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Graham Osborne
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Graham Osborne
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Graham Osborne © Graham Osborne
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Graham Osborne
By Robert Reyerse
Harrison Hot Springs, surrounded by mountains, on the shores of pristine Harrison Lake and blessed with incredible natural hot springs, is the perfect place to escape the big city. The best part of all is that it is only a 90-minute road trip from Vancouver or 3 hours from Kelowna. Revered as the "healing place" by the local Sts'ailes First Nations for thousands of years, Harrison Hot Springs became one of the first tourist destinations in BC shortly after the springs were discovered by tired gold miners, who were on their way back from the gold fields in the late 1800's. For well over a 100 years, Harrison provided BC residents a place to relax and recharge, offering magical spring water that would heal pretty much anything that ailed them, or so it was said. These days the mythical spring water is still very prevalent, but Harrison Hot Springs offers so much more; from hiking local mountains to biking nearby farm country to paddling the pristine Harrison River.
Harrison Hot Springs has seen something of a renaissance the last few years with a new pedestrian-friendly esplanade, revitalized central plaza, new beach playground, and of course, an incredible lake with beautiful sandy beaches. Summers can be busy in Harrison offering not only the perfect family beach and lake vacation but also a floating waterpark, which is Harrison's version of the "Wipe Out Zone". Boat tours, eco-tours, kayak rentals, and bumper boats are all great ways to experience the lake.
Hiking around the Harrison area is a distinct experience, offering a chance to get away from crowded trails and get in touch with real nature. Harrison has a variety of local trails for different levels of ability, but all take you into a setting that feels remote, is truly natural, and truly wild. It is the perfect environment to try "forest bathing" — a practice that originated in Japan called shinrin-yoku and involves taking a short, leisurely visit to a forest for health benefits.
If you are interested in the local agricultural scene, then check out Agassiz & Harrison Mills Circle Farm Tours, a free self-guided tour that takes you to a variety of farms and food producers in the Agassiz Harrison area, from Farm House Natural Cheeses to the Back Porch pottery & basketry studio as well as a coffee roaster. You can find a brochure detailing the self-guided tour at the Harrison Visitor Centre, along with many other useful handouts.
Harrison has many great events every year, including the Harrison Festival of the Arts now in its 40th year, the Harrison Beer Festival, the Agassiz Farms Cycle Tour, Harrison Uncorked Wine Festival, the Harrison Dragon Boat Regatta, Bands on the Beach, and probably one of the best small-town Canada Days anywhere in BC. You can learn about all the events at www.tourismharrison.com.
Known around the world for its Hot Springs, Harrison is also famous for the two-legged mystery known as the Sasquatch. In fact, the word Sasquatch is thought to be a mispronunciation of the Sts'ailes First Nations word ‘Sasq'ets,' meaning ‘hairy man.' For centuries, the Sasquatch has occupied a unique niche in the oral traditions of the First Nations' communities of Harrison Lake and Harrison River. An abundance of Sasquatch activity and sightings in more recent times has brought Sasquatch researchers and investigators from around North American to the surrounding forests. To learn more, visit the Sasquatch Museum found at the back of the Harrison Visitor Centre.
Whether you're looking to go RV'ing, camping, or stay in a hotel, motel or a bed and breakfast, Harrison has a variety of accommodations to suit every taste and budget. In addition to the Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa, Harrison has a number of smaller hotels, motels and vacation rentals. For more information go to www.tourismharrison.com.
Editor's note: Enjoy Tourism Harrison Hot Spring's short video below, showcasing the beauty of the area.