South Surrey’s burgeoning Morgan Heights neighbourhood is a great place to grow, and grow up. Indoor and outdoor activities in the form of clubs, camps and kids venues for your little (and not so little) ones abound, minutes from your doorstep. So, if you’re looking to move with a young one in tow or are planning to start a family soon, we recommend starting here.
Historic Stewart Farmhouse
Just a 12-minute drive from Morgan Heights sits the historic Stewart Farmhouse. First built in 1894, by pioneer John Stewart, the Stewart farmhouse is a now a place for visitors and residents alike to enjoy heritage activities, crafts and home baking. Costumed tour guides will take you through the house, and teach you about life in Surrey in the Victorian period. What’s more, in the summer months, the Stewart Farmhouse offers various children’s daycamps – and that’s great news for you and the kids. They can spend a day at the farm doing things the old-fashioned way, while you can enjoy a quiet lunch with friends.
Serpentine Fen
An interesting and inexpensive way to enjoy the outdoors with your kids. Located 10 minutes from Morgan Heights by car, Serpentine Fen, also called the Serpentine Wildlife Area, is a 150-acre habitat with more than 130 different bird species. There are a number of designated public trails and three covered viewing towers to help spot eagles, hawks, blue herons and more. September and October are the best months for birding, as many birds take shelter in the Fen, but you may also come across frogs, coyotes and even harbour seals. Don’t forget the binoculars!
The South Surrey Indoor Pool
This is a great venue for learning and playing. Register your little ones in swim lessons or just head to the pool for a day of fun. The indoor pool has six 25-metre lanes and two diving boards as well as a children’s pool and whirlpool. And the Pool hosts youth activities on Friday and Saturday nights. Pre-teen pool parties complete with a DJ and games, and Swim Play, which includes swimming followed by a movie and popcorn are popular Saturday night events. Conveniently, located 10 minutes from Morgan Heights.
Softball City
One of the coolest locations for any kid who loves sports has to be Softball City. It is the premiere sports and entertainment complex with four championship calibre diamonds, and it’s one more venue that is located only 10 minutes away from Morgan Heights. It’s an ideal location for fundraisers and birthday parties, or just watching a league or tournament game.
Add the fact that White Rock/South Surrey is part of the largest public school district in B.C., School District 36 (which has 99 public elementary schools and 21 public high schools), and we think you’ll find that Morgan Heights is quite an exciting place to live.
You want to raise your children in a nurturing and stimulating environment, and at Glenmore & Highland Park in Morgan Heights that want can become reality. If you’re looking to make the move and own your own home in a trendy suburban community that combines urban flare with a family-friendly mentality, you’ll love Morgan Heights.
Could you live in 600 square feet? Is location more important than size? Should your home be a place to live out of, rather than in?
A recent article on msnbc.com touched on all of these points, stating that when it comes to condo living, smaller spaces are set to attract Baby Boomers and Generation Y.
That got us thinking.
A smaller space is meant to be the trade off for living an urban lifestyle, but it definitely doesn’t have to be. At Glenmore and Morgan Heights we’re proud of our homes – they’re spaces that you can grow with, in an area that’s young, fresh vibrant and urban. And as condos in the downtown core get smaller and smaller, we think it’s nice to know there are still full-sized homes available at affordable rates elsewhere.
What do you think? We’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Could you live in 600 square feet or less?
At Glenmore and Highland Park in Morgan Heights you’re perfectly positioned to head south.
It’s B.C. Day on Sunday, and we’re really looking forward to the long weekend. The weather promises to be beautiful, and a short work week is certainly something to smile about.
Even better? At Glenmore and Highland Park in Morgan Heights you’re perfectly positioned to head south over the border for the day (or better yet, the weekend!).
If you’re looking to escape for a day trip, Chuckanut Drive is a must. This scenic route connects Bellingham to Skagit Valley, weaving through beautiful farmlands onto the rock shoulder of the Chukanut Mountains down to the historic town of Fairhaven.
The natural beauty of the Drive is an experience in and of itself. The bright colours of Skagit Valley’s well-known tulip fields are perfectly complemented by the lush greenery and dense agriculture of the area. Discover the old pilings, dikes and barns of historic Edison and then continue along the back roads to Samish Island and Bay View. Both Bay View State Park overlooking Padilla Bay or Larrabee State Park on Samish Bay are ideal places to stop and have a picnic. Of course, if you’re looking to indulge your tastebuds, why not try a few oysters? Native to the region, you can enjoy freshly shucked oysters at Oyster Creek Inn or The Oyster Bar.
Beyond the fresh produce and seafood, there are plenty of art and antique shops to explore as well. It truly is a drive like no other.
Then again, if you’re feeling like you need to add a few items to your summer wardrobe you may want to spend the day at Seattle Premium Outlets in Tulalip instead. The Back-to-School & Fall Preview Sale is happening from Thursday, July 29th to Monday, August 2nd. That means deals on items that are already reduced! There are designer fashion and sportswear stores such as BCBG Max Azria and Lacoste as well as children’s outlets like OshKosh B’Gosh. Any summer weddings to attend? You might as well get the gift out of the way this weekend, too. Houseware and home furnishings outlets include Kitchen Collection, Le Creuset and Restoration Hardware, to name a few.
Of course, with an extra day in the mix, you actually have enough time to get away for a night of camping, or even two.
Start your camping weekend with a visit to the quaint town of Port Townsend – known as Washington’s Victorian seaport. There is plenty to explore in this pretty seaside town, hit the beaches and trails on bike or foot, learn a thing or two at the museum or dance up a storm at one of the many live music venues. There are jazz clubs and festivals happening all weekend.
A short drive away, you can set up for a night of camping at Fort Worden along Admiralty Inlet. The 434-acre park – and the location site for the film An Officer and Gentleman – is situated high on a bluff overlooking Puget Sound. Fort Worden was actually active as an army base from 1902 to 1953, and many historic buildings from the military fort still remain.
If you prefer, a short ferry ride will bring you to Fort Casey on Whidbey Island – another great locale for camping. Fort Casey State Park is a 467-acre marine camping park that overlooks Admiralty Inlet and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Considered strategic to the defense of Puget Sound in the 1890s, Fort Casey was built with huge artillery guns on disappearing carriages, many of which were shipped to Europe during World War II. Two 10-inch and two 3-inch historic guns are still on display today.
So go on, treat yourself to a mini vacation. It’s only a short drive from Glenmore and Highland Park, after all. And whether it’s a day or the entire long weekend, we think you’ll agree there’s plenty for you, your friends and your family to do south of border.
We keep talking about how much we love the Morgan Heights area of South Surrey – it’s got style and culture; it’s near parks and recreation; it’s a fun place for kids, but there are still plenty of amenities to occupy the adults too.
But like we said, we keep talking, so this time around, we thought we’d show you what a fantastic place this can be. A photo snapshot of a day in the life at Glenmore & Highland Park in Morgan Heights, if you will.
Waking up you will be greeted by lush landscaping, and carefully designed arbours. The well-manicured lawns and shrubs are yours to stroll though each morning as you head to the gym. It wouldn’t be a productive day without hitting the gym first. Fortunately, the Clubhouse for Glenmore & Highland Park owners includes a workout room with weights, treadmills, elliptical trainers and more, just minutes from your front door.
A job well done deserves to be acknowledged. After sweating it out at the gym, heading to Moka House at Grandview corners (a quick 5 minute walk from your front door) for a fresh coffee or iced latte is just the pick-me-up you deserve. Lap up the sunshine or settle into a book in the square at Grandview Corners. Just remembered you need a few last-minute items for your son’s birthday party in the afternoon? Don’t panic. Indigo books and Hallmark are among the many stores in Grandview Corners that are poised to make life as convenient as possible. H&M, Jack & Jill, Please Mum, RW&Co, Stirling Shoes, Smart Set, & Tommy Hilfiger, not to mention banks, dentists, doctors, salons, cafes, and electronics stores – they’re all just across the street!
Picking up birthday cupcakes for the party – and maybe a frosty treat for yourself as well – is just as simple. Living in the suburbs doesn’t have to be about big chains and outlet stores. Boutique shops are part of the culture and appeal of living at Glenmore & Highland Park. But being close to nature is also part of life in this lively neighbourhood.
A bunny hopping across your path on your leisurely stroll back home is just one more thing to smile about. It’s nice to feel at ease. Planning parties of any kind, can be a bit of hassle. It’s hard to find a suitable venue, and it can get expensive. Fortunately for Glenmore & Highland Park owners, there is a great clubhouse that residents can book. You can easily set up and host your son’s birthday here, and nip home quickly if you’ve accidentally left something behind. You’ll love sitting poolside. And the kids will have a riot splashing in the pool at the party.
You love spending time with the kids, but you also want to make sure that you get some time for pampering yourself. A ten minute walk from your front door to the shops at Morgan Crossing, you can actually indulge yourself without having to devote a full day at the spa. Get a quick pedicure at Pure Nail Bar. Then visit the fabulous ladies at Blo Blow Dry salon to get your hair done before you head out for dinner. Call the neighbourhood babysitter, and then head for a fun-filled night at South Surrey’s latest hotspot, ULounge. You and your hubby can enjoy dinner for two, followed by a few after-dinner cocktails. It’s a great locale for a sophisticated and upbeat nightcap.
A jam-packed day, but it’s all within reach for homeowners at Glenmore & Highland park in Morgan Heights, South Surrey.
It doesn’t come better than this: South Surrey boasts unparalleled access to the great outdoors.
The century-old giant sequoias are only one of the 32 different species of tree to be discovered at Redwood Park, a manmade forest offering year-round trail walking.
The 32-hectare wood was propagated with saplings from around the world by the Brown brothers – twin boys, born deaf – given the land on their 21st birthday by their pioneer father.
If twitching is your passion, Blackie Spit is an ornithologist’s heaven. With some 200 different species of birds spotted in any given year, it’s considered one of the best bird-watching destinations in Canada. Look out for rare sightings of snow buntings and longspurs and revel in the familiar forms of “the three amigos” – willets, marbled godwits and long-billed curlews.
For beach life, White Rock’s Semiahmoo Park offers a relaxed dog-friendly sandy stretch. Take a walk along the long pier, look back to shore and you’ll see the famous white boulder that inspired the town’s name. Native legend has it that the rock marks the spot where the Transformers, emissaries of the Sagalie Tyee, the Creator, once passed.
Go on: breathe it in.
This is exactly what the Morgan Heights communities of Highland Park and Glenmore can offer: truly, a lifestyle worth living to the full.
It’s good to belong. To feel a part of something. And that goes especially for working out.
We all know we could exercise at home alone – and okay there are a few, rare people who have the willpower to do it. But let’s be honest: most of us will soon get bored and slack off.
We need to belong to a club for motivation, for sociability. To ignite our competitive spirit, even.
That’s why people have been lapping up the benefits of belonging to a club for decades. And – as the American Sports Data tells it – health club membership is set to double from 35 million to 70 million in the next 20 years.
In naturally healthy B.C., that’s one trend we know all about.
Finding a convenient place to work out is crucial to a successful exercise regime: this is one routine that should be effortless to maintain.
Which is why it’s been so important to ensure that homeowners at Highland Park and Glenmore will have their sports club on tap.
Whether it’s a meditative downward dog in the yoga studio, a daily dip during the summer in the outdoor pool, a spot of floor hockey or a game of billiards, it’s as simple as stepping into the backyard: a backyard designed with the whole family in mind.
It’s never too early (or too late) to develop healthy living habits and at Morgan Heights, that means providing families with a space where everyone – from the youngest to the most senior members – can feel part of the club.
The experts reckon that school-aged children need at least one hour of exercise a day to set them up for a healthy future. And what could be more fun than a family swim or running rings round dad on the hockey court?
Living next door to your own health club makes regular, safe activity one habit you’ll be glad they pick up.
And after going for the burn you deserve a space where you can really kick back.
From a children’s playroom, a comfy media room to the Great Room and bar – this club covers all your recreational needs and desires.
And it’s all for you.
No hassle. No expensive fees. No excuses.
At Highland Park and Glenmore fitness is not a chore. It just means you’re part of the club.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication ~ Leonardo da Vinci
Local, sustainable, organic… Now, more than ever, we care what we eat and where our food comes from.
But way before it was trendy to shop local, the natural habitat of South Surrey’s locavores was Mary’s Garden. Back when Jack and Mary Nootebos started farming they sold their fresh produce from a tiny vegetable stand. Drivers would honk their horns to call Mary back from the fields.
That was over 40 years ago and the farm shop has evolved into a major space supplying South Surrey’s residents.
These days they are only one of a number of committed producers in the area surrounding the Morgan Heights communities of Highland Park and Glenmore. It really is a foodie haven out here.
Hazelmere Organics have long been the port of call for Vancouver’s fine dining restaurants devoted to searching out the best fruits and vegetables grown with a loving hand and complete respect for the land.
But you don’t have to travel to the city to taste the fruits of Hazelmere’s labours: locals can have their weekly orders ready for pick up at the farm, or delivered straight to their door.
Order your fresh blueberries early, or get ready to be disappointed: Missing Goat Farm works on a first come, first serve basis for their annual berry harvest. They also grow garlic and sell homemade jams and chutneys.
But surely the most original spin on the whole u-pick concept must go to Colebrook Trout Farm where dinner is only a tug on the line away. Rods and bait are provided (serious anglers may use their own poles) and your catch will cost you $5 a fish.
In Morgan Heights, buying local couldn’t be simpler. It’s a growing community.
At South Surrey’s Morgan Heights, you can escape to your own seaside getaway in a matter of minutes.
If you’ve lived in the lower mainland for any length of time, you know White Rock is a great place to be in the summertime (and for those of you who are new to the area, take note). That means Morgan Heights, located minutes from White Rock beach, is not only a great a locale for your everyday needs – it’s also a short trip from one of the best beach days in the area.
White Rock beach is accessible by the C52 Seaside/White Rock Centre shuttle. But you may want to rev up your 64 Ford Mustang instead. It seems the city’s warm weather and easy disposition attracts many vintage car enthusiasts, and you’ll see various classics cruising the town’s main strip all summer long.
But the best way to take in White Rock’s scenic beaches is on foot. White Rock’s 2.5 kilometre long beach promenade connects the community’s east and west beaches together. As you walk its length, you’ll breathe fresh sea air all the while, and enjoy an iconic, nostalgic seaside feel. The promenade draws visitors from downtown Vancouver, the tri-cities and the neighbouring U.S. alike. Families with strollers, young couples and youths – all out to enjoy the beauty of this strip. Pause to appreciate the view of Mount Baker and the San Juan islands before heading to the historic white rock.
The rock, from which the city derives its name, lies along the beach beside the promenade. It is, in fact, a glacial erratic left behind from the last ice age, but the rock is also central to a mythological tale about the beginnings of White Rock’s Semiahmoo tribe. (White Rock/South Surrey has a rich past worth learning about, if you’re so inclined.)
Of course, a day by the beach wouldn’t be a day by the beach without the feel of wet sand sifting through your toes and a refreshing dip in the water. The bay’s protected waters are safe for swimming and kayaking. And when the tide is out, there is plenty of exploring to be done in the tidal pools.
Parallel to the sea runs Marine Drive – White Rock’s main strip for funky boutique shops, bustling bistros and fine restaurants. After a day at the beach, you’re sure to feel a little peckish, so take some time check out what’s on offer. Whether you’re looking to treat yourself to some homemade ice cream at Seaside Scoops Ice Cream Café or indulge in a fine dining experience complete with a bottle of robust cabernet sauvignon at Cielo’s Tapas and Oyster Bar, you’ll have no trouble satisfying your palate here.
Wrap up the day with one last stroll along the promenade to White Rock’s historic pier. Dating back to the 1920s, White Rock Pier features a boat launch and 1,559 feet of boardwalk. The Pier underwent restoration about 20 years ago, and still serves as a Canada Customs point of entry for small boats. It is the perfect vantage point to watch a summer sunset.
Clearly, there’s plenty to do in the summer at White Rock. And as a resident at Morgan Heights, you can access it all.
We couldn’t agree more with this article recently posted on Jurock.com. Young singles realize that living in the city isn’t all it’s cracked up – it’s expensive, cramped and private outdoor space is scarce – so more often than not they’re turning to the ’burbs. And with that in mind, we’ve created two stunning developments in South Surrey’s Morgan Heights, Glenmore and Highland Park. If you’re looking to make the move and own your own home in a trendy suburban community with an urban feel, you’ll want to check us out.
More than a decade ago the book Boom Bust and Echo forecast that suburban houses would become an anchor on the market by 2010 because aging boomers would all downsize and move out. Well, guess again. The suburbs are still strong and, if a new survey is an indication, it is young singles that are the new suburban wave of buyers.
In April Coldwell Banker Real Estate conducted a national online survey of more than 1,000 U.S. single homeowners and found that the majority of single homeowners (52%) chose suburbia over urban areas. Over half (53%) of single homeowners purchased a home simply because it was more cost effective than renting in their area.
The desire for independence played a role for 35%.
- Finding good deals is important, but so are modern amenities and outside space, the survey found. In fact, having a yard and outside space were rated as the most desirable features in a home over lesser considerations like space for entertaining.
- 68% of single homeowners purchased a home that was below their price range, rather than the most expensive home they could afford.
- Of the 13% of single homeowners who own their home jointly with another person, almost half had bought with their parents.
Major Point: With better Internet access for working from home, better cars to commute in and upgrades to the transit system (from Canada Line to new bridges) and much lower prices
- you can buy a detached house in Langley for the price of a one-bedroom condo in Yaletown – we believe the singles to suburbia wave will increase. Follow the Starbucks and the fitness franchises for the action.
Where once the ’burbs offered nothing but mall shopping, White Rock/South Surrey is enjoying a dramatic proliferation of boutique stores.
These specialty stores near the sea have been quietly building up a reputation that’s caught the eye of big city types. Even the experts are giving it props as a bone fide style hood – and the people living and working know something’s happening here too.
Retail therapy requires fuel: a serious shopper cannot risk a low blood sugar episode in the middle of picking the perfect pair of shoes.
A pre-shop stamina stop at White Rock’s famous beach-side Fieldstone Artisan Breads – where the only decision is whether to indulge in one of their famous cinnamon buns or plump for the protein in a homemade delicious quiche – is most definitely in order. Or grab a coffee (and a treat) at Moka House, part of the prolific Grandview Corners shopping district nearby, or give way to your passion for Cupcakes or go the full hog, literally, at the Memphis Blues Barbeque House.
Suitably fortified, it’s time for some real shopping. Head straight to Grandview Corners’ Ambiente store for brands such as Fruits & Passion biodegradable hand soap and fab Reisenthal designer bags, before trying to snag a pair of Jimmy Choo’s at H&M or a designer hit from BCBG Max Azria. For the Jamie Oliver wannabe, Kitchen Therapy is a must-visit store for every type of kitchen gadget.
At Morgan Heights and the growing communities of Glenmore and Highland Park, savvy shoppers find themselves living in the midst of a robust retail landscape.
