| Things to
do - Harrison Hot Springs:
There are a wide variety of things to
do in Harrison Hot Springs . The only real limitation is the amount of
time and energy you have. To make your choice a little easier we have
grouped activities into the following categories:
Water
Lovers Family fun
Farm tours
Nature lovers
Thrill
seekers History
buffs/cultural connoisseurs Laid
back recreation - yes we're talking golf
Laid back Recreation -
Spa's and Massage Special
events
The best source of great ideas
for Harrison can be found at:

For a comprehensive listing
of the Fraser Valley
Water
Lovers
Harrison Hot Springs - The
Springs
The
place to start is of course the springs. While the Hotel owns the rights
to the springs they also pipe water directly from the springs to the
Public pool one block away from our house. The actual spring water 74°
C/165° F is pumped to the public pool and cooled to 38° C/100° F. For a
modest fee you can rejuvenate in the warmth of mother natures self healing
miracle. Harrison Public Hot Pool is open daily from 9 AM to 9 P.M.. For
more information call 796-2244.
Harrison
Hot Springs Lagoon
If you are looking for a nice
sandy beach to lay on while the kids swim in the Lagoon this is the place
to be. Its right across the street and offers play areas for the kids, a
clean sandy beach and the relatively warm water of the lagoon.
Harrison
Lake
There is of course Harrison
Lake one block from our house. Sailing, wind surfing, power boating, water
skiing, on one of the cleanest lakes you can find anywhere. For
details on the lake check out Harrison
lake. It is possible to use our canoe, or rent a boat and
explore the vast expanse of the largest lake in southwestern B.C.. A word
of warning it is a large, 65 kilometer long, glacier fed lake and the
water can be very cold. As well, storms can make the lake a dangerous
place to be, so exercise caution and common sense. Boats can be rented or
skiing arranged, here are a couple of places:
Harrison Watersports
Inc. (Boat/canoe/Sea-Doo Rentals)
Killers cove marina and boat
rental
Harrison Lake offers some
superb wind surfing. A large long lake, it channels the air into
some pretty healthy wind. Better bring your wet suit/dry suit as the
water can be pretty chilly. Need more information then go to the Harrison
Windsurfing Society web site or phone the (Windline)
1-604-796-0405
Bridal Falls Waterpark
A 15 minute drive back to the
Trans-Canada highway you will find the Bridal Falls Waterpark. Spend a
day racing down the various slides and chutes. Their season runs from June
till early September. Need more information visit the
Bridal Falls Waterpark
web site.
Hicks
Lake
Looking for a quiet lake to
spend the day away from civilization? Then its time to head up to Hicks
Lake in nearby Sasquatch park. Check out the
Sasquatch
Provincial park site. For specifics on the lake go to the provincial
lake site Hicks
Lake.
Fishing
Cutthroat, Rainbow, Dolly
Varden, Steelhead, Coho and gigantic Sturgeon abound in the lakes, rivers
and creeks around us. While we are not fishing experts we know that
excellent fishing is to be had in Harrison Lake, Harrison River, the
Fraser River and many other smaller rivers and lakes in the area. Need
more information on fishing then try the B.C. fishing forum for general
questions regarding fishing in B.C. its found at the FishBC
web site.
Or, if you just want to learn
more about Fish and Fishing go visit the Chehalis River
Hatchery. They also have an
excellent web site that covers among other things fishing conditions,
hints, and regulations check it out .
If you are looking for a guide
or more information contact nearby Harrison Bay Fishing (they
helped me catch five Salmon in four hours) or for a great source of
information including current fishing reports as well as guiding
services try Sharphooks.
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Family Fun
Dinotown
Dinotown is a Jurassic
Dinosaur Theme Park 15 Min. from Harrison at Bridal Falls. A place where
you and the kids can enjoy games, rides and entertainment. Check out
their website for the schedule and amenities Dinotown web site.
High
Horse Heaven-Guided adventure trail riding A
30 minute drive to Chilliwack will take you to High Horse Heaven trail
rides. Trails take you through green rolling hills with
fantastic views of the coastal mountains and valley floor. Their
aim is to ensure that any level and age of rider feel at ease.
You can visit their website at
highhorseheaven
Bridal Falls
Waterpark
A 15 minute drive back to the
Trans-Canada highway you will find the Bridal Falls Waterpark. Spend a
day racing down the various slides and chutes. Their season runs from June
till early September. Need more information visit the
Bridal Falls Waterpark
web site.
Mini
golf
Always fun whether you win or
lose try your luck at mini golf at Tugboat Junction Adventure Park.
Beautifully landscaped course with waterfalls, a train trestle, a
train station clubhouse and a ride-along miniature train! Check
out their website at Tugboat
Junction.
Biking
& Riding
Riding in and around Harrison
can be experienced a number of ways. There is of course the bike. Whether
you want to go for a leisurely ride through the local streets or test your
mountain biking abilities on the local trails, Harrison is a great place
to bike. If you want to get some help biking around why not try a
Quadracycle. You can rent one at Jamie's Quadracycle Rentals.
A fun way to see Harrison
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Circle Farm Tour
The
Circle Farm Tour is a wonderful way to experience the rich variety
that Agassiz, Harrison Bay and Harrison Hot Springs have to offer by way
of things historical and agricultural.
Limbert Mountain Farm -
Experience our Nursery and Organic Specialties Farm. We grow potted herbs,
heirloom tomato plants, and ornamental grasses. Visit our shop for home and
garden décor, custom tea blends, fresh seasonal foods such as herbal salads,
garlic, chestnuts & culinary herbal products. Attend a class on propagating
herbs or cooking sessions with instructor, "Chef Dez". Visit
their website for opening times
http://limbertmountainfarm.com/
The Back Porch
at 6116 Golf Road, Agassiz, BC. Enjoy great
pottery, basketry, collectibles & nostalgic pieces, a trundle through
their character gardens - and - before you leave, a chance to scoop some
great estate coffees, roasted fresh on the premises. Open Wednesday to
Saturday - 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.
The Farm House Natural Cheeses - offering a range of natural cheeses
produced straight from farm fresh milk. Through the viewing window
watch the process and enjoy some ice cream or browse the gift shop. You
can find them at 5634 McCallum.
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Nature Lovers
Minter
Gardens
Is a world class garden with
27 immaculate acres of flowers, plants and gardens arranged in 11
wonderful theme gardens. A delight to the eyes and soothing to all your
senses the gardens are open May/June - October from 9:00am - 5:30pm
daily.
For more information visit the
Minter Gardens web site.
Bridal
falls
Found at the base of the
majestic 7000 foot Mount Cheam, Bridal falls is a wonder of nature that is
magnificent to see any time of the year. While no picture can do it
justice check it out at the Bridal Falls site at BCadventure
or at the Harrison
site. Only 15 minutes away from Harrison it's also a great place for a
walk or a picnic.
Hiking
There are countless hikes in
and around the Harrison Hot Springs area. Use our Hiking guide as a
reference source, it lists 80 of the best hikes in the area. Want to get
some ideas from the internet then go to the Bcadventure-hiking
site. This site describes hikes in the Vancouver area. A few in the
neighborhood of Harrison are First Brigades Trail, River, and Mount Cheam.
There are also a couple of great hikes in the Chilliwack region described
in Hiking in
BC. They are a bit of a drive away but give an idea of the kind of
hiking you can expect in this area of the world. Bird/Wildlife Watching
Harrison Lake is a major
resting area on the north-south migration path. The Harrison River is the
second largest home for bald eagles in North America. Of course there is
much, much more of nature to be seen and enjoyed in the area. To get a
good overview head over to BC Wildlife
Watch - Lower Mainland Region Fraser Valley Viewing Sites. They
provide all sorts of information on what can best be seen where.
Canoeing/kayaking
Whether it's the Miami River,
the lakes of Sasquatch Park or Harrison Lake canoeing and kayaking of
every level is possible in the area. Watersedge Kayaking offers everything from
guided tours and kayaking lessons. They provide kayaks, paddles, pfd's
and everything else that you need for a great day on the water.
Check out their website at
www.watersedgekayaking.com.
For more general information on canoeing and kayaking in the area visit Bcadventure
canoe/kayak.
Country
Drives
The Harrison area provides
wonderfully scenic driving whether in your city sedan or your 4 wheel
drive bush basher. You'll need a four wheel drive vehicle and some
good backroad maps.
Forestry Green Tour: This
self-guided tour around Harrison Lake will help you learn more about our
forests. See the Old Harrison Ranger Station, Green Point camp, the site
of the 1958 fire, tree plantations, Bear Creek campsite and a logging
airstrip constructed in 1947.
For an extensive list of day
trips in the Fraser Valley check out the
Valley Guide.
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Thrill seekers
Looking for some excitement,
well Harrison also has a lot to offer in that area. From scuba diving, to
mountain climbing from water/snow skiing to helicopter sightseeing, you
can do it all within minutes of the village.
Helicopter
sightseeing
Want to see the
area from Helicopter Sightseeing Rides check out Far West Helicopters
Hellsgate
Airtram
A few miles past Hope you will
find one of the truly magnificent and powerful wonders of nature - Hells
Gate. A tram will take you down to the gorge where the entire flow of the Fraser river is forced between massive rock walls.
Check out their site at Hell's Gate
Airtram
If you're interested in some
real excitement you might want to think about whitewater rafting. Fraser
River Rafting Adventures offers a number of packages including one trip
that starts at Boston Bar, an hour from our house, and ends in historic
Yale. Multi day trips are also available Fraser River Rafting Adventures
Skiing/Snowboarding
Another place to
get a shot of adrenaline is at Hemlock Valley - Skiing /Snowboarding
/Cross-country skiing in the winter, hiking and mountain biking in the
Summer, check out their web site
Hemlock Valley.
Windsurfing
Harrison Lake offers some
superb wind surfing. A large long lake it channels the air into some
pretty healthy wind. Better bring your wet suit/dry suit as the
water can be pretty chilly. Need more information then go the Harrison Windsurfing
Society web site or phone the (Windline) 1-604-796-0405
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History buffs/cultural
connoisseurs
Agassiz-Harrison Museum
Agassiz Harrison
Museum located on
Pioneer avenue in Agassiz has a collection of
historical artifacts and memorabilia from Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs
and the Harrison Lake area. Its open from the May long-weekend until
mid-September. Open 7 days a week, 10 am until 4 pm. No charge
but donations are welcome.
Kilby
Historic Store and Farm
Kilby Historic
Store and Farm offers a unique view of what the area was like in the
1920s
Other
cultural pursuits
To find out about other
cultural pursuits call:
Kent/Harrison Arts Council
1-604-796-2678 The Ranger Station Art Gallery 1-604-796-2723
Theatre Society 1-604-796-2920
For other ideas check out the
events category.
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Laid back recreation - yes we're talking golf
Sandpipers
Golf Course
A beautiful golf course
surrounded by majestic firs and cedars on the upland shores of the
Harrison River. Sandpiper is located in Harrison Mills on Highway 7, about
20 minutes from Harrison Hot Springs. Check out
Sandpipers site for more
information.
The Falls
Golf and Country Club
Rising 750 ft. above the
Fraser Valley, The Falls is a great course at the foot of Mount Cheam and
offers a par 71, 18 holes. Want more information visit
the Falls Harrison
Resort (formerly Oaktree)
Golf Course
Oak Tree Golf Course is a PGA rated 9 hole
course found at the entrance to Harrison Hot Springs. Its one of the older
courses in the Valley and is a great way to enjoy a sunny Harrison
afternoon. More information can be found at Oaktree
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Laid
back Recreation - Spa's and Massage Araina's Araina
offers a wide range of massage packages to help you relax and
recharge. Healing massage, Aromatherapy, Body wraps, Shiatsu, to
name but a few. The Side-by-Side Couple massage is a
specialty. Its our favorite and good value for money, check out
their website for more information Araina.
Healing
Springs Spa
At
the Healing springs Spa, you will find a full range of spa treatments
and services, using natural mineral waters to help you rebalance your
body and renew your spirit. See what they have to offer at Healing
Springs.
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Special events
HarriSand
World Championship Sand Sculpture - starts
the day after labour day and the exhibition runs through to
Thanksgiving (Canadian)
The best
master sand sculptors (solo and team) in the world are invited to
Harrison's annual competition starting on the Tuesday after labour day.
All entries must be finished by 3 pm the following Sunday. For
more information visit Harrisand Harrison
festival of the arts -
please check their website
for dates The Village comes alive with
music, dance, theatre and visual arts as over 200 international, national
and regional artists and performers take part in the
celebration. Visit their site for more information Harrison Festival Society
Agassiz
Fall Fair & Corn Festival,
September
- please check
their website for exact dates Fraser
Valley Bald Eagle Festival - late
November
The Festival is
an educational event that everyone can enjoy The weekend focuses on the
lifestyles of the Pacific Salmon and the natural habitat of the Bald
Eagle, as Harrison Bay and Harrison Mills provide the third largest
population of over-wintering birds in North America. For more info go to
Fraser
Valley Bald Eagle Festival
Christmas at Kilby's
Kilby Historic
Store old-fashioned
Carollers, Gingerbread Cookie decorating and great gift ideas and a
great little restaurant (we love it). |