Hi Peeps , how is everyone!? I'm hoping to move to Abby BC soon and was wondering if anyone could give me the low-down on it! Heard some bad things ....got a feeling there's not much to do! Any input would be grand!

We lived there for a few years, then moved out into the valley a bit. Lived up on the mountain and it was a great area to live. You'll hear bad things about everywhere. As far as much to do, depends on what you want to do. Not far from many recreational centres, but nightlife, no, designer shopping, no. Growing fast, one of many nice communities in the Fraser Valley.

Hi Keylog

Welcome to BE, have a little look at the Wiki section, might help also.

Hi Keylog

We have just returned home from a recce trip and we stayed a few days in Abbotsford. It is one of the areas we are considering moving to. We liked it there. Tourist season hasn't started yet so not all was open. However, we still had a nice relaxing time there. The B&B we stayed in recommended East Abbotsford. We looked at properties on Eagle Mountain some were a bit pricey but worth it. Overall, I would give it a thumbs up.

Hi and welcome

Hi and welcome

we looked at Abbotsford before we thought about Vancouver island - so did a little research on Fraser valley and came up with Abbotsford and Langley being the nicer places. Langley was more expensive property wise and the houses were smaller for the money.

Abbotsford seemed more rural ( Farmimg community apparently) but i was told by a very friendly realtor ( ex pat) that east side is the better part - not sure why.

If we decided to move to the mainland I would definately go to Abbotsford

We lived in the East side, without doubt the area to go. If you like views, check out Glen Mountain, more established community than Eagle Mountain.
Near the top, on a good night you can see the gulf islands.

We will be going to Abbortsford on a regular basis as we have family there...

Do you have children? If so, they have a great place locally called Pumpkin Patch....

We spend a lot of time with the family so don't really do the touristy bits...but the place seems to have it all - I would be able to live there....but that is me...you are not far from Vancouver (although driving into down town is a bit of a torture), not far from the US boarder - 10 minutes, skiing relatively local, lots of lakes and bits and obviously the ocean. Stanley Park a must...and Vancouver Island - much bigger than we thought until we saw it...

Er - not sure what else you would like to know....just shout up - if we don't know - we'll ask the family....

Thank you all for your help, We're a young couple but will enjoy the country air and great views! I'm hoping to start snowboarding as I hear there is a resort less than an hour away....We have secured an apartment in East Abbotsford It's up high and has great views of Mt. Baker! If all works out I'll be commuting in to Delta which i'm told is only 40mins drive from where we are! I should therefore have the best of both worlds ...

thank you all for the warm welcome!

oh and thank you Harrypottermouse (great name by the way!)

I have to say I blame my then 3 year old for the name

I have to say I blame my then 3 year old for the name, she had a Where's Spot book and one of the lift the flaps was a picture of a hippopotomus under the grand piano lid...well, our good friend loves Harry Potter - and when the Mama (grandmother) asked who was under the piano - she replied harry pottermouse...so it kind of stuck.

Bless her - perhaps that's a new thread I should start....

The resort is Hemlock Valley, about an hours drive. You do need a 4 x 4 or carry chains to go up there. Many don't but on occasion the police are around to enforce this. It has just reopened this year after a few years of closure. Not the greatest, but close by. Manning has nicer slopes, its about 2 hours out of Abby.

Commuting to Delta in 40 minutes is a tad optimistic, depends which part you are trying to get to, your route and time of day, 60-90 minutes is likely closer to the mark in the commuter time (6.30 to 8.30 & 3 - 6), 50 minutes on weekends and evenings, it is around 60km

I agree with Surrey Expat, except instead of the word "tad" I would say extremely. Google Maps says it takes one hour and six minutes from East Abbotsford to Tilbury Road (the industrialized part of Delta). In rush hour it will easily be 30 minutes more.

One the brighter side, you are also within quite easy reach of the Mount Baker resort for skiing/snowboarding if you want to see how the Americans do it.