I’m so excited for one of my best friends, April, who is pregnant! She’s due to give birth in June.

I’ve known April for over 13 years (how old am I?!). We met back in college in Kelowna in 2013. We’re both travellers; I visited her in Mexico City with her husband and now, we both live close to each other in Coquitlam and North Vancouver (how lucky am I?!).

This April, we decided to celebrate April by taking her on a babymoon. Emma, another bestie, joined for a quick getaway to Abbotsford.

When planning a friendship babymoon, it’s nice to stay close to home. As April’s baby grows in her belly to the size of a squash, she finds breathing more difficult as the bun stretches in her oven. Abby is only an hour-ish drive away, yet it feels like a peaceful escape to the country.

The Fraser Valley basks in the glow of Mount Baker, iced in vanilla frosting like a cake rising on the horizon. Farm stands with honour systems, fields speckled with cows and scenic wineries serving decadent reds with vineyard views make this area special.

We filled our little girl’s trip with visits to three (yes, three) different tulip fields. All are different and amazing for their own reasons.

Lakeland Flowers is a classic favourite on the Abbotsford Tulip Trail. Rows upon rows of colourful, unique varieties transport you to the Netherlands. Frolic through the fields to find photo-ops with canoes, swing sets, giant wooden Dutch shoes and more.

Maan Farms is a family-friendly adventure. We kicked things off with a Pilates class in the barn (which would be a gorgeous place for a farmyard wedding), then met the Highland cows. Getting up-close-and-personal with these furry beasts with big horns was fun, but also a bit scary!

On-site, you’ll find ample activities for kids: a bubble hut, play fort, jumping pillow, climbing wall, paintball and trike racing track, to name a few. Inside the Tulip Forest are perfectly curated photo-ops. Rather than rows of one colour, you’ll find carefully planted clusters in front of a massive teapot, mushroom house and bee house.

Taves Farm is my favourite for the cidery, which uses apples grown in the fall. For spring, the pumpkin patch transforms into a tulip garden. We were given a delightfully light mocktail to sip upon arrival, before strolling through the rivers of blooms.

Each offers a unique vibe, and is worth visiting. If you can, go on a weekday for significantly less crowds—or be ready to wait in a line-up for photo-ops.

While in Abby, we dined twice at Palm Cafe, a coffee shop that’s *for the girlies.* Surfer babe vibes, West Coast white washed walls with pink accents and an extensive menu lent a charm that’s difficult to find in a shopping strip. I’m obsessed with the cookie dough iced latte and still dreaming of the avocado toast.

Restaurant 62 served up seasonal farm-to-table items, like the incredibly moist honey rosemary glazed chicken, and Amici Italian Wine Bar served up some of the best salmon and stuffed ricotta ravioli I’ve ever tasted.

Brunch at Cannon Estate Winery was another hit, with the mama-to-be forgoing wine… and Emma and I taste-testing in lieu. We enjoyed a mimosa flight, eggs benedict (with perfect roast potatoes) and live music before making our way to a cute cabana at Singletree Winery. We made savoury s’mores, roasting cheese wrapped in deli meat over the fire pit, before munching on the melted charcuterie on crackers.

Our designated driver with a growing bundle of joy inside her drove us home through the sunshine along the highway. It was a perfect, quick, easy escape to celebrate April and the little new life she’s creating. I couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of all of their lives.