Family Friendly Itinerary
Adventures the Whole Family Can Enjoy
Whether you are looking to some out here with the family in the spring, summer, fall or winter the Harrison River Valley offers a wide range of memorable experiences to share with your family.
Hikes & History and Farms & Food
Spring & Summer (3 nights and 4 days)
“The tans might fade but the memories will last forever.”
Harrison is the Fraser Valley’s most popular summer hotspot due to its sandy beaches and vibing events, like Bands on the Beach, Sasquatch Days, and the Festival of the Arts. Check out our 2022 events calendar (events will resume once covid-19 restrictions are removed) to see what is happening when you plan to arrive.
Day 1: Most of Harrison River Valley’s accommodations are family-friendly whether you’re staying in a suite, B&B, cabin, or campsite. On the newer side of the spectrum, Sandpiper Resort recently opened 2- and 3-bedroom luxury cabins sleeping up to 8 people featuring spacious kitchen and dining areas, media and cable packages, and private patios overlooking the Harrison River and Sandpiper Golf Course.
Walk the 20-minute eagle forest trail to stretch your legs after checking in, followed by dinner at River’s Edge Clubhouse. Since the 3-bedrooms are stocked with family games, you can end the night with a game of Jenga before hitting the sheets.
Our newest accommodation partner is Pathfinder Camp Resort. You can enjoy the county scenery of Agassiz and head to Harrison Hot Springs for day activities. The resort offers thirty-two 50-amp full hook-up sites for RVs and eight newly-renovated cabins. Add a swimming pool (opening July 1, 2021), free WiFi, a children’s playground, firepits, and horseshoe pits and you’ll be making all kind of fun memories.
For a full list of places to eat and sleep, visit our website.
Day 2: Breakfast is included with every stay. Get the most out of those longer summer days by waking up early and leaving the resort by 9:30 am. First stop is 10 minutes away to Kilby Historic Site where you’ll be greeted by interpreters in period costume from the early 1900s. See the 1906 General Store Museum and Post Office, followed by the Manchester House Hotel. In the galleries and exhibit room, you’ll see pictures of the Kilby Family and the Pretty Family (original owners of Sandpiper Resort’s Rowena’s Inn on the River) On your way out, be sure to see the barn animals and have a piece of Kilby’s famous farm-fresh fruit pie
A must-see while in the area is the Circle Farm Tour. It will only take a few hours to see the main stops. Start at Back Porch to watch coffee being roasted in a circa 1919 flame roaster. Then go to Farm House Natural Cheeses to watch goat and cow’s cheese being made and to see more farm animals before wrapping up the self-guided tour with a trip to the lavender fields at Harrison Lavender — definitely an Instagram-worthy stop that will have you feeling rejuvenated.
As you leave the Agassiz area, head into Harrison Hot Springs to explore the Sasquatch Trail. Start with a selfie with the Sasquatch statue on the right-hand side of McPherson Rd. (If you have reached the Harrison Visitor Centre, you have gone too far). Take a family selfie and post it to Instagram with #justuptheroad or #breatheinthewild! Then head to the Harrison Visitor Centre and Museum to learn about the legendary Sasquatch.
Head into the Village and go straight to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory asking for a Sasquatch chocolate foot and then to Chantilly Gelato & Ice Cream or Baskin Robbins for a cone. After all, you are on vacation so who says you can’t have pie, chocolate, and ice cream? End the day by taking in the sights and sounds and dinner with a patio view.
For a full list of places to eat and sleep, visit our website.
Day 3: Morning golf is the best.
At Sandpiper, kids golf for free with a paid adult. A day out on the course takes you through towering fir trees, over bridges and around meandering creeks, all with a beautiful view of the Harrison River. The course has its own private airstrip so don’t be surprised if you see planes flying in or skydivers falling from the sky. River’s Edge Clubhouse is perfect for après golf eats.
Harrison Resort Golf Course is a full-length 9-hole PGA-rated course that is located just five minutes from Harrison Hot Springs.
No matter where you golf, end the day with some lake time. The lake will be warmer in the early afternoon, beckoning time at the floating waterpark or on a sea-doo or bumper boat. The lagoon is perfect for swimming. Dinner at the Lakeside Café followed by a restful sleep back at the cabin ends the day.
Day 4: Breakfast and check out at 11 am allows for relax time in the morning. If you have the time, consider a lake cruise with Shoreline Tours, the bumper boats (Tip: ask about the bumper boats with built in BBQs!) and a stop at Agassiz Speedway to watch the races!
Campfires and Lakeside Vibes
Fall (2 nights and 3 days)
“Glamping: The activity of camping with some of the comforts of home.”
What about having all of the luxuries of home during this three-day getaway? The Lodge at Harrison Lake has guest suites accommodating couples to larger groups but the Carriage House and Main Residence are perfect for larger families or those with older children.
Day 1: Check in and take a few moments to breathe in the lakeside views. You’re right on Harrison Lake, after all, and the patio is perched over the cliffside. Straight ahead, you’ll see the Village of Harrison. Hopefully, you’ve brought three days worth of groceries, including ingredients for smores, because you have a designer kitchen to prepare meals in. End the night with a lakeside campfire and smore bites.
Day 2: Those lakeside views will keep pulling you in and, if you’re lucky, you’ll catch the mystical early morning mist. You can have breakfast in your PJs or trek out to Muddy Waters, which is only a 5-minute drive away. Highly recommend one of their breakfast bun or bagel sandwiches and the chalkboard menu is constantly changing based on what’s in season. Since the Harrison River Valley is the land of hike, bike, and paddle, you can spend the rest of the day biking the country roads or hiking.
Put on supportive shoes, pack a picnic lunch and swim suits, and get ready for a trip out to Sandy Cove and Whippoorwill Point. The trailhead starts 30 metres past the hot springs source near Harrison Resort. The first 150 metres are the most difficult but you’ll be rewarded, shortly, with an amazing view of Harrison Lake at the first plateau. After some twists and turns, you’ll reach Sandy Cove and discover a little secluded beach to picnic and swim at. You can head back at this point or continue along the beach until you reach the far end and starting point of the Whippoorwill Point trail. The hike is moderate and four km in total. Alternatively, you can drive out to Agassiz and bike the country roads. Or, hit the mountain trails at Syéx̱w Chó:leqw Adventure Park. Bring your own or rent bikes at Harrison Beach Hotel or Jamie’s Quadricycle.
Esplanade Avenue is lined with cafés and bistros. When you get back to the Village, grab a warm bevvy before relaxing with a lakeside walk. The mountains are ablaze with fall colour this time of year – a sight not to miss.
End the night with a hot springs soak at the public pool and dine in at your suite or at one of Harrison’s restaurants. A little off-path is Village Pizzeria which, hands down, is the best pizza in town or Harrison Corner Café for a more elevated experience.
The evening calls for another campfire or movie night.
Slopes, Skates, and Soaks
Winter (3 nights and 4 days)
How does your family feel about winter snowfalls, magical lights by the lake, hot spring soaks, and mountain adventure? Here is our suggested three-night escape for creating a memorable vacation.
NOTE: Please see the Starlight Skating Rink and Hot Springs Public Pool are CLOSED in 2021.
Day 1
Harrison is filled with family-friendly accommodations that accommodate everyone’s needs and budgets. If you have young children that can share a bed, Harrison Beach Hotel’s Junior and Executive Suites are a great fit. Despite our suggested slumber party theme, mom and dad can have some privacy in their king-size bed while the kids sleep on the pull-out couch just steps away. Be sure to bring ingredients for popcorn, hot cocoa, and breakfast.
After checking in and unpacking, take in a brief walk to enjoy the lakeside views and Lights by the Lake. Since Harrison Beach is located in the heart of the Village, you’re just minutes away from boutique stores, bistros, and restaurants. Next door is Black Forest Restaurant and further down the esplanade is Milos Greek Taverna . You can’t go wrong with classic souvlaki or hearty schnitzel. (Tip: Call ahead and reserve a fireside table.) With shorter and colder days, the littles will be ready to turn in but be sure to grab a family photo at the Merry Christmas or #justuptheroad lights display before heading back to your suite. Head to the kitchenette to make some popcorn and hot cocoa, turn on the electric fireplace, and get ready to cozy up and watch a movie.
Day 2
Wake up to beautiful mountain or lake views, and enjoy breakfast in the dining area before embarking on the day’s adventures. It’s time to burn off some energy and hit Sasquatch Mountain Resort. Be sure to check today’s snow update and pack your tire chains, snow gear, bathing suits and towels for your last stop of the day. Get in the car and stop at Muddy Waters down the street – known for its seasonal sourcing and artisan creations — to grab lattés and their signature large-size sweet treats for the road.
Sasquatch Mountain Resort is less than an hour away, and is a beautiful, scenic drive that will be sparking all kinds of conversations. Spend the day tubing, snowboarding, skiing, or snowshoeing in a natural bowl type setting with varied terrain and a lunch break at Molly’s Café. (Tip: If you need rentals, Sasquatch Mountain has you covered. We also recommend buying your lift tickets in advance.) If you want to stay all day, night skiing is offered after 4 pm on select days. If you’re done for the day, get ready for après-ski time! On your way home, refuel at River’s Edge Clubhouse Restaurant for dinner, which is only 20 minutes down the mountain at Sandpiper Resort.
Time to soothe those sore muscles. Head to Harrison Hot Springs Public Pool for a hot spring soak before turning in.
Day 3
Take some time to sleep in today and relax. Breakfast bites, another movie, or maybe even a board game is on the agenda this morning. In the afternoon, breathe in the forest and take the kids on a 30-minute walk through Spirit Trail. What began as a walk in old-growth forest by a local artist become an ‘art walk’ as over 30 ceramic faces were created and hung from the trees. The artist calls them goddesses as they are meant to evoke the monumental strength of women from across the world.
On the way back, grab a flatbread pizza or share a few Pub Clubs at Old Settler Pub.
Bonus suggestions: Drop in at the Harrison Museum to learn all about the legendary Sasquatch and at the Agassiz-Harrison Museum to learn about the Harrison River Valley’s natural and human history.
Spend the evening skating at the Starlight Synthetic Rink, located at the end of the esplanade. Lace up and glide the night away. Or splash away at Harrison Beach’s pool before the Zzzzs hit.
Day 4
During the month of December, don’t head home right away if you can. Perhaps you have more Christmas shopping to do? You will discover lots of unique finds in the shops at Harrison Village or, maybe spend the day skating in the daylight?
Try to wait until dusk because as soon as it hits, you can experience the magical Victorian Christmas Display at the Agassiz-Harrison Museum before heading to Pioneer Park to see all of the elegant white lights. Be sure to take some family pictures in the gazebo.
