Spa Girl spotted at Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa

It was one of those weekends we just didn't want to end, so on route home from Vancouver my husband and I decided to take a detour to Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa.

The drive off the main highway into Harrison was stunning, cutting through mountains, crossing rivers overflowing with the spring run-off and landing at the resort which sits at the foot of the majestic lake Harrison.

In and around Harrison, a small quaint town, there is a lot to do if you like hiking, biking, water sports of all kinds, from a lazy cruise or jet boating on the Lake, to bird watching--autumn is famous for its influx of migrating bald eagles.  And I heard from another guest, one of the best gelato parlors outside of Italy along the board walk. 

The resort itself includes over 300 rooms, both newly developed in and around those from the original stately building with wide corridors and tall ceilings.  We stayed in the old section and the room was barely big enough to 'swing a cat', as my mom would have said.

However the real charm is the location, in addition to the lake view, the grounds are magnificent and include five different hot-spring-fed mineral pools, each at a different temperature and located both indoors and out.  We were there on a long weekend so the place was fully booked, we got one of the last three room available.

The resort was hopping with families, lots of kids running about and those out for a good time.  Not something I would recommend if you are looking for a quiet get-away.  

The medicinal properties and rejuvenating effects of the hot pools, used originally by the Coast Salish First Peoples has been attracting visitors for years.  Included amoung its guests, Clark Gable, John Wayne, Michale Buble, Robin Williams and Liam Neeson.  Gable was a big fan of British Columbia, also honey mooning at a remote fishing camp near Kamloops which still operates.  I spent a few days there with friends, it was rustic and heavenly right down to the ice boxes, still chilled by chunks of ice cut in the winter and stored for use during the summer months.

The Spa at Harrison Hot Spring Resort is nicely laid out, not a big space overall, however the treatment rooms are spacious and well appointed and the spa offers a variety of typical spa treatments: relaxation, shiatsu or reflexology massages; facials; manicures; and pedicures.  The one outstanding exception is their private healing mineral hot springs pool free from all the chlorine required in the public pools. 

The Spa offers everything from their five hour Grand Indulgence package priced at $465 to a 25 minute relaxing massage priced at $70.  Because it was fully booked, I took the last spot of the day, a 25 minute deep tissue (back only) massage, priced at $75.

Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa has it's charms, however I did find it a bit pricey, for the one night (in the old section) with an evening snack, breakfast and one spa treatment, we spent just under $400.

The Spa http://www.harrisonresort.com/Spa-Treatments.aspx