Three Generations, One Trip: A Family Summer Vacation to Harrison Hot Springs

Every year after our family holiday, my sons and I immediately discuss next year’s travel plans.

It all started in 2019, when both my sons each had a toddler. That first trip brought us all so much closer together that we vowed it would become an annual ritual. Since then, we’ve booked a three-night summer staycation somewhere in the province.

I’m not the only one who travels with their grown children and grandchildren. Three of my closest friends have been taking multi-generational vacations for years. Much has been written about this growing trend. Forbes and many other publications believe the growth in multi-generational travel correlates directly with the fact that the baby boomer generation (born 1946-1964) is wealthier than its predecessors and is living longer, healthier lives, often allowing them to finance these trips.

The best part? Travelling with my grown sons, daughters-in-law and my four grandchildren makes for great family bonding. Journey with me on our family trip this summer to Harrison Hot Springs in B.C.’s Fraser Valley.

Travelling to Harrison Hot Springs

Roughly a two-hour drive east from Delta, Harrison Hot Springs boasts breathtaking scenery, a quaint village with shops, restaurants, cafes, ice cream parlours, a pirate-themed playground and the Harrison Lake waterfront. 60 kilometres long, Harrison Lake is the largest lake in Canada’s southern Coast Mountains.

This small village of around 2,200 residents sits on a sandy lakeshore, with mountains surrounding the sparkling waters. In the summer, Harrison transforms into an outdoor playground filled with fun for all ages.

Although there are many hotels in the area, multi-generational travel means staying together. I booked the 10-person penthouse suite at Harrison Lake View Suites. It was the perfect size, complete with three spacious bedrooms, three full bathrooms, a living room with a hide-a-bed and a fully equipped kitchen. There’s also a communal rooftop deck with two barbecues, a dining area and lots of seating.

Making Waves: Water Activities on Harrison Lake

If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush with your family, introduce your little ones to water sports.

Harrison Lake Inflatable Water Park

Hands down, the iconic water park on Harrison Lake was easily my grandchildren’s favourite pastime. This impressive floating, brightly coloured obstacle course features swings, gigantic teeter-totters, monkey bars, rope swings, cliff jumps and more. But the water park, said to be Canada’s largest, is still exciting for all ages—my sons were as enthusiastic about it as my grandchildren. Note that kids must be 6 and older.

Harrison Lake Bumper Boats

Donning a wetsuit, my five-year-old granddaughter Emma was thrilled to finally get on the bumper boats with her sister, Kate, and their cousins. Snapping photo after photo, there was an epic water fight going on between the families. After much laughter and splashing—even grandma watching from the sidelines didn’t escape getting drenched—the kids said the water park was the “best ever.”

The water fun didn’t end there. Because Cultus Lake is one of the Fraser Valley’s warmest and most popular freshwater lakes, the next day we went on a 45-minute drive from Harrison to Cultus Lake for some boating and jet-skiing.

Cultus Lake Marina

Nothing beats the thrill of being on the lake in a pontoon or on jet skis. For my grandchildren, it was their first time for both. After a safety check, we were ready for our hour-long pontoon ride. A pontoon boat is a comfortable flat-decked vessel that feels more like a gliding deck than a speeding boat. Add a calm lake, a slow cruise and a few tunes for the perfect trifecta.

After lunch on the marina’s covered outdoor patio, the grandchildren put their life jackets back on and paired up with a parent for the jet ski ride. Although the water was a little more choppy in the afternoon, everyone was grinning as they hit the open waters. Zipping along the lake on a jet ski no doubt created memories that my grandchildren won’t soon forget.

Harrison Resort Golf Course

It’s the ninth hole, and my eight-year-old grandson William hits his golf ball into the bunker (sand pit). His dad, Mathew, tells him to use his pitching wedge to get it out.  On his first shot, William not only clears the bunker, but he lands on the green. Within two putts, William completes his first round of golf on this scenic nine-hole golf course. After the final putt, Mathew teaches William a classic golf ritual—they both take their hats off, look each other in the eye and shake hands. After which, Will says: “Dad, I love this game and riding in the golf cart.”

Not only is the Harrison Resort Golf Course beautifully groomed, but it’s nestled within an Instagram-worthy mountain backdrop. The resort-style course is perfect for beginners, with forgiving fairways and a relaxed pace of play.

Lakefront Dining: Where to Eat in Harrison Hot Springs

Milos Greek Taverna

You don’t have to be a foodie to appreciate delicious Greek food. When in Harrison Hot Springs, don’t miss a chance to head to the landmark Milos Greek Taverna, whether it’s for souvlaki and mouth-watering moussaka or feta-stuffed salads. It’s the kind of restaurant that draws crowds for its friendly service, good-sized portions and flavour-packed dishes. Nestled along the Harrison Lake waterfront, we sat on the upper deck, taking in the nighttime vistas while sharing platters of appetizing down-home fare.

Muddy Waters Café

People line up at Muddy Waters as soon as it opens at 9 a.m. That’s the kind of pull the family-owned Muddy Waters Café has on locals and tourists alike. The second you walk in, you’re greeted with smiles, and then the smell hits you—warm buttery muffins packed with fruit, fresh coffee and savoury scones. Everything from my smoked salmon lox to the healthy breakfast buns to the blueberry muffins people dream about makes Muddy Waters Café worth lining up for.

The Black Forest Restaurant

My youngest son Jeff kept insisting we have a meal at The Black Forest Restaurant. He had dined there a year earlier during a guys golf trip and said it was quite possibly the best shoreline eatery in Harrison. He isn’t alone in his accolades. Since 1975, people have been flocking for its schnitzel bratwurst, spaetzle prima vera and apple strudel.

The Black Forest Restaurant is more than a restaurant. It’s a portal to Bavaria that somehow landed in Harrison Lake, bringing authentic German cuisine, culture and old-school service to the lakefront.

Every night after dinner, my grandchildren played at the pirate-themed playground by the water. Even I got into the action by participating in a game of tag or by swinging my six-year-old grandchildren, Liv and Emma. But all too soon, it was time to head home—not without the promise of booking next year’s big B.C. family adventure.