Page 56 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

Harrison Village is a favorite vacation destination
filled with rich history, rolling green farmland and
natural wonders, including the world-famous hot
springs, nearby Fraser River canyon and Sasquatch
Provincial Park. This world class fishing resort
provides for limitless water sports, boat tours,
agricultural tours, hiking, wildlife viewing, festivals
and events. Golfers can enjoy 9 and 18-hole courses
offering beautiful views.
The annual Harrison Festival of the Arts is a 10-
day celebration of world music and art featuring
free outdoor beach concerts, evening performances,
children’s day, visual art exhibits, workshops and art
markets. Professional performing arts events are also
presented between September and May each year. The
Kilby Museum and Campground located on the river
Harrison Hot Springs from across the lagoon at nearby Harrison Mills historic site, showcases rural
photo by: life in the early 1900s with a general store museum,
Ruth Hartnup heritage post office, hotel and family living quarters,
working orchard and farm with baby animals, sandy
Castlegar beaches and boat launch, cafe and gift shop.
LOWER MAINLAND Harrison Hot Springs was originally revered as a
GREATER VANCOUVER AREA Location: At the intersection of Highways 3, 3A healing place by the Sts’ailes (Chehalis) First Nations.
and 22, near the south end of Arrow Lakes; about They were first discovered by others in the 1800s when
an hour’s drive from Nelson, Trail, the Slocan a member of a nearly frozen group of miners fell into
Creston Valley and Grande Forks. Area Population: the water, and rather than dying of hypothermia was
Location: On the International Selkirk Loop, 16,000. Visitor Information: Castlegar happily surprised by the warm temperature. There
at the junctions of Highways 3 and 3A; 28 km Chamber, 1995-6th Avenue, Castlegar, BC V1N are two hot springs that combine to create unique
south of Kootenay Lake and 11 km north of the 4B7; Phone: (888) 365-6313; Email: tourism@ healing waters with a high concentration of dissolved
Canadian/U.S. border. Population: 5,246; Area castlegar.com; Website: www.castlegar.com. mineral solids, especially sulfur. Guests staying at
Population: 15,000. Visitor Information: Creston the Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa may access
and District Chamber of Commerce Visitor’s Castlegar sits at the confluence of the Columbia the resort pools which are served from the Springs’
Centre is located on the west side of Highway and Kootenay Rivers beneath the peaks of the Selkirk source. The town’s public hot springs pool is centrally
3 between the grain elevators and downtown; and Monashee Mountain ranges, where adventure located and accessible by all visitors.
Phone: (250) 428-4342; Toll Free: (866) 528- seekers will find hiking and biking trails, world-class
4342; Email:
info@crestonvalleychamber. fishing, championship golf and untouched powder for The town offers accommodations to suit every
com; Website:
www.crestonvalleybc.com. perfect skiing. Be transported back in time with rich budget, including those at Harrison Hot Springs
historical attractions and heritage sites. Wonder at
Resort and Spa with over 300 guest rooms and
Ainsworth Hot Springs the power of water behind any of the nine area dams cottages, with its own pools and full spa services.
or the amazing structural engineering of the many
Tulip Festival – April
Location: Highway 31 on the west side of bridges spanning the vast waterways. Sasquatch Days – June
Kootenay Lake, 11 miles (18 km) north of Festival of the Arts – July
Balfour and 12 miles (19 km) south of Kaslo. Harrison Hot Springs Dragon Boat Festival – July
A year round free ferry ride from Kootenay Bay Location: Take Exit 135 on the Trans-Canada Slow Food Cycle Tour – July
on the east side of the lake drops off at Balfour. Highway and follow signs; can also be accessed Bands on the Beach – August
Population 50. Visitor Information: (800) 668- from Lougheed Hwy 7, north of Agassiz; 90 Sturgeon Fishing Challenge – October
1171; www.hotnaturally.com.
minute drive from Vancouver, about midway Oktoberfest
The oldest surviving community on Kootenay between Chilliwack and Hope. Harrison can Bald Eagle Festival – mid-November
Lake, Ainsworth began as an historic village founded also be reached from Vancouver by boat up the
in 1883 in response to silver mining activity in the Fraser and then Harrison Rivers. Population: Vancouver
area. Originating in a fascinating horseshoe cave 1500. Visitor Center located at 499 Hot Springs Location: 26 miles north of US border on the
system filled with subtle lighting and stalactites, Road; Phone: 604-796-5581; Website: www. Pacific Ocean. Population: 600,000 with 2
the revitalizing hot springs are considered among tourismharrison.com million in Greater Vancouver Area. Visitor
the best in the province. The resort offers top-notch Information: Vancouver Convention Centre/
accommodations and dining with beautiful views of Positioned against Southwest BC’s stunning Tourism Vancouver Visitor Centre, 200 Burrard
Kootenay Lake and magnificent Purcell Mountains. mountains and Harrison Lake’s sandy beaches, Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 3L6; Phone: (604)
682-2222; Website: tourismvancouver.com
One of the world’s most beautiful cities and named
Canada’s top destination, Vancouver is bordered by
Burrard Inlet on the north, the Strait of Georgia on
the west and the Fraser River on the south, with world
class skiing less than 30 minutes away. The ability
to windsurf or sail in the morning and ski the same
afternoon attracts visitors from around the world.
At the western tip of the city, Stanley Park is 1000
acres of woodlands, gardens, trails, lakes, secluded
beaches and the Vancouver Aquarium. One of the
largest urban parks in North America, it offers quiet
trails through the forest; bike, skate and walk to
circumnavigate the entire sea wall and soak up the
beauty of Burrard Inlet and the north shore mountains.
VANCOUVER ISLAND

To truly appreciate the natural wonderland that
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