Is Surrey British Columbia’s Best Kept Secret?
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2026-09-29
By Gord Montgomery, Senior Writer, Inside Golf
A secret is an agreement between people to keep something hush-hush. The issue with that is that someone is always willing to share that information with others, no matter how solemnly they promised to remain mute. So, blame me for spreading this bit of information about a wonderfully surprising city in British Columbia.
Surrey, B.C., is a place you have to visit. As one of the fastest-growing communities in this province, what some may think of as urban sprawl is actually anything but. This community is green, multi-cultural, and full of surprises.
In fact, Surrey is all-encompassing. Fun, food, fairways, and festivals.
Perhaps making its mark recently with its famed Spice Trail, this city just outside Vancouver is vibrant and exciting to explore. It’s made up of 50% green space, with neighbourhood parks everywhere cutting into what many simply regard as urban sprawl. In fact, there are over 6,000 acres of green space here, so finding a bit of peace here is not all that hard to seek out.
(Photo By Gord Montgomery/Inside Golf)
There are trails through the forests. Beach walks. Fairway strolls. And of course, great places to satisfy your appetite after one of those invigorating jaunts, no matter where they take place.
On the menu here is anything your heart and tummy desire. From Western fare to the most exotic tastes you can imagine, Surrey’s Spice Trail serves up what you’re looking for. Once home to over 70 local restaurants, the Trail’s number has been pared down to around 20, and those are top-notch eateries. This collection of multicultural restaurants, all independently owned, dish up flavourful delicacies that tingle your taste buds and leave you wanting more at places like the Afghan Kitchen, Gamamaru Shokudo, and Baba’s Chicken, to name but a few. And the thing is, you can make any dish as spicy or as mild as you wish simply by asking the server to let the chef know your preference.
(Photo By Gord Montgomery/Inside Golf)
To enhance flavours even more, each and every establishment offers a wide variety of beverages to quench your thirst and embolden the flavour of the food. From craft beers to creative cocktails, there is something for everyone regardless of the nationality your chosen restaurant represents.
(Photo Courtesy Of Morgan Creek Golf Course)
And don’t forget the golf. From the pristine and top-rated Morgan Creek Golf Course, to the challenges of the Palmer Course at Northview, the intricacies of navigating the Guildford Golf & Country Club, and the dynamic shift in terrain at the Hazelmere Golf & Tennis Club, this is a place to experience a wide, enjoyable, and unforgettable taste of the game so many of us love (more on these courses to come in later posts on this website).
So, rather than simply heading to Vancouver for a change of pace, set your sights on Surrey, B.C., and experience cultures of all sorts, green space unlike what one would ever imagine in a bustling metropolis, and superb dining all in one exciting and intriguing spot.