BEST PICNICS AND PATIOS IN THE HARRISON RIVER VALLEY

Summer is on the horizon; leading our thoughts to leisurely lakeside picnics and dreamy, warm summer evenings spent dining on our favourite patios. Here in the Harrison River Valley, we have a wide variety of outdoor dining options; add in fresh mountain air and the joyful sounds of summer; and eating “al fresco” just might become your favorite way to dine! Read on for some ideas for delightful picnic and patio options in the Harrison River Valley. 

PICNICS

There are many wonderful locations in the Harrison River Valley to picnic. Spread a picnic blanket on your favourite lakeside beach; relax on a bench along the Lagoon Trail, or sit at one of the many picnic tables at Greenpoint Day Use area. We also love the idea of packing a picnic on a hike and then eating at a scenic lookout spot (like Sandy Cove) or spectacular summit (like Bear Mountain)! Don’t feel like packing a picnic? We have a fantastic array of eateries in the village – make your picnic effortless by getting takeout.  You’ll love the Picnic Basket meal from Harrison Corner Café. Each basket is good for 2-3 people and contains 1 French baguette, house-made chickpea hummus, a summer salad, tapenade, raspberry jam, variety of cheeses & cured meats, veggies, fruit, cookies, sparkling water or orange juice, and plates and cutlery (if dining indoors, you can also add a bottle of wine or beer). Pre-orders only – order your basket by email or by calling 604-491-4429.

PATIOS

From coffee shops and cafes to fine dining, we have a wide array of restaurants that feature beautiful patios to sit back and enjoy your meal. Here are just a few options for eateries with lovely patios; check out the Dining section of our website to find even more! 

• Black Forest Steak & Schnitzelhouse, 180 Esplanade Avenue, Harrison
• Broken Whisk Restaurant, 7205 Pioneer Avenue, Agassiz
• Harrison Corner Café, 310 Hot Springs Road, Harrison
• Islands Bar or the Lakeside Café in the Harrison Hot Springs Resort, 100 Esplanade Avenue, Harrison
• Kilby Historic Site’s Eliza Kilby Rose Garden, 215 Kilby Road, Harrison Mills
• Lakeview Restaurant, 150 Esplanade Ave, Harrison
• La Maison du Poutine House, 196 Esplanade Ave, Harrison
• John’s Fish & Chips, 259 Hot Springs Rd, Harrison
• Milo’s Greek Taverna 234 Esplanade Avenue, Harrison
• Morgan’s Bistro, 160 Esplanade Avenue, Harrison
• Molly Hogan’s Bar and Grill, 20955 Hemlock Valley Rd, Sasquatch Mountain
• Muddy Waters Café, 328 Esplanade Avenue, Harrison
• Old Settler Pub, 222 Cedar Avenue, Harrison
• River’s Edge Clubhouse, 14282 Morris Valley Road, Harrison Mills
• Royal King Indian Cuisine, 140 Esplanade Avenue, Harrison
• Sushi Kitami Japanese, 318 Hot Springs Road, Harrison
• Taco Rio, 791 Hot Springs Road, Harrison
• Yukiya Sushi & Korean Cuisine, 140 Lillooet Avenue, Harrison

BARBECUES

Along the lakefront, you’ll find 14 picnic tables with pedestal BBQ stands in a designated barbecue area. This area is on the East side of the Harrison Lake waterfront and in Rendall Park. To barbecue in Harrison, village bylaws stipulate you must use the pedestal stands provided and your barbecue must not exceed the size of the pedestal. Use a propane or butane barbecue with a fuel cylinder capacity of 10 lbs or less. Wood, charcoal, and briquettes are not permitted. BBQing is not allowed outside of these zones. These measures are put in place to reduce the possibility of wildfire; and keep residents and visitors safe.

DINE ON WATER

Boating and picnicking are two beloved summer activities, and in the Harrison River Valley, you can do both at the same time!

HARRISON WATERSPORTS Phone 1-855-446-4974
Book a BBQ Boat from Harrison Watersports and spend an afternoon with friends floating, grilling, dining, and chilling! Each boat holds up to 6 adults (or 1000 lbs), and includes a barbecue grill with propane, anchor, lifejackets and safety equipment, a bluetooth speaker sound system, large shade umbrella, swimming ladder and an electric motor (which means no extra fuel costs). Starting at $249 for a 2.5-hour rental, divide the cost between your friends and you have a very affordable way to spend an afternoon on the lake! Tips: bring easy-to-grill foods, like prepared skewers of kabobs, or even easier, purchase takeout from one of Harrison’s restaurants, and keep the food hot on the grill for grazing as you float. Bring your smartphone to hook up your tunes to the speaker, and don’t forget a cooler with your food and beverages, and plates, cutlery, and beach towels. Please note: alcoholic beverages are not allowed on the boat. Book online here.

SHORELINE TOURS Phone 604-796-3100
Take a cruise with Shoreline Tours and let someone else do the cooking! Offering lake, river, and waterfall tours, or the historic Port Douglas tour, you can cruise in comfort on their luxury 62-foot cruiser, The Laroan! The Laroan is fully outfitted for a comfortable tour, including The Laroan Bar and Grill, which serves barbecued items like beef burgers, chicken burgers, veggie burgers, wraps, hotdogs, and more. You can also enjoy a wide selection of alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages while you cruise. See the menu here. Learn more about Shoreline Tours’ many cruises and book a tour online here.

OUTDOOR DINING EVENT

Rowena’s Inn on The River will be hosting their next Step Back in Time Dining event on July 23, amongst the radiant river, forest, and mountain views outside the historic inn. The chef-prepared, fresh fare will dazzle your tastebuds. Dishes include Shrimp-Stuffed Avocado, Heirloom Tomato Carpaccio, and Pan-Seared Halibut, with White Chocolate Crème Brûlée. View the full menu here, and email Cara at Sandpiper Resort to book your table. 

PICNICKING TIPS:

• Summer weekends in Harrison Hot Springs can get very busy; if you are coming on a weekend, get here early to find parking and a good spot to set up. 
• Consider a weekday getaway; the lake and waterfront are quieter, and you’ll have more choices for parking, and choosing a barbecue pedestal.
• Pay parking is in effect from May 15-Sept 15. A few changes to the Pay Parking Program have been implemented for 2022. Please visit the Village website for more details. Find parking rates here. You can find FREE parking in the overflow parking lot located on the corner of Miami River Drive and Hot Springs Road.
• Tents are not allowed on the lakefront; feel free to bring a sunshade, or umbrella; village bylaw is no more than 1.5 metres (5 feet) tall and with a maximum area of 2 metres squared (6.5 feet squared), because we want to ensure there is plenty of space on the lakefront for everyone to spread out and enjoy. 

We invite you experience outdoor dining on the beautiful patios and picnic areas of the Harrison River Valley!  For more information on these, or other attractions or dining options in Harrison Hot Springs, visit us at the Visitor Centre at 102, 160 Lillooet Avenue, or follow us on Facebook or Instagram. Share your springtime adventures in the Harrison River Valley with us by tagging your photos with #BreatheInTheWild or #HarrisonRiverValley.