It was a beautiful weekend as the sun smiled warm and bright. As I woke up on Saturday morning and prepared for our trip to Harrison Hot Springs some two hours drive east of Vancouver, I was bubbling with excitement. Before we left the house, we caught up on the latest episode of “Eureka” which will end up providing endless topics of discussion on the way. Then we loaded our bags, got some water/food, reviewed the map and off we go!!
The traffic was not really as dreadful as I would have imagined. It took us about an hour and forty minutes to reach the small town. There were some scatters of people on the shore, playing ball, swimming, sunbathing to name a few. Driving for long distances really does work up an appetite as we just bolted for the “Fish and Chips” store round the corner immediately.
After a fulfilling lunch, it was time to check in the Harrison Hot Springs Resort And Spa Hotel which owns all the hot springs rights in the area. We could tell we were early as the lineup was a little dragging but at the same time, we were pleasantly surprised with how nice the hotel looked. We checked out the pools and after weighing our options at the resort health spa, we decided to try the hot stones massage.
So we are staying at the 4th floor of the East Wing, which is newer though the design suggests it is at least 10 years old. Anyways, you get some view of the mountain and lake with a little balcony. Nice and comfy though for the price, it is rather pricey.
As we strolled down the dock, there were so many sea activities to choose from. The Sea Doo looks like fun but rather speedy. The Bumper boats are equipped with water guns but it only sits one adult with a kid per boat. The lineup suggested that people were turning up quickly after lunch and the shore was becoming more and more clustered.
Then we checked out some of the stores along the stretch, nothing really spectacular or eye-catching but there are some fun stuff like toys and games for kids. Afterall, it is quite obvious that this is like a family based resort, apparently because it is clean and proper. After seeing several couples cycling along, we decided that it would be fun to give it a try. So it was a tedious half hour cycling exercise around the neighbourhood. At parts, it was pure torture as we pushed and grunted our way uphill. On the way, we passed by two lovely ladies strolling their dog and they kindly took our picture for us. Interestingly, they were from Richmond and Maple Ridge, and they were just there for a day trip to relax.
After the exercise, our legs were weary and we walked along the shore back to the hotel. It was time for our private hot spring room. This one is hotter than the public pools capping at around 40 degrees. Everyone is restricted to 20 minutes in the private hot spring rooms as dehydration kicks in. Boy, it was hot. I was sweating like a bloated water tank and feeling dizzy as I made my way back to the room.
After a short rest, we were down at the docks again. This time, we looked at either pedal boats, canoeing or kayaking. Not wanting to risk getting wet, we took the safe choice of pedal boats. This was significantly easier than biking especially with the help of the wind.
By this time, we were quite hungry with all the workouts we had done. Dinner at the Copper Room was well recommended and did not disappoint. As the night progressed, the live music really took off, with olden oldies from, the 50s and 60s mostly, throw in some pop and a crazily enthusiastic crowd, soon the party was on. There were many old couple dancing, which is really romantic when you think about how many years they have been together and how in love they still are. Incidentally there was a 90 year old or so couple sitting behind us. While everyone danced the night away, the music lulled away our fatigue. When we finally dragged ourselves back to our room, it was almost ten.
The next day, we tried unsuccessfully to get a late checkout. Yes, business is that good. We tried the Lakeside Restaurant for a fabulous buffet lunch. You have to appreciate that they have a little corner with kids’ trays. Boy, we were so stuffed.
Finally, after tiring exercises driving and gourmet food, it was time for some relaxing hot stone massage which I have to admit, is the best massage I have ever had. Using hot basalt stones picked from Sunshine Coast, the massage improves blood flow and loosens muscles. My masseuse John, was nice enough to educate me on the culture and the neighbourhood when I was awake. But I was so relaxed that I fell asleep almost instantly for a good half of the massage. It was the perfect ending to a perfect trip.
This is my second trip to Harrison Hot Springs and still I am left wanting. We would probably need to prepare a three days stay next time to fully experience the fun and enjoyment that Harrison Hot Springs can offer. For a quick getaway, this is indeed memorable and satisfying.
The traffic was not really as dreadful as I would have imagined. It took us about an hour and forty minutes to reach the small town. There were some scatters of people on the shore, playing ball, swimming, sunbathing to name a few. Driving for long distances really does work up an appetite as we just bolted for the “Fish and Chips” store round the corner immediately.
After a fulfilling lunch, it was time to check in the Harrison Hot Springs Resort And Spa Hotel which owns all the hot springs rights in the area. We could tell we were early as the lineup was a little dragging but at the same time, we were pleasantly surprised with how nice the hotel looked. We checked out the pools and after weighing our options at the resort health spa, we decided to try the hot stones massage.
So we are staying at the 4th floor of the East Wing, which is newer though the design suggests it is at least 10 years old. Anyways, you get some view of the mountain and lake with a little balcony. Nice and comfy though for the price, it is rather pricey.
As we strolled down the dock, there were so many sea activities to choose from. The Sea Doo looks like fun but rather speedy. The Bumper boats are equipped with water guns but it only sits one adult with a kid per boat. The lineup suggested that people were turning up quickly after lunch and the shore was becoming more and more clustered.
Then we checked out some of the stores along the stretch, nothing really spectacular or eye-catching but there are some fun stuff like toys and games for kids. Afterall, it is quite obvious that this is like a family based resort, apparently because it is clean and proper. After seeing several couples cycling along, we decided that it would be fun to give it a try. So it was a tedious half hour cycling exercise around the neighbourhood. At parts, it was pure torture as we pushed and grunted our way uphill. On the way, we passed by two lovely ladies strolling their dog and they kindly took our picture for us. Interestingly, they were from Richmond and Maple Ridge, and they were just there for a day trip to relax.
After the exercise, our legs were weary and we walked along the shore back to the hotel. It was time for our private hot spring room. This one is hotter than the public pools capping at around 40 degrees. Everyone is restricted to 20 minutes in the private hot spring rooms as dehydration kicks in. Boy, it was hot. I was sweating like a bloated water tank and feeling dizzy as I made my way back to the room.
After a short rest, we were down at the docks again. This time, we looked at either pedal boats, canoeing or kayaking. Not wanting to risk getting wet, we took the safe choice of pedal boats. This was significantly easier than biking especially with the help of the wind.
By this time, we were quite hungry with all the workouts we had done. Dinner at the Copper Room was well recommended and did not disappoint. As the night progressed, the live music really took off, with olden oldies from, the 50s and 60s mostly, throw in some pop and a crazily enthusiastic crowd, soon the party was on. There were many old couple dancing, which is really romantic when you think about how many years they have been together and how in love they still are. Incidentally there was a 90 year old or so couple sitting behind us. While everyone danced the night away, the music lulled away our fatigue. When we finally dragged ourselves back to our room, it was almost ten.
The next day, we tried unsuccessfully to get a late checkout. Yes, business is that good. We tried the Lakeside Restaurant for a fabulous buffet lunch. You have to appreciate that they have a little corner with kids’ trays. Boy, we were so stuffed.
Finally, after tiring exercises driving and gourmet food, it was time for some relaxing hot stone massage which I have to admit, is the best massage I have ever had. Using hot basalt stones picked from Sunshine Coast, the massage improves blood flow and loosens muscles. My masseuse John, was nice enough to educate me on the culture and the neighbourhood when I was awake. But I was so relaxed that I fell asleep almost instantly for a good half of the massage. It was the perfect ending to a perfect trip.
This is my second trip to Harrison Hot Springs and still I am left wanting. We would probably need to prepare a three days stay next time to fully experience the fun and enjoyment that Harrison Hot Springs can offer. For a quick getaway, this is indeed memorable and satisfying.
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