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Harrison offers far more amenities, activities and attractions than its population size warrants. The many outdoor-recreation activities include everything from gentle walks and rugged hikes to golf, fishing, windsurfing and boating. For those with a passion for sand castles, Harrison’s beach becomes The Enchanted World of Sand – North America’s largest, public, sand-sculpture exhibit. There is plenty to keep families busy, too, including the nearby Tugboat Junction and Dinotown amusement parks as well as the Trans Canada Waterslides.
Hikers looking for a challenge head to the Campbell Lake Trail, a rugged path that climbs 650 m (2,133 ft) during a heart-pounding 10-km (6-mi) round trip. For a milder hike, try the 6-km (3.7 mi) path around Hicks Lake in Sasquatch Provincial Park. Harrison is most famous for its mineral hot springs, with many making the pilgrimage to the springs' source just past Harrison Hot Springs Resort. There are a wide range of camping options, while golf enthusiasts can tee-off from one of three courses close by. They include the steep mountain greens at The Falls Golf and Country Club as well as Sandpiper Golf Club, where players share the course with wildlife such as the course's namesake.
Harrison offers many opportunities to indulge your cultural side. The Harrison Festival of the Arts, held annually in July, brings diverse cultures together for a world-class celebration of music and art. The Chehalis First Nation offers fascinating cultural tours along Harrison Lake and River, where participants can view ancient rock paintings (pictographs) and carvings (petroglyphs) as well as the archaeological sites and traditional lands of this ancient people.
Sure there are the renowned and soothing mineral hot springs, but there is so much more to visit in the district as well. Probably the most memorable of these attractions is The Enchanted World of Sand, where each year 3,000 tons (2,720 tonnes) of sand on Harrison's beach is transformed into North America's largest, public, sand-sculpture attraction. The exhibit depicts legendary characters from fairytales, myths and legends, including this region's very own Sasquatch. Enchanted World culminates each September in the World Championship of Sand Sculpture.
Families will also want to visit Tugboat Junction, where visitors can pan for gold and play mini-golf. There are dinosaur-themed rides and activities for kids over at Dinotown, while the Trans Canada Waterslides offer inner-tubing thrills and chills.
Take a step back in time at the Kilby Historic Site with its live farm animals and 1906 General Store, or investigate the Agassiz-Harrison Museum, housed in the oldest wooden railroad station still existing in BC. There are 11 themed gardens to enjoy at Minter Gardens.
Entertainment options in Harrison are varied and include concerts and plays. Throughout the year the Harrison Festival Society presents a wide variety of excellent music and theatre. Local shops cater to those interested in art and nature, with a wide assortment of everything from antiques and jewelry to pottery and crafts.
Harrison Lake and the surrounding area offers wonderful bird and wildlife viewing both on land and water. One of the best locations for seeing BC's famous sockeye salmon is at the Weaver Creek Spawning Channel in October. Bald eagles are also omnipresent in the area, particularly around Harrison Lake and River during the November salmon runs. Local operators offer adventure tours to the natural hot springs as well as wildlife and nature-viewing boat tours along Harrison Lake and River.
The mineral hot springs are the heart and soul of Harrison. Experience their therapeutic properties at the public pool or at Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa (for guests only). The resort offers 743 sq m (8,000 sq ft) of indoor and outdoor mineral hot springs pools. Visitors will also want to head to the beaches on the south shore of Harrison Lake to sun and build sandcastles.
As famous as it is for its mineral hot springs, Harrison is also renowned as a premier watersports destination, particularly for windsurfing and kiteboarding at Breakwater Beach. Harrison Lake, the largest lake in southwestern BC and one surrounded by the towering Coast Mountains, is also a water lover's delight. Here you can indulge in sailing, canoeing, kayaking, boating or fishing.
Both the Harrison and Fraser Rivers offer world-class salmon fishing. Chinook have been known to reach sizes of up to 18 kg (40 lbs). White sturgeon (strictly catch-and-release) live in these waters, too. Trout fishing attracts fly fishers and spin casters.
The Hemlock Valley Ski Resort is a family-friendly ski hill about a 45-minute drive from Harrison that offers downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snow tubing. It has 35 runs, a vertical drop of 397 m (1,300 ft) and ski-in, ski-out accommodations. You can ski by day and soak your tired muscles by night in Harrison's soothing, natural mineral pools.
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