I’m on a bit of a high right now after just coming back from two nights away with the family and feeling so so refreshed from it. Not going to lie, I was a bit of a stress case leading up to this trip (maybe even a bit on the trip too) as I was worrying too much, things I have to get done before baby, what if baby comes before.. during the trip and will we really be able to relax with the kids along?
With the reassurance of how close Harrison Hot Springs is to our home (a shorter distance from Abbotsford – Harrison then to Vancouver) I calmed down about the though of baby arriving and knew that if it happened, it really wouldn’t be anything to worry about.
About halfway along our drive we stopped into Kilby Historic Site where we all got to get our and stretch out legs, tour the property and enjoy some treats. We were very intrigued by the 1906 General Store Museum and their fascinating display of packaging and artifacts dating back to the 1920’s. We explored the different on site buildings and farmyard animals throughout the gorgeous property that is so well kept and landscaped and if you know us, you know that we couldn’t leave without some scoops of Birchwood Dairy Icecream.
Back in the car and on route down Scenic 7 BC to check into Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa. Neither myself of James has stayed at Harrison Resort before and we were so curious about the Hot Spring Pools. Our Executive Room offered two queen size beds and patio with a breathtaking lakeside view. After checking out our room and making ourselves at home in you an only guess where we went, you got that right, we were all excited to explore the pools and spent the afternoon splashing and swimming about. Neither of the kids wanted to call it quits but with rumbling tummies we made out way to one of Harrison Resort’s restaurants, The Lakeside Cafe.
Going out with the kids to eat isn’t always our favorite thing as Sophie usually likes to dart around the restaurant rather then sit still in her seat, but with the lakeside view on the patio and the people walking by she was very entertained waving and pointing out all the ‘puppies’. The Lakeside Cafe had a kids menu and colouring sheets that was also perfect for the kids and made it easy for getting them to eat good and sit… somewhat still. With an evening stroll after dinner Sophie and I called it a night, the boys on the other hand couldn’t resists going for another dip in the family friendly hot springs pool at the resort.
Day two started out with another meal at Lakeside Cafe, with the cafe located inside the hotel and the fact that they offer buffet breakfast we were feeling full and ready for the day in no time. We took the extra time before check out and headed back down as a family to the hot spring pools for one more dip. The outdoor, mineral-rich pools were hard to stay away from, with the gorgeous setting of waterfalls, granite and gardens the large family pool even when filled with people had a lot of space and lots of room for the kids to splash and play.
After some afternoon smoothies and a stroll down the beach we had a Harrison Lake tour booked with Shoreline Tours. The two hour tour includes a light commentary sharing different interesting information about Harrison Lake and it’s surrounding land formations. Food and beverage options are also available throughout the tour, if you are like us that is important as one of us always seems to be hungry. The fresh wind in our hair was the perfect way to spend the afternoon. The kids were excited about the different lush landscapes and viewing of Rainbow Falls along the tour.
As the tour concluded we decided that we could all use some down time and relax, luckily we could check into Harrison Beach Hotel early and relaxed on their comfortable queen beds. Our room came equipped with a kitchenette and lakeside view that none of us were getting sick of anytime soon. Our room was perfect for some rest and relaxation time, the kids were mellow and lounged on the beds as we settled ourselves in for the evening. Just a few steps down the block was where we had dinner reservations at Blackforest Restaurant. We opted for another spot on the patio as this seemed to be the best bet for keeping the kids entertained last night.
My husband and I were both so impressed with the authentic German cuisine offered at this family owned and operated restaurant. We didn’t have many leftovers tonight as everything on our plates was so delicious and the boat cruise earlier had made us all work up an appetite. We spent another evening at the beach and at the Harrison Beach Hotel as that just seemed like the perfect way to wind down and enjoy as a family. The pool hotel was quite and calm and allowing the kids to splash around as they pleased.
As we woke up to our last day at Harrison Lake we were excited to do a little more exploring but the weather wasn’t looking so promising. We packed up for breakfast along Harrison Lake Road and noticed that artisans were setting up for selling items for the festival that weekend. Our breakfast at family owned Muddy Waters Cafe was one of my personal favorite meals of the weekend. Each of our plates were loaded with fresh fruits that we discovered are from a variety of the local farms that they visit for their produce. It wasn’t just my favorite either, the cafe was busy all morning we were lucky to be up early enough with the kids to snag a seat on the patio.
As we watched the darker clouds roll in we decided to let the kids play at the beach one last time, digging in the sand and splashing alone the waterfront. With the local park situated right on the beach close by to the water and the artisans set up selling their handmade pieces we had a lovely morning in store. As it approached lunch time the rain started to come down and we decided to call that a trip and made our way back home, not without stopping and buying some fresh strawberries and blueberries along the Scenic 7 Roadside. We look forward to visiting you again soon Harrison!
A big thank you to Tourism Harrison for partnering with us on this post. We enjoyed so many parts of Harrison
through the help of Tourism Harrisonwith the ability to be introduced to new restaurants and tours along the way.
We were treated so well by Kilby Historic Site, Harrison Hot Springs Resort, Harrison Beach Hotel, Shoreline
Boat Cruises, Blackforest Restaurant, Lakeside Cafe and Muddy Waters Cafe.
Please note that as we partnered with Tourism Harrison for this post, all views and opinions are our own.
** The photos in this post were captured using a Canon Rebel T5i that I had the opportunity to try. It was super
user friendly and worked beautifully capturing our experiences in Harrison.
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A photo posted by Creative Wife & Joyful Worker (@creativewifeandjoyfulworker) on
A photo posted by Creative Wife & Joyful Worker (@creativewifeandjoyfulworker) on
I love that you took your kids with you for your babymoon! That is something my hubby and I have done. Having a little vacation with our little family before adding another baby was a big deal! Looks like a ton of fun!
It ended up being such a great idea and totally just what we all needed, now baby can come anytime. hehe!
Awe it looks like a good time was had by all! Hope you enjoyed your last vacation as a family of 4 before you become a family of 5!
I think it is wonderful you took your kids on your babymoon. We took my husband’s kid on our honeymoon LOL. We called it the familymoon. Harrison Hot Springs looks just beautiful; I felt like I was a little back in time. Congratulations on your baby to be! My stepdaughter just gave birth four days. I am in LOVE.
That’s awesome to have a trip with the four of you before the baby comes. You can refer back to it over and over when the kids are wishing they could see more of you!
It sounds like you guys had a lot of fun and the place looks great. You have a very lovely family 🙂
I think it is wonderful you took your kids on your babymoon. My daughter loves to travel with me and I enjoy having her at my side. There is so much beauty to be seen when you look through a child’s eyes, especially when you’re about to welcome another one.
It’s really nice to be able to getaway and just relax with the family and it’s even better if you do it in a very lovely place like this! I like how spacious the rooms are and I’m sure you guys had plenty of time to relax and just have some fun as a family! Good job on not giving birth there! Lol.
What a beautiful place! Everything about it! I hope you enjoyed it and best of luck with the new baby!
You look like you had such a great time. I wouldn’t want to come back from that time together either!
It all looks so wonderful! The views were breathtaking, the food looks delicious, and the room looked super comfy. Sounds like my kind of place.
I love the idea of a babymoon! Being Chinese, my family has so many superstitions and beliefs that my last weeks of pregnancy I was required to stay indoors. But, I still went out to the movies and dinners and all that. I just couldn’t stay in for weeks!
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This trip looks so great!! Those mountains are gorgeous!! And that fun stop at Kilby?! So, neat!! I love little on the road stop offs so this is a great recommendation and looks so enticing!! Thanks for sharing and joining in for #TravelTuesday!!
Thanks for having me join in. We had such a fun time!