There’s so much going on in Delta, White Rock, and Surrey this Christmas season! My family and I have been busy exploring and experiencing all the fun attractions and events our city is presenting for the holidays; so busy we’ve been in fact, that I am running out of time to do my Christmas shopping. I didn’t want to head down to the mall (too crowded!) and I wanted to shop for unique and local goods that my friends and family would love. So, we packed up the car and decided to go on a day trip to the Historic Ladner Village. The city of Delta has an annual “Shop Local” campaign going on, and I was curious to see the shops and the decorations.

The Village consists of Delta Street – the Main Street of Ladner, with some shops on 48th Street as well.

Walking around we found a marker for Ladner’s Landing. The plaque and sign are on the site of the former Delta Hotel. The Delta Hotel greeted visitors, salesmen and new settlers disembarking at Ladner’s wharf from the 1880s until 1923 when the hotel burned down. The wharf was built in 1875 and this post office stop became a town in the 1880s when Donald Chisholm purchased and surveyed the site. The street still carries the Chisholm name.

There are so many unique shops here, like West Coast Seeds – our friend David is an avid gardener and loves hummingbirds. I found the most beautiful handmade hummingbird glass ornament for his Christmas tree. 

West Coast Seeds also has a good selection of home decor and cookware. I found a couple of gifts for my mother-in-law here too!

There are lots of Christmas decorations all around the village, and that made our walking around pretty much a big photo opportunity everywhere we went. The big Christmas tree on the corner of Delta and 48th street makes a wonderful holiday picture!

We also came across a kid’s store called Buttercups Children’s Boutique. – a not-to-miss destination for a parent!

Although they are known for carrying an array of children’s clothing and dancewear, I found some adorable gifts for Dylan’s friends and even StarWars socks as stocking stuffers.

 

Best part? The service. We showed up right at closing time, as the owner was about to go home. She without hesitation, opened the store again for us to browse and shop. That would’ve never happened at the mall!
At the back of the store, they have a small play area for the kids so parents can relax and shop at their leisure. Plus the variety of hard to find kid’s brands like Native Shoes and Blu Kids made this shopping experience extra special.

By now we were getting pretty hungry. We had dinner at a restaurant called Sharkey’s. It was a good choice.

Their West Coast menu had a variety of seafood dishes as well as burgers and pasta – and a decent kid’s menu too. I ordered the Crab and Shrimp Salad topped with Blackened Chicken – very good. Aside from the eclectic decor and relaxed atmosphere, I found the service very attentive and kid friendly. The place was packed – everything from date nights to family dinners.

It was the perfect way to end our day trip to Ladner. Personalized service, beautiful lights and decor and unique, made locally gifts made me realized that Christmas shopping doesn’t have to be a hurried, stressful rush, but it can be lovely, relaxed, and an opportunity to spend time with family.

Looking for family fun in Delta, White Rock, and Surrey? Follow @KidApprovedBC on social media, and check out their website for tips, family-friendly activities, and events around town. Follow the #KidApprovedBC as well!