips in White Rock is Charlie Don’t Surf, which is located just steps from the pier with great views of the water and some really fun kitschy decor. Be sure to check it out if you’re looking for tasty things to do in White Rock! You won’t regret it.
Grab some ice cream
Alternatively, if what you’re looking for is a sweet treat, there’s an abundance of great ice cream places along White Rock Promenade.
Crazy Cows Ice Cream is a classic choice that will always have a line-up, but there are also a lot of other nice options as well, from reliable chains like Marble Slab to soft serve specialists like Maya’s Ice Cream.
Either way, enjoying ice cream here is a must, especially if you grab one as you stroll along the Pier or Promenade. We can’t think of a more quintessentially White Rock activity.
Enjoy some craft brews
One of the most underrated things to do in White Rock is checking out its craft beer scene.
Truly, for such a small place, White Rock has a surprising amount of micro-breweries.
There’s White Rock’s first micro-brewery, White Rock Beach Beer Company, which offers an intimate tasting room where fresh beers can be sampled.
There’s also Galaxie Craft Beer, whose hand-crafted beers are all space-themed, and 3 Dogs Brewing, which offers small-batch brews with snacks, baked goods, and board games.
So, if you’re looking for boozey things to do in White Rock (and don’t need to drive home), then be sure to give brewery hopping a try.
Catch an amazing sunset
White Rock is hands down one of the best places to watch sunset in Metro Vancouver… and to make the most of your time here, you really need to make sure you stay for the show.
Whether from the promenade or pier, admiring the sunset in White Rock never gets old. There’s just something so dramatic about the way the sun dips below the horizon, creating a spectacle of colours that is never the same shade twice. Add in some soaring seagulls and crashing waves, and it’s a recipe for for pure magic.
Enjoy some patio time with water views
One of our favourite things to do in White Rock during the summer is sitting outside on a patio, soaking in the sun, and admiring the perfect Bay blues ahead.
There are quite a few patio spots in White Rock to enjoy, but our favourite is Charlie Don’t Surf, since it’s right by the Pier. It does get busy here though, so definitely make a reservation in advance if you can.
Go stand up paddle boarding or kayaking
Besides eating and drinking, there are quite a few active and outdoorsy things to do in White Rock as well. One of our favourites is enjoying the water on a paddle board or kayak.
White Rock Paddle Co. offers affordable rentals by the hour, with a choice of single/tandem kayaks, stand up paddle boards, and even dry bags if you need them. If you want an active way to earn your treats in White Rock, this is one super fun way to do it.
Enjoy some of the trails at Ruth Johnson Park
When thinking of things to do in White Rock, one doesn’t usually think about hitting the trails, but there are actually quite a few nice walking trails to explore at Ruth Johnson Park, with some great hidden gem views.
The Ruth Johnson Trail in particular is an easy tree-covered trail in the park that offers opportunities year round to feel immersed in nature. Check out more details here.
Go whale watching
Billing itself as “BC’s most thrilling whale watching experience”, White Rock Sea Tours and Whale Watching offer an exciting tour that takes you around the Canadian Gulf Islands and the US San Juan Islands in search of whales, sea lions, seals, and more.
Their departure point is Crescent Beach Marina, super close to White Rock. Click here to see their tours and availability.
Admire some public art and murals
For such a small city, White Rock is fairly dense with public art and colourful murals, a feature that adds to its charming, care-free vibe.
And while you’re bound to encounter art and murals simply while exploring on your own, actively hunting for them is another fun thing to do in White Rock if you’ve been a few times and are looking for some new activities (and photo opps).
You can see a list of murals around the city in this list here.
Head to White Rock Farmer’s Market
If you’re looking for fun things to do in White Rock during the summer, one underrated activity is visiting White Rock Farmer’s Market in Miramar Plaza.
This seasonal market is a haven of locally grown produce and tasty food products, with live music and children’s activities available as well.
Visit White Rock Museum
Housed in an adorable Great Northern Railway train station from 1913, the White Rock Museum is a small underrated attraction that showcases the history and heritage of White Rock through photos and artifacts.
Catch a show at the White Rock Player’s Club
Since its establishment in 1944, the White Rock Player’s Club has performed almost 400 theatre productions, an impressive feat for a non-profit that’s entirely volunteer-based.
In fact, some say they may be the longest continuous presenter of Pantomimes outside of the UK, doing one show a year since 1954.
These days, including the annual Christmas pantomime, they manage to produce 5 in-house shows a year. So, why not add a little culture to your next White Rock visit and catch a show?
More information on shows and tickets here.
Enjoy an intimate concert
Another interesting cultural thing to do in White Rock is enjoying a concert at Blue Frog Studios, a state of the art concert theatre in White Rock that is fitted with world-class sound and lighting. Little wonder why it’s one of Western Canada’s top venues for “in studio” concerts.
With only 100 seats, and impeccable acoustics, the performances here are both intimate and amazing. Check out their official website for the latest information on concerts and tickets.
Partake in some train spotting
First time visitors to White Rock are often shocked to see trains rush by so close to the water, but this waterfront railway is actually one of the most distinctive and unique features of the city, making train spotting another great (albeit unexpected) thing to do in White Rock.
Operated by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, this single track is used by both the BNSFR and Amtrak passenger trains, making it a great place for watching trains go by.
Explore independent boutiques
One of the most charming things about White Rock is its independent, boutique vibe. There aren’t too many chains to be found here, which means some great opportunities for shopping.
And while admittedly, the Promenade is dotted with more spots for food and ice cream than for shopping, there are still a few really cute gems, like The Handpicked Home and The Mason Jar Home Decor & Gift Shop, Flowers & Company and Stillman Books, which sells second-hand and collectible books.
Visit an art gallery
White Rock may be small, but it does have a few art galleries you can visit during your stay.
There’s the Landmark Pop-UpTown Gallery which features local artists, the White Rock Gallery, a fine art gallery that specializes in Canadian art, and Art Couture Gallery, which again puts the spotlight on local artists.
Head to Totem Park
Last but not least, when in White Rock, make sure you stop by the beautiful Totem Park at East Beach, which is pretty impossible to miss thanks to its two tall cedar totem poles which stand in tribute to the Semiahmoo First Nation.
Named “The Gift”, these poles were originally raised back in 1999 as a symbol of partnership and healing between the RCMP, the First Nations people, and the City of WhIte Rock.
According to Explore White Rock, the pole on the left is the Coast Salish House pole (“Ka’Kan”), which stands as “sign of protection and love of the creator of all living nature”.
The pole on the right is the Haida Pole (“Gya ana”) which tells the story of the Semiahmoo people that welcome visitors to their land, and own the poles.
So, on your next visit to White Rock, make sure to stop by and take in the beauty of this significant and powerful site.
Did we miss any of your favourite things to do in White Rock?
Let us know in the comments so we can add more recommendations to our list!