Let’s Go Do Something…With Alicia Haque!

Originally from the UK, Alicia Haque started her blog, Go Live Explore, as a hobby in 2014 while her and her fiancé Matt were backpacking through Southeast Asia. Over the years, it’s since grown & evolved into a destination for travel, lifestyle, beauty, adventure, and fashion content with an emphasis on luxury & sustainability, as well as content centered around moving abroad. Alicia is also a self-taught photographer & videographer and aims to inspire others to go, live and explore more of our world. It was that adventurous spirit that made Alicia jump at the opportunity to head out to Abbotsford and explore our expansive hiking trails and local shops and eateries. Check out the video above and keep reading to learn about how you can get out and enjoy Abbotsford like Alicia!

“We live in a really busy world and it’s hectic and we’re constantly on the go. What I like about Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley is it really forces you to slow down and get out in nature, you appreciate the smaller things. You can go to breweries with your friends and family and you can explore all of these lovely places together in sort of a calm and peaceful environment that’s so different to your busy life in the city,” says Alicia.

Alicia and her friend and fellow blogger Cindy started their day in Abbotsford by grabbing coffees at The Polly Fox, nestled in Historic Downtown. Worth the drive from Vancouver, this specialty bakery and café is completely gluten, peanut, and soy free, mostly vegan, and has some amazing handcrafted coffee drinks and baked goods. After a caffeine boost it was time to head next door to The Habit Project for fresh pressed juices and smoothie bowls, the perfect fuel for a busy day of outdoor activities. Started by sisters Danielle and Mariah, Habit’s cold-pressed juices and nut mylks are prepared with love and intention daily with ingredients sourced from local farmers.

Feeling refreshed and ready to get into nature Alicia and Cindy headed to Sumas Mountain Regional Park for a hike. Sumas Mountain Regional Park is a popular destination for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking that spans 1,471-hectares with trails that link to a larger network outside the park’s boundaries. Cindy and Alicia hiked the Ledgeview Trails which are found on the west side of Sumas Mountain, leading up to McKee Peak. These trails offer stunning and expansive views of the Sumas Prairie area. Another hike we recommend is the hike to Chadsey Lake on Sumas Mountain. This trail is moderately difficult but offers a great reward at the end! For a full list of trails on Sumas Mountain, click here.

After a quick change it was time to head out for a post hike reward: local craft beer and bites! Grabbing a seat outside at Raven’s Brewing Alicia and Cindy sipped on award winning brews and snacked on flatbreads made with local ingredients. New to Raven’s are their craft cocktails, made with alcohol they distill on site! To enjoy the taste of Abbotsford at home Alicia grabbed a pack of beer and a cocktail kit on her way out.

After a fulfilling day in Abbotsford it was time to head back to the city. “When you grow up in a place it’s really easy to take these local places for granted and not see the beauty but now that we’re all forced, almost, to travel locally we’re finding all these new places and Abbotsford really offers everything.” We couldn’t agree more Alicia!

Click here to plan your next weekend getaway and extend your stay with summer offers from some of our top hotels.