Introduction
Although it was South Surrey’s first settlement, Crescent Beach remains a bit of a hidden gem. Bounded in the east, west and north by the water of Boundary Bay and to the South by Beecher and Bayview Streets. Unlike the popular—and populated—beaches downtown, there is usually plenty of room to relax and play on the weekend on this beach.
Lifestyle
Surrey’s only beach community, known affectionately to locals as “CB,” Crescent Beach is a laid-back neighbourhood. Things move at a slow pace here, and the atmosphere is more one of relaxation than of hustle and bustle. There’s not much nightlife here, unless you include taking in a gorgeous sunset and stargazing.
Dollars & Sense
Although there are some fantastic properties nearby (some beachfront homes are drool-worthy), Crescent Beach is not an expensive place to spend the day. It’s not cheap to eat here, but who wants to eat seafood for less than $20 anyway? There’s great espresso and gelato nearby, too, which cost about as much as such things normally do: more than Tim Hortons and soft-serve, but worth every penny.
The Good, the Bad & the Rest
Crescent Beach is a gorgeous, laid back place to live, vacation or spend a relaxing day at the beach. Those who need to commute elsewhere in the Lower Mainland, however, might find it a bit far—and hard to get from, given there’s only one road out—to manage day to day.
15.2 km
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Crescent Beach Road is the only road in and out of Crescent Beach to and from the rest of Surrey, and it crosses the BNSF Railway. A lot of trains carry freight on the BNSF (about 20 a day). Residents have long been concerned about emergency access to Crescent Beach, as well as the noise and coal-dust that the train emit.
In the Area
The main attraction here is the beach, which offers fantastic views of ?? and ??, but there is more to see and do in this area than spend the day at the beach. Blackie Spit, another local park, has a 5 km long nature walk that birdwatchers are sure to love, as well as an off-leash dog park. There are three secondary schools in the area: Earl Mariott, Elgin Park and Semiahmoo.
Meet the Neighbours
South Surrey as a whole is home to the largest population of senior citizens in Surrey, and this beachside community is no exception to that statistic. Who wouldn’t want to retire to a beachfront property with some of the mildest weather in Canada? At the same time, you’re see strollers walking the path by the beach on any given day in this community.
The Vibe
Sunset beach has an easygoing vibe that’s more about taking naps in the sun than about the quicker-paced lifestyle of Surrey City Centre or Downtown Vancouver. If you own a boat or enjoy any activity on the water—and away from the madding crowd—you might find Crescent Beach to be just about the perfect spot.
Gallery
Neighbourhood Hotspots
Crescent Beach
This beach has been a popular summer destination since 1912, when Crescent Beach was first promoted as a resort area.
more infoSeahorse Grill
Executive Chef John Kavanaugh is serious about unique, fresh food. He smokes his own feta, makes his own pate and grows his own herbs out back.
more infoHooked Fish Bar Seahorse Grill
Good eats and cocktails right on the beach. Have a margarita and some fish tacos on this patio and you’ll have to pinch yourself to remember that you’re not in Mexico.
more infoMartino’s Cappuccino and Café Bar
There’s nothing like a nice gelato to complement a day at the beach, and Martino’s offers an abundance of flavours to tempt every palate.
more infoFieldstone Artisan Bread
You can feel good about buying and eating the antastic artisan bread at Fieldstone, which is baked in a French stone-hearth oven and made with top-notch ingredients. Yummy sweets here, too!
more info