Step aside, Millennials, and hold up, Generation Alpha, because Gen Z are currently taking the world by storm, and nothing is stopping them from going full send.

Born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z has created their own culture, transforming things like coffee get- togethers, night life, wellness trends and much more into societal staples.

While White Rock and South Surrey may once have carried a quieter reputation, the area has slowly evolved into a Gen Z-friendly hotspot filled with aesthetic cafés, beach hangs, creative workshops and low-key social scenes.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect iced matcha latte, a cute location for a sunset photo dump or somewhere to spend a Friday night that doesn’t involve the downtown Vancouver chaos, here are 12 Gen Z-approved things to do in White Rock and South Surrey.

1. Hunt Down the Best Cafés and Matcha Spots

Cafés and Gen Z practically go hand-in-hand. Whether it’s for studying, yap sessions, remote work days or reading the book club book you are absolutely not behind on.

Local fave cafés include:

• Caffè Artigiano (1431 Johnston Rd, White Rock)

• Indigo Café (3388 Rosemary Heights Crescent, Surrey)

• No.24 Cafe and Bistro (15355 24 Ave #950, Surrey)

• Black Bean Café (2453 161A St, Surrey)

• Grounds & Greens Café (1369 Johnston Rd, White Rock)

• Bean & Berry (1122 Vidal St, White Rock)

• Laura’s Coffee Corner (15259 Pacific Ave, White Rock)

From iced matchas to beachside caramel macchiatos, these cafés are great gathering spots for younger locals.

2. Hey, Macklemore, can we go thrift shopping?

Thrifting isn’t just for shopping; instead, it’s become an entire lifestyle.

White Rock and South Surrey have quietly built a solid lineup of thrift stores for shoppers to hunt for vintage jackets, oversized sweaters, vinyl records and stylish retro home décor finds.

Popular spots include:

• Superfluity Thrift Shop (15163 Prospect Ave, White Rock)

• The Living Room Store (1233 Johnston Rd, White Rock)

• Wilder Thrift (1391 Johnston Rd, White Rock)

• WorldServe Thrift Store (1524 Foster St, White Rock)

• The Salvation Army Thrift Store (1327 Johnston Rd, White Rock)

Bonus points if you leave with one of those colourful flashy ’80s windbreakers.

3. Grab a drink and enjoy the nightlife

Not every Gen Z night out requires traveling all the way to Vancouver’s downtown nightlife scene. Instead, White Rock and South Surrey have built a more relaxed social scene full of breweries, cocktail spots, and casual late-night hangs.

Top picks include:

• 3 Dogs Brewing (15181 Thrift Ave #107, White Rock)

• The Beer Shack (1515 Johnston Rd, White Rock)

• Palms Beach House (12233 Beecher St, Surrey)

• Sandcastle Bowl Bar & Grill (1938 152 St #100, Surrey)

• The Ocean Beach (14995 Marine Dr, White Rock)

• Washington Avenue Grill (5782 Marine Dr #5, White Rock)

4. It’s BookTok’s Fault

BookTok culture has fully arrived in South Surrey and White Rock.

Whether it’s Romantasy novels, contemporary reads, hardcover sprayed edges or wanting to enjoy a quiet solo afternoon, bookstores and libraries have become a major comfort activity for Gen Z.

Best places to browse include:

Bookstores:

• Black Bond Books (1711 152 St, Surrey)

• Indigo (2453 161A St #10, Surrey)

• WorldServe Thrift Store (1524 Foster St, White Rock)

• Superfluity Thrift Shop (15163 Prospect Ave, White Rock)

Libraries:

• Semiahmoo Library (1815 152 St Unit 100, Surrey,)

• White Rock Library (15342 Buena Vista Ave, White Rock)

• Ocean Park Library (12854 17 Ave, Surrey)

5. Explore Craft Markets and Community Fairs

Similar to the thrift shopping trend, attending markets and fairs have become a favorable pastime for Gen Z.

Popular options include:

• White Rock Farmers Market

• White Rock Night Market

• Exclusively Creative

• White Rock Museum Christmas Craft Market

• Alex House Holiday Craft Fair

6. Music, Workshops and Events

White Rock and South Surrey have more Gen Z-centred events, workshops and live music than most would think. A lot of places are now catering to their Gen Z audiences by sharing on platforms such as Instagram, Reddit or Eventbrite.

Where to find local events:

• The City of White Rock Community Calendar

• The City of Surrey Community Calendar

• Peace Arch News Datebook

• Local Libraries

• Café Community Boards

• Local Businesses and The City Social Media Accounts (Instagram and Facebook)

• Facebook Community Groups

7. Turn Up That Beach Aesthetic

White Rock and South Surrey beaches have quietly become one of the area’s biggest Gen Z attractions. Whether it’s sunset social media content, paddleboarding or simply hanging out with friends until midnight, local beaches have become a social hub during warmer months.

Favourite beach locations:

• East Beach

• White Rock Pier

• Crescent Beach

• Blackie Spit

• West Beach

Top activities include beach volleyball, kayaking, crab hunting, bike rides along Marine Drive and sunset promenade walks with snacks in hand.

8. Try Hands-On Creative Hobbies

Gen Z has fully embraced those cozy creative hobbies such as crocheting, pottery, painting, fibre arts, candle making and so on.

White Rock and South Surrey have kept up with this trend by hosting workshops and classes for all to enjoy.

Local places to check out:

• CREŌ ART STUDIO (1253 Johnston Rd, White Rock)

• Semiahmoo Arts Society (14601 20 Ave, Surrey)

• Clayground Ceramics Studio (3030 148 St #101, Surrey)

• Chloe Ulis (14480 Malabar Crescent, White Rock)

• Geline’s ART & Associates

There are also plenty of hobbyist groups that organize events through libraries, Meetup and local Facebook communities.

9. Go on an Ice Cream Crawl adventure

If summer in White Rock had an official food category, it probably would be ice cream. (With fish and chips as a close contender)

Must-try spots include:

• Cones Creamery (14961 Marine Drive, White Rock)

• Crazy Cows Ice Cream & Gelato (14971 Marine Dr, White Rock)

• Martino’s Italian Gelato & Coffee Shop (12211 Beecher St, Surrey)

• Maya’s Ice Cream (5045 Marine Dr, White Rock)

10. Visit White Rock’s most famous crystal shop

Crystal collecting, manifestation aesthetics and spiritual wellness continue to trend heavily with this generation.

Happy People by Bella’s Miracle Shop (14877 Marine Dr, White Rock) is one of the most well-known local spots to find just this.

This place is known for crystals, gifts, spiritual items, and colourful displays. The store has become a recognizable shop for many.

11. Join the Gen Z gym rat and wellness era craze

Gen Z’s relationship with the gym and fitness looks a little different than previous generations. For many, gyms are also social spaces, content creation spaces and wellness communities.

Popular local fitness spots include:

• Fitness World (15850 26 Ave #120, Surrey) + (1715 152 St #120, Surrey)

• 24H Sandcastle Fitness Studio + Personal Training (1938 152 St #200, Surrey)

• Barre Fitness South Surrey (2443 161A St #30, Surrey)

• InterFit Pilates Studio (1548 Johnston Rd #105, White Rock)

• JustHustle Fitness Studio (3030 148 St, Surrey)

• Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre (6855 24 Ave, Surrey)

12. Embrace gaming, trivia, and offline fun again

While Gen Z may be deeply online, some are starting to embrace more in-person entertainment again.

Gaming cafés, trivia nights, karaoke events and tabletop games have become increasingly popular social activities in White Rock and South Surrey.

Places to find these include:

• Game Hut (1797 152 St #106, Surrey)

• Screen Free Games (Semiahmoo Shopping Centre, 1711 152 St #134, Surrey)

• Warhammer (Peninsula Village, 15355 24 Ave, Surrey)

• South Surrey Recreation & Arts Centre (14601 20 Ave, Surrey)

• Breweries

• Golf Courses