White Rock

Most parking in White Rock is pay parking. The cost fluctuates but it is most expensive off Marine Drive by the beach ($3.75 per hour in high season). The new pay-by-space system makes buying or adding time simple. Just enter your space number on any nearby dispenser, pay, take your receipt and walk away. There's no need to return to your vehicle or place your ticket on your vehicle's dash. If you want to add time later, just enter your stall number (printed on your receipt) at any one of 36 dispensers along the beach and choose your payment method. You can even pay by cell phone. (Requires registration with Verrus Mobile Technologies Inc. You'll must use a credit card the first time you call. Nominal user fees apply.) Details at the city's Parking page.

TransLink, ☏ +1-604-953-3333. The main public transit network in the Vancouver area, including: Bowen Island, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Langley, Lions Bay, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, Port Moody, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver, West Vancouver, and White Rock. Its network includes buses, SkyTrain (rail rapid transit), SeaBus (ferries), West Coast Express (commuter rail), and HandyDART (door-to-door shared-ride service for those who cannot ride public transit without assistance). (updated Mar 2022)

Passengers can pay for fares using Compass Cards ($6 refundable deposit), Compass Tickets, or tap-to-pay using contactless credit cards (only American Express, Mastercard or Visa) or mobile wallets. Passengers using Compass Cards and Compass Tickets pay discounted fares. Passengers can transfer for up to 90 minutes, except if taking West Coast Express, in which case they can transfer for up to 120 minutes. On bus and HandyDART, passengers can also pay in cash, but in that case will not receive change and are not eligible for transfers.   Zone based fares apply between Monday and Friday for trips starting before 6:30 pm, if travel involves SkyTrain or SeaBus. Outside of those hours or for travel on only bus or HandyDART, a single zone rate applies. If traveling by West Coast Express, a higher cost zone based fare system applies regardless of time of travel.   Children 12 and under can ride for free. People aged 13 to 18, and 65 and older pay discounted concession fares.

A couple of buses provide links White Rock with other municipalities in the region and the SkyTrain.

• Bus #321 provides service from the Surrey Central station (SkyTrain Expo Line) in Surrey.
• Bus #351 provides express service from the Bridgeport station (SkyTrain Canada Line) in Richmond.

Standard adult transit fares (effective July 2023) to White Rock from Vancouver are $6.20 on weekdays and $3.15 on weekends and evenings after 6:30PM. Fares from elsewhere in the Vancouver region will vary between $3.15-$6.20.

• Pacific Cabs, ☏ +1 604-596-6666. (updated Feb 2022)

• Kabu. (updated Jul 2022)
• Lyft. (updated Jul 2022)
• Uber. (updated Jul 2022)

• 🌍 White Rock Beach, Parallel to Marine Drive. A sandy beach, especially toward low tide. The big white rock, that gives the community its name, is on the beach near the pier on Semiahmoo Bay between Blaine in Washington State and White Rock. Nineteenth-century sailors used this rock as a beacon. The White Rock is visible while entering customs coming into Canada from across the bay. Some people claim to have had luck on the lottery by rubbing their tickets on the 486-tonne boulder resting on the beach. White Rock Beach is the waterfront area of the City of White Rock in the southwest corner of the lower mainland of British Columbia, bordering Washington State. 
• 🌍 White Rock Promenade, Parallel to Marine Drive between Bay Street and Finlay Street (north-west end is at Bay Street and Marine Drive). Free. 
• 🌍 White Rock Promenade, south-east (Finlay Street) end, Marine Drive and Finlay Street (at the western tip of Semiahmoo Park). Free. 

White Rock has the largest and one of the most popular beaches in the Lower Mainland, located on the southern edge of the city alongside Marine Drive. The long sandy beach is perfect for everything from picnics to a game of frisbee. When the tide goes out there are many tidal pools that are left exposed and is a great place to see marine life up close. British Columbia's south coast is sheltered by Vancouver Island, because of this the water temperatures are relatively warm. If you don't want to walk in the sand, the White Rock Promenade stretches for 2.2 km (1.4 miles) next to Marine Drive.

The White Rock Promenade can be a pleasant dinnertime walk, especially at sunset, ideally with a low tide. Find a parking spot to the west part of Marine Drive, say near Bay St or Oxford Street. Walk eastwards down the beach. When you reach the pier, walk to end of it and back. Continue eastwards until the beachfront strip ends, at Finlay Street where Semiahmoo Park begins. There, you've done the nature/ocean thing. Now, cross Marine Drive. Walk back along the long line of restaurants, and get an idea from the vibe and the menus out front if you like them. Pick one for dinner, or make a reservation for later.

• 🌍 White Rock Pier, 15044 Marine Dr (Opposite Dolce Gelato). A pier that juts out nearly 500 meters from the shore. It is a popular place for a walk. During the summer some locals jump off the end of the pier, although this practice is discouraged and diving can be dangerous. Free. (updated Jul 2023)

Marine Drive is packed with restaurants, from standards like fish and chips to ethnic restaurants to pub

• 🌍 Maya’s Ice Cream, 15045 Marine Dr., ☏ +1-604 535-1070. Hours "unpredictable". Highly regarded for delicious and authentic gelato in a wide range of flavours. Cash only. Price "not cheap, but worth it". (updated Apr 2024)
• 🌍 Uli's Restaurant, 15021 Marine Dr, ☏ +1 604 538-9373. Daily 10AM-10PM (Brunch Sa Su 10AM-4PM). On the beach for over 30 years, the euro-inspired cuisine features local ingredients and creative wine and beer pairings. Minimal vegetarian and gluten free options. entrees $15-27. 
• 🌍 Washington Avenue Grill, #5 - 15782 Marine Dr (Between Kent and Parker Streets, south side.), ☏ +1 604-541-4244, info@washingtonavenuegrill.com. 11:30AM-4PM, 5PM-close. The upstairs dining room overlooks the bay. The seafood and gastropub fare is skillfully done and well served. Plentiful vegetarian options. Live music, W-Sa, is invigorating or a din, depending on your taste. lunch set menu $16-26, dinner set menu $30-40. 

The "five corners" intersection in the main commercial district, just up the bluff from the beach, anchors the restaurant area. Many more restaurants are along or near Johnston Street as it heads north.

• 🌍 Dining Wok Shanghai Restaurant, 15246 Russell Ave (at George St.), ☏ +1 604 531-6671. M W-F 11:30AM-2:30PM, 4PM-9PM; Sa noon-2:30PM, 4PM-9PM; Su 4PM-9PM; Tu closed. Sichuan, Shanghai, and Peking cuisine. Group menu available. Main dishes $10-15, some $20. 
• Leela Thai, 1558 George St, ☏ +1 604 541-9631. Lunch: M-F noon-2:30PM, Dinner: daily 5PM-10PM. A variety of chicken, pork, seafood and vegetarian Thai dishes. $10-15 per dish. 
• 🌍 Penang Restaurant, 15228 Russell Avenue, ☏ +1-604-538-1700. M-F 11:30AM-2:30PM, 4:30-9PM; Sa 4:30-9PM; Su, hols closed. Szechuan, Malaysian, and Indonesian cuisine. Takeout available. entrees $9-15. 
• 🌍 Taka's Take-out Sushi, 15214 Pacific, ☏ +1-604-538-8587. Tu-Su 11:30AM-"late"; M closed. An unassuming but highly-regarded sushi restaurant. In addition to the usual sashimi, nigiri, maki, and appetisers, they offer "aburi" (flame-seared) sushi and "wagyu" (Japanese beef). Sashimi $10-17/5pc. Nigiri $2-$4/pc. Maki $3-13/roll. Lunch menu $9-14. 

• Peace Arch News, ☏ +1 604-531-1711. (updated May 2023)

• 🌍 Peace Arch Hospital, 15521 Russell Ave, ☏ +1 604-531-5512. Hospital with a emergency department operating 24/7. (updated Mar 2023)